Sutton Council’s SEND services are set to be revisited by Ofsted following ongoing concerns about their effectiveness Prime Minister Theresa May has confirmed.

Last week the BBC Local Democracy Reporting Service reported on an external investigation that blasts special needs provision as “not fit for purpose” with families treated as “consumers” in a marketplace.

In response to a question about the effectiveness of the service at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, June 19, Mrs May confirmed that the council was due to be reinspected by Ofsted.

In March 2018, a joint letter from the CQC (Care Quality Commission) and Ofsted raised ‘significant concerns’ about special needs services in the borough following an inspection in January of that year.

So far more than 700 people have also signed a petition calling for an independent review of the way Sutton Council assesses children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

It is part of a campaign called Sutton EHCP crisis, which highlights the trouble parents in the borough say they are having to get education health care plans for their children.

On Wednesday (June 19), Paul Scully,  Conservative MP for Sutton and Cheam, took the campaign to parliament.

At Prime Minister’s Question Time Mr Scully said: “I’ve met with many parents such as Hayley Harding who have had to resort to a tribunal to get an Educational Health and Care Plan (EHCP) for their children.

“A leaked internal report shows that money is categorically not the issue as Sutton has one of the highest per head spend on SEND in the UK but it also has one of the highest refusals for EHCP assessments.”

And according to the leaked external review commissioned by Sutton Council this year problems in SEND services still persist.

The report shows that despite Sutton having a high level of funding there continues to be budget pressures.

Outgoing prime minister Theresa May responded to the question saying: “It is vital that all children with SEND do receive the support they need.

“I’ve been assured the council will receive the right support the Department for Education and NHS England have been working closely with the authority to ensure the necessary changes take place.

“This year’s Sutton’s high needs funding has increased. I understand the Ofsted and the CQC will revisit Sutton to ensure the council is improving it’s support for children so that those children can fulfil their potential.”

Sutton Council has been contacted for comment.