Cabinet approves SEND Priority Action Plan

Article date: 2 September 2026

It comes following findings from an Ofsted report published earlier in the summer which found systemic failings within the St Helens Local Area Partnership, which includes the local authority and NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board (ICB).

Inspectors highlighted a number of key challenges, including children and young people waiting too long for neurodevelopmental assessments, inconsistent quality and impact of Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plans, and difficulties in accessing timely mental health support.

The council and NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB have jointly developed a Priority Action Plan, collaboratively with children and young people, parents and carers, education settings, health partners, social care services and wider stakeholders. It sets out shared priorities, actions to be taken, how success will be measured - as well as impact and outcomes expected for children, young people and families.

Councillor Michael Chesworth, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: "Local children and young people with SEND have told us that they want to feel visible, valued and included. They want services that listen to them, understand their needs and work together to help them achieve positive outcomes and prepare successfully for adulthood.

"Our ambition is clear: every child and young person with SEND in St Helens borough will receive the right support, at the right time, from the right service. Through strong leadership, effective partnership working, meaningful co-production and a relentless focus on outcomes, we will ensure that children and young people with SEND are visible, valued, included and able to achieve their full potential."

Fiona Lemmens, Executive Clinical Director and executive lead for SEND at NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB, said: We are committed to working in close partnership with the council to drive changes that will improve outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This action plan - which has been co-produced with children, young people,  their parents and carers - provides us with a strong platform to deliver the outcomes that they have told us are most important to them."

Outcomes St Helens SEND Partnership is working towards are:

• High-quality SEND intelligence used to strengthen joint commissioning services and arrangements to improve outcomes for children and families
• Children access the right pathway at the right time
• Effective graduated response
• Timely and high-quality EHC plans
• Improved short breaks offer for children and young people
• Equitable health services
• Reduced waiting time

Cabinet noted the outcome of the Area SEND Inspection and the requirement to formally publish the approved SEND Priority Action Plan by 3 September 2026. Following Ministerial consideration, an improvement notice will be issued.