Ofsted publishes Area SEND inspection findings for St Helens Local Area Partnership
Ofsted has published the findings of its Area SEND inspection of the St Helens Local Area Partnership, carried out in February this year.
Article date: 19 June 2026
The inspection reviewed the effectiveness of services for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) across the partnership, which includes St Helens Borough Council and NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board (ICB).
The report identifies systemic failings within the local area partnership. As a result, partners are now required to develop and submit a Priority Action Plan to address the identified areas for improvement.
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.
Despite these areas for improvement, the report also acknowledges a number of strengths across the partnership. Inspectors found that children and young people benefit from the support of committed practitioners who work hard to understand their needs, and that schools value the support of the Targeted Education Support and Specialist Advice (TESSA) service, which provides coordinated multi-agency support.
The report also highlights effective partnership working in a number of areas, including early help services, where families benefit from accessible support through family hubs and children's centres. Timely access to therapies such as speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy, delivered through flexible models, was also recognised as a positive aspect of the local system.
There are also examples of strong multi-agency working to support children and young people at risk of disengagement from education, alongside improving relationships between partners and a shared commitment from leaders across education, health and social care to strengthen outcomes.
Jamaila Hussain, Executive Director of People's Services at St Helens Borough Council, said:
"Ensuring that all children and young people have the best possible start in life is a key priority for the council. Following the findings of the report we will work with our partners to continue to improve.
"In St Helens, we have faced unprecedented demand for SEND across the borough and as we prepare for the SEND reforms, we hope to make much progress in tackling some of the challenges that have been faced by our children and families.
"We are fully committed to addressing the areas identified for improvement, including reducing waiting times, strengthening access to mental health support and improving the effectiveness of EHC Plans.
"At the same time, we will continue to build on the strengths identified, including the dedication of our staff and the positive examples of partnership working across the borough.
"Through continued investment in SEND services and close collaboration with our partners, we are determined to make sure that children and young people receive timely, joined-up support that meets their needs and helps them to thrive."
St Helens Borough Council remains rated 'Good' overall by Ofsted for Children's Services, with areas of outstanding practice.