Message from Mel John-Ross, Executive Director of Children’s Services at Barnsley Council and Jamie Wike, Chief Operating Officer, Barnsley Clinical Commissioning Group.

I'm pleased that the Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission inspectors have highlighted many strengths and the progress that we’ve made over the last two years. We have a clear focus on making real improvements to services, with a true sense of purpose and commitment to children and young people with special educational needs and disability (SEND) and their families in Barnsley.

Our early years support is good, the number of young people with SEND who progress into education or employment is strong, more individual plans are being co-produced with parents, and outcomes for children and young people who have Education, Health and Care plans are positive.

The voice of children and young people with SEND is strong in Barnsley. However, we know that there is more to do to ensure that the lived experience of families is influencing our strategic plans for services and provision. With our school leaders and partners, we will also improve the early identification of, and provision for children and young people with SEND but without an Education, Health and Care Plan. This includes producing a written statement of action together. We'll use the findings of this report, together with our joint strategic needs assessment, to help us do that. The statement will be clear about what actions will happen, by when and how they benefit children and young people with SEND and their families in Barnsley.

We’re committed to building on our strengths and the progress that we’ve made, to transform and improve SEND services in the borough.

You can read more about the findings of the report on the Local Offer website.