Next steps for SEND improvement in Wirral
The Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing has issued Wirral Council with an updated Improvement Notice. This Notice replaces the previous one issued in May 2024. It reflects the changes in priority for Wirral's Local Area SEND Partnership. Following the Local Area SEND inspection which took place in January 2025. The initial Notice identified ten areas for improvement. The latest inspection found that enough progress had been made in eight of those areas and they no longer need priority action. The inspection team did pick up on ‘preparation for adulthood’ as a new, third priority action area.
In her letter to local area Chief Executives, the Minister for Children and Families, Janet Daby MP, said: “I was encouraged to read the positive findings in the report, including the changes made to improve strategic oversight and governance since the issuing of a SEND Improvement Notice in May 2024, and the reinvigorated and more ambitious intent for the children and young people with SEND in Wirral.”
Wirral’s Partnership has submitted its Priority Action Plan to Ofsted, CQC and the Department for Education. The plan focuses on the three areas for priority action in the Improvement Notice. It sets out how the Partnership will work together to:
make sure that Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans consistently identify and meet the needs of children and young people. Ensure they are completed in line with statutory guidance.
develop a new way of working for preparation for adulthood. Making sure that services across education, health and care are joined up. Helping to support young people with SEND as they transition into adulthood.
reduce waiting times for specialist speech and language and neurodevelopmental assessments. Make sure that children and young people, and their families, consistently receive effective communication and support while waiting.
Leader of Wirral Council, Cllr Paula Basnett, said: “As new leader of Wirral Council, I will ensure that the progress that’s been made to improve SEND services over recent months continues, that the pace of improvement is maintained and families can start to feel the benefits of those changes. Children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities rely on us, to be doing all we can to set them up to live as independently and full a life as possible.”
“We recognise there is much work to be done and we will stay focused on that until we are delivering consistently good outcomes for our younger residents.”
Simon Banks, Place Director (Wirral), NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, said: “The outcomes of the Ofsted and CQC inspection are a fair reflection on where we are with SEND services in the borough. There has been significant work with children and young people and their families and carers to improve how agencies work together to deliver better on SEND. There is also more to do to ensure that children and young people with SEND get the right support from the right professional in the right environment that meets their needs. We will work with providers of NHS support in Wirral to improve their offer to children and young people with SEND and ensure that this offer integrates with education, social care and other support.”
The Partnership will publish the Priority Action Plan this month. The new SEND and Alternative Provision Strategy will also be shared. These key documents will outline the steps to improvement. Elizabeth Hartley, Director for Children, Families and Education, will publish a statement for young people, parents and carers.