The government has removed an improvement notice that was placed on services for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

The notice was first issued in 2023 after Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission inspected services in Oxfordshire.

The notice was withdrawn on April 15 following a letter from Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson to Oxfordshire County Council and NHS Thames Valley Integrated Care Board.

The correspondence recognised advancements in multiple areas, such as better involvement with children, families and carers, improved communication, quicker completion of education, health and care plans, and reduced waiting times for essential support.

The letter also noted improvements in strategic planning methods.

Councillor Sean Gaul, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for children, education and young people’s services, said the government’s decision to lift the improvement notice was welcome news.

Joint working had allowed the partners to review, restructure and improve services, he explained.

The council remained committed to this work and would continue engaging with children, young people with SEND and their families as the improvement journey continued.

The Oxfordshire SEND partnership comprises the county council, NHS Thames Valley ICB, Oxford Health and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trusts, the Oxfordshire Parent Carer Forum, and professional subject matter specialists.

Dr Nick Broughton, executive lead at NHS Thames Valley, said the organisation welcomed the decision to remove the improvement notice and considered it a significant milestone for SEND services in Oxfordshire.

He acknowledged this was not the end of the work required.

More progress was necessary to ensure services were consistently timely, well-coordinated and responsive, and to rebuild confidence with families.