A DAMNING report branded Swindon's services for young people with disabilities or special educational needs as weak and not good enough.

Parents and young people criticised the services when speaking to inspectors from Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission during a week-long inspection.

The report found that care services provided by Swindon Borough Council and Swindon Clinical Commissioning Group simply do not provide the necessary support, care and guidance for children with special needs.

Other faults included the fact that weaknesses in the system are not properly checked and addressed, care plans often don't have complete or accurate information, and turbulent staffing changes had negatively affected the quality and consistency of the services provided.

In response,  both providers promised to accelerate an improvement plan for reforms to these services.

Inspectors pointed out that the authorities had already accurately identified the right areas for improvement and that some were already being carried out.

Councillor Mary Martin, the council's cabinet member for children and school attainment, said: “We always strive to improve the services we provide for young people who need our help and these types of inspections play an important role in identifying areas where we need to do better, while also acknowledging the good work that is taking place.

“The inspection recognised that our self-assessment was accurate and there is much yet to do. We are heartened that the inspectors recognised that a lot of work is already well underway to ensure that the local area meets the disability and special educational needs reforms. Overall we very much need to up the pace of our improvement programme so we improve the outcomes for children and young people more quickly."

Gill May, Swindon Clinical Commissioning Group’s Director Nursing and Transformation, said: “The report confirms the strength of partnership in Swindon and that the local area understands its strengths and priorities and is already working on the key issues identified.

“We are working closely with the Council and with Swindon Families Voice (who represent families of children with special needs and disabilities) to ensure that families and children and young people are at the heart of the improvements that are made.

“We are committed to making the improvements and build upon the good work that is taking place.”