(UK) Herts: Council plans to add 601 SPED places
- The end of childhood
- Dec 17, 2025
- 3 min read
Dec 17, 2025, Hemel Today: Hertfordshire leaders react to latest special education report assessing council services
Health and education chiefs in Hertfordshire are taking “effective” action to improve services for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), according to inspectors.
However, Cllr Mark Watkin acknowledges the “journey is by no means over” and there is more to be done.
Two years ago, inspectors from Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission identified “widespread and or systemic failings” in the provision of SEND services in the county.
They found that too many children were waiting for too long for their needs to be assessed and for the right provision to be put in place.
And they told the local area partnership – which includes the NHS and the county council – that their “significant concerns” must be addressed urgently.
Just a few weeks ago, inspectors returned to the county to check on progress, as part of a monitoring visit.
They looked at work on the partnership’s data dashboard, designed to improve shared understanding and to target activity where it is needed most.
They also looked at the collaboration of leaders across the partnership to address the areas identified in their SEND strategy.
And their report – published this week – points to “effective action”, suggesting that the partnership has “taken reasonable steps to address all the areas for priority action identified at the initial inspection”.
According to the report, comprehensive information is now reviewed to address gaps in provision, with more needs identified accurately and appropriate services provided to meet those needs.
It highlights shorter waiting times for children requiring a speech and language assessment and improved education, health, and care plans (EHCPs).
And it points to the use of data to plan where provision is needed – highlighting a “planned increase” in the number of special school places.
According to further data provided to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) by the partnership, in July 2023, just 38% of EHCPs were issued within 20 weeks, with just 5% rated as good or outstanding.
But by the time of the inspectors’ latest monitoring visit 94% of EHCPs issued were completed within 20 weeks – with 66% rated as good or outstanding in 2025/26.
And whereas in September 2023 there were 535 children who had been waiting for six weeks or longer for a speech and language assessment as part of an education health care assessment, by October this year, that had dropped to 27.
However, the report does recognise that following speech and language assessment, “sometimes waits remain for intervention following assessment”.
Since the initial inspection in 2023, the county council has increased investment in SEND, which is also recognised in the inspectors’ report.
And the county council points to further data showing an increase of 601 additional specialist provision places across the county.
According to the inspectors’ latest monitoring report, the partnership now uses the information it collects to provide more targeted support to children and families . . . .
But despite the recent improvements, it says schools still have a “mixed experience” of support from the partnership.
“Some schools experience a system that is still too reactive,” says the report.
“At times, the support that schools receive for some children and young people with SEND is not as early or successful enough to prevent problems escalating.”
The report recognises the ‘ND support hub’ and the support it offers to families and professionals before an assessment – but also stresses that the need for neurodevelopmental assessments is “very high”.
“Leaders know that children and young people with SEND wait too long,” it says.
“The local area partnership is transforming this clinical pathway. However, the benefits are not felt by those affected.”
In their report, inspectors stress that “effective action” does not mean that the area for priority action is no longer a concern or that the local area can stop taking action to address it.
Leader of the county council, Cllr Steve Jarvis, acknowledges “significant improvements” over the past two years – but stresses that they are “on a journey”.
He told the LDRS it would be wrong to suggest that every child was getting the service that they wanted to deliver. . .
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