By Harry Ward
and Don Mort, local democracy reporter
Families across Leeds have been let down by a SEND system with “widespread and systemic failings,” a major inspection report has concluded – findings that a local parent carer group says come as no surprise.
Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission inspected Leeds’s special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) services in late April, finding that children are waiting an average of 54 weeks for education, health and care plans — documents that legally must be completed within 20 weeks and which determine what specialist support a child receives.
Between January and March 2026, just 7.4% of plans met that legal deadline.
Jessica Duffy, Chair of Leeds Parent Carer Forum, said the report reflected what families had long been experiencing. “Parents have faced unacceptable delays and challenges in getting the right support for their children.
“What matters most is that this leads to real, lasting change. Families need to see improvements in practice and feel the difference in their daily lives.”
The report – which can be read in full here – found that even completed plans “typically do not meet statutory guidance,” meaning children may wait over a year for documents that still fail to reflect their needs.
Inspectors raised particular concern about the neurodevelopmental assessment waiting list, where half of children have had no direct contact with services. The Leeds Health and Care Partnership was unable to confirm what provision would replace the current assessment contract when it ends.
The report said: “Too many children and young people with SEND wait an unacceptable length of time to have their needs accurately assessed and met in Leeds through the EHC plan process.
“The quality of EHC plans in Leeds is systemically weak, and the information typically does not meet statutory guidance.”
Leeds City Council and health partners accepted the findings and committed to submitting an improvement plan within seven weeks. But inspectors noted that recent governance changes had “not yet been tried or tested” and had brought “no measurable impact.”
A Local Government Ombudsman report last September found delays in nearly eight out of 10 EHC plans in the city.
Leeds now faces a monitoring visit within 18 months and a full reinspection within three years.
Tory leader calls for action after special needs inspection
Families have felt “frustrated and abandoned” by delays in support for children with special needs in the city, a senior councillor has said.
Alan Lamb, leader of the Leeds Conservative group, called for improvements after a government inspection report was released.
Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) said children with special educational needs (SEND) were waiting too long for care plans to help them through school.
The quality of Education, Health and Care (EHP) plans was also criticised in a report on SEND provision.
Coun Lamb, who represents Wetherby, said: “For years, Conservative councillors have raised concerns on behalf of families who felt exhausted, frustrated and abandoned by a system they simply could not navigate.”
Leeds City Council delivers SEND services in partnership with NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB).
While parts of the service were praised in the report, the regulators said urgent improvements were needed following visits in April and May.
Coun Lamb said councils around the country were facing rising demand on SEND services.
He said: “I want to be absolutely clear that this is not a criticism of the many dedicated teachers, social workers, therapists, health professionals and council staff who work tirelessly every day to support children and families.
“Indeed, the report praises many of those frontline professionals. The failure is one of leadership, governance and the system itself.”
Leeds Health and Care Partnership, which includes the council and ICB, said an improvement plan would be submitted to the Department for Education and NHS England.
A spokesperson said: “We will continue to work closely with children, young people, families and partners across Leeds to deliver the improvements that are needed, and are keen to work with central government to align this work with the national SEND reforms.”
New £120k chief officers to help improve children and family services
Three top bosses will lead improvements in services for vulnerable children after being recruited by the council.
The chief officers, salaried at up to £123,000, will join Leeds City Council’s Children and Families department.
The council said the roles were created to help ensure Leeds was a “child-friendly city”, following a review of senior management positions.
A spokesperson said: “The children and families leadership structure has also been streamlined to deliver financial savings that provide opportunity for re-investment into the service.”
The Leeds children and families service was rated “outstanding” for a third time by Ofsted following an inspection last year.
But services for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) have since been criticised by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission.
Delays in delivering care plans to help children with SEND get through school were highlighted in an inspection report which called for urgent improvements.
SEND provision in Leeds is delivered by the council and NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board.
One of the three new council roles, each with a salary scale of £112,000 to £123,000, will be chief officer for SEND and inclusion.
The job advert said: “You will lead the city’s SEND transformation and improvement programme, maintaining continuous readiness for Ofsted and CQC inspection and ensuring learning from feedback, complaints and inspection is translated into sustainable improvement.”
The other two chief officer roles will cover family help and social work and commissioning and governance respectively.
A council spokesperson said: “The posts have closed and shortlisting will take place later this month, with final interviews due to take place in July 2026.”
No cut backs on salaries..