ANGRY Southend families say youngsters are still being failed despite a new report saying “progress has been made” in services for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission found progress had been made in three out of four areas after an inspection in December 2018 found special educational needs and disability (SEND) services had significant weaknesses.

However, worried parents argue more must be done to support their children, insisting the latest Ofsted report is not something to be celebrated.

Inspectors found improvements had been made to the “local offer” - which sets out what is available for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

Ofsted also concluded improvements were made to the way in which the council and the NHS worked together on education health and care plans.

There were also improvements in ensuring children and young people are in settings that give them good-quality, full-time education.

However, the report found not enough had been done in joint commissioning - buying services - to improve the outcomes for children and young people in Southend.

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The report came as figures revealed 23 Southend families applied to tribunals to overturn nearly two dozen council decisions on disabled children’s education last year.

Julia Hopper has been campaigning for a full investigation into SEND services in Southend after her son, Chris Nota, died at the age of 19 after falling from the Queensway Bridge last July.

Julia said: “It’s not a good report. Southend hasn’t passed. I’m not surprised.

“One of the things they have acknowledged is that families don’t have any confidence in the local authority.

“Why don’t they? Because their children are becoming mentally ill, they are failing at school and there are some who are dying.

“How much worse does it need to be? It’s time for a full investigation into services in Southend because they are failing our children.”

Dad Colin Nickless took Southend Council to a tribunal to get adequate care for his daughter, Ellie.

He said: “The most important thing in all of this is that SEND families need to have confidence in the system and at the moment there isn’t any confidence.

“There has been some improvements but not enough and they are still not reaching the required standards.

“People at the moment expect to be failed and that’s a damning thing.

“We know families are being failed.”

Southend Labour councillor Laurie Burton, cabinet member for children and learning said the council will continue to listen to parents and children.

He added: “Whilst we know there is still more work to be done, I am encouraged by this report which highlights the efforts of the SEND teams to work together and improve the services on offer to our children, young people and their families.

“We need to listen to them because they are using the services and they are the experts.

“We will continue to work hard with partners, parents and children to build on the positive aspects of this report, but also deliver the improvements underway in the area of joint commissioning and other areas that have been highlighted through the re-visit.”