Improvements are being made to the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) service in Lancashire following an inspection by Ofsted.

Inspectors found areas of weakness in the local area's practice during a visit in November.

But they also said the service, which is run jointly by Lancashire County Council and the areas' clinical commissioning groups (CCG's), had a number of positive aspects.

These included recognition that the culture and focus in Lancashire had begun to change in recent months and that professionals could see the benefits of finding joint solutions to common challenges.

The inspection was designed to judge how effectively the council and CCG's have implemented the disability and special educational needs reforms as set out in the Children and Families Act 2014.

Inspectors undertook a range of activity during the five day visit, from reviewing documentation, observing frontline practice and face to face meetings with a range of service users.

They also spoke to staff at all levels, to SEND service providers, to children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, their parents and carers, school governors, and leaders from the local area for health, social care and education.

Following the inspection a number of actions have been identified to address the issues found.

Actions include establishing a SEND partnership board, which includes representatives from parents and young people, sending a questionnaire to all families with children with an Education, Health and Care Plan asking for their views and experience in greater detail and arranging to meet with school leaders to deliver ways to reduce exclusions as a matter of urgency.

The service will be using the same successful approach the county council has used following previous Ofsted inspections to drive through changes.

Lancashire County Council's Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools, County Councillor Susie Charles, said: "Children and families are at the heart of what we do and we are committed to giving all young people, whatever their background or needs, the best possible start in life.

"The inspectors' findings are of concern and we know that improvements must be made to ensure that the experience of children, young people and their families who access these vital services is a positive one.

"We have identified and started to implement a number of actions to address the issues found and staff are working hard to make changes.

"Since I became the responsible Cabinet Member following the County Council elections in May last year, I have taken this issue very seriously and whilst disappointed with some of the findings I am pleased that the inspectors acknowledged the emerging signs of improvement.

"They recognised that the culture and focus in Lancashire had begun to change in recent months and that professionals could see the benefits of finding joint solutions to common challenges.

"They also praised a number of areas of service delivery and practice, including the high attendance rates for children and young people who have SEN support and those who have an Education, Health and Care Plan or statement.

"A joint written statement of action by LCC and the areas' clinical commissioning groups will now be sent to Ofsted outlining what improvement will be made.

"And rest assured we will continue to work hard with schools, colleges, health providers and the voluntary sector to make sure there is a level playing field for all children and young people in Lancashire."

Hilary Fordham, chief operating officer at Morecambe Bay CCG said: “We are obviously disappointed with the findings of the review, but the CCGs are committed to working with partners across health, social care and education and most importantly with young people and their families to address the issues raised in the report."

Changes are being made to the special Questions and Depression (Post) office in Lancashire under review by Ofsted. Inspectors found areas of weakness in the local practice area during a visit in November. We helped australia essay writing. But they also say that the service, which is jointly managed by the Lancashire County Council and the hospital-based providers (CCG's), has many positive aspects.