The Improvement and Scrutiny Committee - People meeting on 20 December 2024 will include details of a requisition for an extraordinary meeting to discuss the November 2024 Ofsted inspection of Derbyshire’s SEND services. The meeting will also include time for public questions.

Ofsted’s Area SEND inspection report

Councillors R George, S Burfoot and C Dale submitted a requisition for an extraordinary meeting to discuss the findings of Ofsted’s recent inspection of Derbyshire’s SEND services, which found “widespread and/or systemic failings leading to significant concerns about the experiences and outcomes of children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), which the local area partnership must address urgently”. The requisition proposes that the committee should invite the Cabinet Member and temporary Executive Director for Children’s Services to attend the meeting to answer questions about the report.

The requisition argues that:

Given the grave nature of Ofsted’s findings and recommendations, and of its requirement that urgent steps are taken to address the identified areas for priority action and areas for improvements, it would not be appropriate for this Committee to wait 3 months before having the opportunity to consider this report or this issue which affects the county and its inhabitants.

Public Questions

The meeting will begin with up to 30 minutes of questions from the public.

The procedure for public questions states that:

Members of the public who are on the Derbyshire County Council register of electors, or are Derbyshire County Council tax payers or non-domestic tax payers, may ask questions of the Improvement and Scrutiny Committees, or witnesses who are attending the meeting of the Committee.

The deadline for submitting questions is 12 noon on Wednesday 17 December 2024.