The report of the Ofsted and Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection of Wokingham Area SEND services and support has been published today. You can read the full report here: Area SEND full inspection

Thank you to everyone who completed the survey or spoke to the inspectors during the inspection in January.

Following the publication of the report we know many parent carers will be feeling worried, frustrated and uncertain about what this means for children and young people with SEND and their families.

The inspection identified systemic failings across the local area partnership, including weaknesses in the way services are planned, delivered and experienced by families. While this outcome will be difficult for many families to read, it also brings an important opportunity for meaningful positive change and accountability.

As the Parent Carer Forum, SEND Voices Wokingham (SVW), will continue to make sure that the lived experiences and voices of families remain at the heart of improvement work across local SEND services.

Families have consistently told us about the challenges they have experienced; including access to support, communication issues, waiting times, inclusion in school and the overall experience of navigating services. It is now vital that these issues lead to sustained action and improvement.

SVW are organising an engagement session where parent carers will have the opportunity to meet directly with representatives from Wokingham Local Authority and Thames Valley Integrated Care Board (ICB) (was BOB ICB).

This session will provide families with the opportunity to:

• Hear directly from local leaders about the inspection findings
• Understand the immediate actions and improvement plans being put in place
• Ask questions and share feedback
• Learn more about the wider national SEND reforms and what these may mean locally for children, young people and families

SVW understand that trust with SEND services in the local area has been affected, and families will want to see clear evidence of positive change.

SVW will continue to work independently and collaboratively to ensure that family voices are heard and incorporated into strategic decision making, to challenge where needed, and to encourage openness and transparency throughout the improvement process.

In the meantime, please continue to share your experiences and priorities with us so that we can represent the issues that matter most to our community.

The information SVW shared with the Local Area SEND Inspection Team can be found here: SEND Inspection Presentation to Inspectors

You can contact us by:

Email: info@sendvoiceswokingham.org.uk

Facebook DM: SEND Voices Wokingham

Or join us at a coffee morning or one of our other events (details are available on our website): SVW Events

Thank you for your continued engagement and support.