MORE work is needed on a plan for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) after an Ofsted report slammed services in the county.

Worcestershire County Council and the county’s NHS clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) were severely criticised for their handling of the services and both bodies were told to come up with a proper action plan.

Cllr Marcus Hart, cabinet member for education, said an “inordinate” amount of work had already been done by the SEND Improvement Board - which involves a range of health and education representatives - following the inspection in March.

“I am not going to make any excuses about why we are where we are,” he said. “I’ve said publicly that where we are is not good enough.”

Ofsted inspectors said children are not provided with the quality of support they are entitled to and relationships with parents and carers are fragile.

They also said few education health and care plans had been issued and those that have are poor.

Cllr Hart was confident the action plan would fix the problems but was disappointed the CCGs did not take up an invitation to the cabinet meeting.

He said: “This isn’t just about us, it’s about working together with our partners to improve the outcomes of those children with special educational needs and disabilities. The local authority cannot do this alone and we need to work with our CCGs.

“I do not wish in any way to apportion blame but one of the issues alluded to in the report was the ‘lack of strategic leadership’ in implementing the SEND reforms in the CCG.

“I think it is vital that the CCG play their part, together with other stakeholders, in order that we can get this right for vulnerable young children across this county.”

A spokesman for the CCGs said “significant progress” had been made on the plan.

He said: “We agree the critical importance of working with others to provide the joined-up services that children and young people deserve.

"We acknowledge that more needs to be done and remain committed to working with our partners to ensure that the special health needs of children and young people are more adequately met in the future.

“All responsible partners have taken the report through their decision making processes; the Worcestershire CCGs through our governing body meetings and Worcestershire County Council though their cabinet meeting.”