Bexley Council has outlined plans to improve its special educational needs department after it was given the lowest possible rating by Ofsted.

The authority and South East London Integrated Care Board were instructed by the watchdog to urgently address significant concerns across the partnership which it claimed arose from ‘systemic failings’.

The topic was discussed at a cabinet meeting for Bexley Council on April 16.

Kevin Taylor, deputy director of educational achievement and inclusion at the authority, said the partnership was disappointed by the outcome of the inspection.

Mr Taylor said the council had worked alongside its partners to create a priority action plan, which would be published in full within the next week.

He confirmed at the meeting that the action plan had been signed off by Ofsted that day.

Bexley Council will be subject to 18 months of scrutiny by the education watchdog, as well as the Department for Education, to discuss how the improvement plan is progressing.

These meetings will be held every three months.

The Ofsted report published in February claimed that  the quality of many educational, health and care (EHC) plans for children in the borough had varied considerably.

The report said: “Too many children and young people across different ages and phases have an EHC plan that is well out of date and does not reflect their current needs or provision… These and other significant weaknesses all combine to mean that children and young people do not receive the right support at the right time.”

Council documents outlined several priorities in response to the Ofsted report, including details on how to ensure young people were being effectively prepared for adulthood.

They also included processes to reduce delays and gaps in providing speech and language and occupational therapy as well as making sure the voices of children and young people are being used to improve services.

The council met with other members of the Bexley Local Area Partnership at a meeting on April 2 to discuss actions to be taken following the inspection.

Lindsay Malekzai, designated clinical officer of special educational needs at the South East London Integrated Care Board, said the board had noted an increased number of families had started seeking private autism assessments.

She said that the local NHS trust had brought in an additional provider for such assessments to accelerate the number that could be carried out.

Ms Malekzai added that the waiting time for initial speech and language and occupational therapy appointments was currently within 18 weeks for 90 per cent of people, but the service had seen several ‘dips’.

Conservative Councillor Janice Ward-Wilson said she welcomed the strengths of the partnership identified by Ofsted, such as the views of parents being listened to regularly.

Cllr Ward-Wilson said at the meeting earlier this month: “While some unfavourable inspections are deeply disappointing for all concerned, they are an opportunity to improve when based on specific, identified witnesses so we can take a positive view of this negative force if we use it effectively.

"However, we cannot overstate that detrimental outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities are deeply regrettable and can impact young lives for a long time.”