Children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Suffolk are beginning to see improvements in support services after inspectors recognised a ‘significant step forward’ in the county’s improvement journey.
A monitoring inspection by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found Suffolk’s SEND partnership had taken “effective action” to address serious weaknesses identified in a damning 2023 inspection, whilst also identifying parts of the service where further improvement is still required.
The inspection reviewed how effectively Suffolk’s SEND partnership — including health, education and council services — had responded to priority areas identified during the 2023 inspection.
The latest report highlighted major progress in the handling of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), including dramatic improvements in the speed at which plans are completed. In March 2026, 80% of EHCPs were issued within the statutory 20-week timeframe — a substantial rise from just 5% a year earlier, and well above the current national average of 46.4%.
Inspectors said leaders had taken “purposeful and meaningful action” to improve both the timeliness and quality of plans, alongside strengthening leadership oversight and introducing clearer processes across services.
The visit reviewed how effectively Suffolk’s SEND partnership — made up of Suffolk County Council, the NHS Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care Board, schools and the Suffolk Parent Carer Forum — had responded to concerns raised during a full Area SEND inspection in November 2023.
That earlier inspection found “widespread and/or systemic failings” across the local SEND system and warned that urgent action was needed to improve outcomes for children and young people.
The new findings suggest the partnership is now beginning to stabilise following a major programme of reform and investment.
Among the changes introduced since 2023 are a £9.1 million investment into SEND services, the creation of a SEND Improvement Board with an independent chair, large-scale recruitment into statutory SEND teams, and the development of new quality assurance and data systems.
Inspectors also recognised improvements in governance, workforce stability and collaboration between agencies, particularly in neurodiversity support where co-produced work with families was said to be having a positive impact.
However, inspectors warned that strategic coordination and planning across the system still requires significant improvement.
The report found experiences for families remain inconsistent, with uneven multi-agency working across services and some quality assurance systems still not fully embedded. It found that experiences of some children and young people with SEND, and their families, remain poor.
Parents and carers reported mixed experiences, according to inspectors, with some expressing “cautious optimism” while others remained concerned about the pace and consistency of change.
Planning for adulthood and transitions into adult services was also described as being at an early stage of development.
Sarah-Jane Smedmor, Executive Director for Children and Young People’s Services at Suffolk County Council, welcomed the findings but acknowledged more work was needed. She said:
“This report is very welcomed.
“Our teams and partners have worked really hard, and continue to do so, to improve how we deliver SEND services.
“We fully acknowledge that there is more to do, especially in strengthening how we work together strategically and ensuring consistent experiences for children and families.”
Ed Garratt OBE, Chief Executive of the NHS Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care Board, said partners remained committed to improving joined-up support for families.
He added: “We recognise that greater consistency and stronger partnership working are still needed.
“We are committed to continuing to work closely across health, education and care to deliver joined-up, easier to navigate and high-quality support.”
Inspectors said continued focus and sustained effort would be essential to ensure recent improvements translate into “consistently better experiences and outcomes” for children and young people with SEND across Suffolk.
Further monitoring visits are expected to assess whether the partnership can maintain momentum and deliver long-term change.
The letter can be found on the website.