Oxfordshire County Council has published its action plan to enhance services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

The strategy is in response to Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission's report on SEND partnership provisions from July.

This comes after the initial draft was presented to the Department for Education on October 24 and given approval by Ofsted on December 12.

Detailing their course of action, Councillor Kate Gregory, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for SEND Improvement, said: "We recognise that we are only at the start of our improvement journey and that it will take time for real change to be felt by families.

"We are working hard as a partnership to ensure we have the right foundations in place to deliver real and lasting improved outcomes for children, young people and families."

The plan outlines actions within five key areas: gathering and actioning feedback from children, young people with SEND, and their families; developing effective communication systems for coordinated approaches; improving the timeliness and quality assurance of education, health and care plans; commissioning services to fulfil the needs of children and young people and their families; and creating plans that are jointly produced with children and young people and their families.

A variety of partners are involved in the local area partnership, including Oxfordshire Council Council, NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board, and the parent carer forum (PCF), who serve as the official voice of parent carers.

The PCF will play a direct role in actions.

Parents and carers can keep up-to-date on SEND news online and SEND coordinators can also access a simple online form.

There is also a provision of online support for parents and carers of children with SEND.

The Oxfordshire SEND Strategic Improvement and Assurance Board, composed of senior leaders from the involved parties, will spearhead the required action to improve services for SEND children, young people, and their families.

They will meet again on December 20.

The board will continue partnering with Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission to immediately improve conditions for children and young people with SEND and their families.

Rachael Corser, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board’s chief nursing officer, said: "As health and care partners, we’re fully committed to improving Oxfordshire’s SEND services for children, young people and their families.

"Without doubt there is still a way to go, but by working together with families we are starting to make a difference to the way children and young people get the support they deserve to help them thrive."