INSPECTORS have demanded action after uncovering "significant weaknesses" in services for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Dorset.

The County Council and the area's Clinical Commissioning Group have now been ordered to submit a Written Statement of Action after "inconsistency" and a "lack of understanding" were found.

Inspectors from Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission conducted a joint inspection of the local area of Dorset over five days in January and details of their damning report have just been released.

In it they said: "Frequent changes in senior leaders have reduced the local area's capacity to implement the disability ad special educational needs reforms effectively.

The approach to doing the basics well is weak. Current leaders have ambitious and aspirational plans in place but these have not led to reductions in the considerable current financial overspend in the High Needs Budget of the Dedicated Schools Grant."

The report went on to say that leaders are slow to address weaknesses and make improvements and that parents and carers spoke of having to struggle to have their child's needs assessed.

"Leaders accept that there is a need for greater communication with families. Leaders have identified that they have not been meeting the statutory requirement to complete Education, Health and Care plans in the 20-week timescale."

Pupils' achievements in reading, writing and maths are below average for their peers.

It said there is a strong commitment to improve and there is high-quality residential provision for young people with complex needs. It also praised the efficient identification of the needs of the youngest children and said parents appreciate advice they receive from staff.

The report is addressed to Sara Tough, Dorset County Council's Director of Children's Services, and Tim Goodson, Chief Officers at NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group.

Sara Tough said: "We take these findings very seriously and are committed to working with our partners, parents and carers to improve services and outcomes for children and young people with additional needs.

"We need to continue to make progress in improving how quickly we complete plans and get better at working together with other agencies to meet children’s needs.

"The inspection team told us they believed that we have a clear understanding of what needs to be done and that our plans are having an impact."

A spokesman for Dorset CCG said: "We acknowledge the findings of the Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) report and are pleased that a number of areas have been identified as doing well or improving. Where improvements are required we will continue to work closely with our partners in Dorset to implement these.”