The latest Ofsted and CQC inspection of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) services in Tower Hamlets has praised the range and quality of support for children and their families.
The local area partnership inspection, which assesses services commissioned and delivered by Tower Hamlets Council and North East London Integrated Care Board, has recognised that “there have been many improvements since the local area’s last inspection” in 2021, which raised “significant concerns”.
Following an onsite inspection in June, the report noted that many children and young people with SEND are well supported to learn and thrive, and that “close working relationships between practitioners helps avoid family breakdown and nurtures children and young people back into education.”
They also spoke positively of the work being done around engaging with families and supporting those with complex health and care needs and highlighted that “children and young people with SEND are genuinely noticed and valued in Tower Hamlets. Their views are heard in all sorts of different ways”.
Inspectors praised the “highly ambitious” leaders and practitioners in Tower Hamlets and that they have “successfully addressed the significant weaknesses identified at the last inspection”.
The inspectors also commended the council’s offer around preparation for employment, stating that “many children and young people benefit from ‘Young WorkPath’, which provides tailored careers advice and guidance.”
The report also noted some areas for improvement, and provided recommendations to help the council and its partners build on existing strengths and make improvements. These areas were in line with the issues that were identified in the partnership’s self-assessment - a summary provided as part of the inspection process.
Areas for improvement include timeliness and quality of Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans, the approach to diagnosing learning disabilities, support services for the transition into adulthood, and inconsistencies in information-sharing across the partnership.
Executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman, said:
“This report highlights the compassion, ambition and professionalism that define our local services for children and young people with SEND, and how much we value every child.
“It is encouraging to see recognition of the progress made since our last inspection, and we have a clear understanding of what is working well and what needs to improve.
“We will continue to listen to our residents and invest in our services to ensure that Tower Hamlets is a place where every young person is supported to thrive.”
Cllr Maium Talukdar, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Education, Youth and Lifelong Learning, said:
“We welcome the inspection’s recognition of the improvements we have made. Our priority is always to ensure that every child and young person with SEND gets the support they need to achieve their potential.
“There are more improvements to make, which is why the council is investing an additional £1.6m into SEND. Together with parents, schools, health partners, and the voluntary sector, we will address the inspection’s recommendations.
“I want to thank all the children and families who took part in the inspection process, as well as our expert staff across the partnership who work tirelessly to deliver services to support children and young people with SEND.”
Action plan and additional investment
The council is developing an action plan in partnership with families and stakeholders to respond to the recommendations.
Earlier this year, plans were approved as part of the budget at Cabinet to invest £1.6million over three years towards extending our SEND provision. This will see increased opportunities for activities and outreach support during the evenings, weekends and holidays for people with SEND in Tower Hamlets.
Parents and carers can find information about support for children and young people with SEND at: www.localoffertowerhamlets.co.uk/pages/local-offer/send/send
The full report can be found here: 50285042
Posted on Thursday 21st August 2025