Oxfordshire improvement notice lifted following letter

Issued in 2023 after an Ofsted and Care Quality Commission inspection, the notice applied to Oxfordshire’s services.

It was removed on April 15 following a letter from the Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson, to Oxfordshire County Council and NHS Thames Valley Integrated Care Board (ICB).

The letter praised improvements including stronger engagement with children, families, and carers, better communication, more timely education, health and care plans, and reduced waiting times for critical support.

It also recognised a better approach to strategic planning.

Councillor Sean Gaul, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for children, education and young people’s services, said: “The government’s decision to remove the improvement notice is encouraging.

“Close partnership working has helped us to review, reset and rebuild services.

“We are committed to this and will continue to engage and listen to children, young people with SEND and their families as part of our improvement journey.”

The Oxfordshire SEND partnership includes the county council, NHS Thames Valley ICB, Oxford Health and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trusts, the Oxfordshire Parent Carer Forum, and professional subject matter leads.

Dr Nick Broughton, executive lead at NHS Thames Valley, said: “We welcome the decision to lift the improvement notice and recognise it as an important milestone for SEND services in Oxfordshire.

“We know, however, that this is not the end of the journey.

“There is still more to do to ensure services are consistently timely, joined up and responsive, and to rebuild confidence with families.”