On the back of a report that found services for people with special educational needs and disabilities in the city 'requires improvement', Nottingham City Council has outlined how it will improve.
A joint report from health inspectors Care Quality Commission (CQC) and education regulators Ofsted found the quality of what's provided is better for children and young people than adults.
It detailed how parents described transitioning through the services as like 'jumping off of a cliff'.
There are 47,335 children and young people in Nottingham schools, and 7,418, 15.7 per cent, have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The report concluded leaders have developed a coherent plan to support children and young people with SEND to prepare for adulthood, early years provision for children with SEND is strong and the outcome for children with SEND in early years has improved.
But it also found educational outcomes for children with SEND are still too low, adult services are not as strong as children services and there is some considerable dissatisfaction among parents with the quality of services.
Ahead of a Nottingham City Council Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee meeting on Thursday (January 27), a report detailing the findings and what the council should do next was published.
Further details of that meeting will be published in the coming days.
The pre-prepared report states: "Leaders in the local area will take on board all the areas for development identified in the report and work with our partners to further strengthen the support in place for children and young people with SEND and their families.
"The SEND Accountability Board provides governance and challenge to this area of work.
"This work will commence in February 2022 following the dissemination of the inspection report findings to all stakeholders."
When the Ofsted report was published, Councillor Cheryl Barnard, Nottingham City Council's portfolio holder for children and young people, said: "Ensuring children with special needs and disabilities have the opportunity to thrive and reach their potential is incredibly important and so I am very pleased with the outcome of this inspection.
"It recognises that local leadership have a clear and accurate understanding of services for children with SEND and reflects a strongly inclusive approach across partners.
"Inspectors also identify some very good partnership working with schools and early years, improving outcomes and opportunities for young people and some innovative approaches through our Routes to Inclusion work and to address mental health and wellbeing.
"We will take on board the areas for development and work with our partners to further strengthen the support that’s in place for children and young people with SEND and their families and carers."
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