Essex children faced with ‘inequality’ in special needs provision

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“Significant weaknesses” in special educational needs and disability (Send) services have created “inequality and inconsistency” across Essex, according to an inspection report.

In some areas children were waiting up to two years for autism assessments, the joint CQC and Ofsted report found.

One mother said Send provision was “in crisis”.

Essex County Council and five clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) said they accepted the report’s findings.

The service helps under-25s who need additional help with schooling and creates educational care plans.

But many aspects of the service were criticised, including issues in commissioning between the council and the CCGs, and variations leading to “inequality,…