Children and young people who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are making better progress in Royal Greenwich than nationally at both primary and secondary school age.

About the report

The report praised senior leaders' high aspirations for improving outcomes and increasing the number of young people with SEND staying in education or moving on to employment and training.

Inspectors were impressed that children and young people and their families are involved in the development of services and the collaboration between education, health and social care professionals.

Other strengths included staff describing themselves as feeling supported, well trained and able to influence change and children and young people saying they felt safe at school and in their local communities.

Inspectors spent a week assessing the service, speaking to children and young people who have disabilities and/or special needs, their parents and carers, Council staff and NHS officers to build up a full picture.

Ofsted and Care Quality Commission inspectors acknowledged that improvements have already been made in most of the areas listed for development.

Greenwich Parent Voice

Greenwich Parent Voice, an independent group of parents who have children with SEND, was highlighted as having a strong role. Inspectors described feedback from parents as "overwhelmingly positive" with one parent saying "you feel like you are in safe hands".

'Our initiatives have helped them progress'

Councillor Chris Kirby, Cabinet Member covering the portfolio for Children and Young People, said: "I am delighted about the results of our inspection which reflects the hard work of everyone involved with SEND services in the Royal Borough of Greenwich. Children and young people with SEND often face additional barriers to reaching their full potential but our initiatives have helped them progress.

"Further improving the lives of children and young people with SEND is one of the key priorities in our recently launched Children and Young People Plan."