Councillors have agreed to work together to fix Oxfordshire’s “broken” special educational needs system, although affected parents fear it is “just more words.”

Oxfordshire County Council has unanimously approved a motion to work on a cross party basis to improve services for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

The decision, which came at an extraordinary meeting today (Friday, October 13), will see councillors accept and act on the findings of last month’s damning report into the “widespread failings” in the county’s SEND services.

READ MORE: Oxfordshire parents describe failures in SEND services

Witney Gazette: Hundreds of parents gathered in Bonn Square for a peaceful protest during the SEND meetingHundreds of parents gathered in Bonn Square for a peaceful protest during the SEND meeting (Image: Albert Tait)

While applause filled County Hall’s council chamber when the motion was passed, the two-hour meeting had started in a chastening tone.

“The irony that today is Friday 13th in October is not lost on us because the horrors that families have experienced are very real,” said Claire Brenner, a spokesperson from Oxfordshire County Council SEND Parent Action group.

Conservative Group leader Eddie Reeves, who proposed the motion, said the council had “let down its most vulnerable children” and labelled the SEND system as “totally dysfunctional.”

He said that “communication, coordination and case management” were the problem areas and that highlighted a case when a child had been out of school for six years.

His sentiment was shared across the political divide, as Liberal Democrat Sally Povolotsky said she was “burdened by the knowledge that countless children in the community are being failed by our council’s SEND system.”

Witney Gazette: The meeting was held at County HallThe meeting was held at County Hall

Council leader Liz Leffman said: “We have an issue with culture. We are not treating parents with empathy. We are not working at pace to try and resolve their problems.

“That has to change.”

She announced that a cabinet advisory group (CAG) would be created to look at improving SEND systems and highlighted the appointment of Kate Gregory to a new role focused on SEND improvement as an example of action.

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In recent months, there has been progress in Oxfordshire’s SEND services, with the average wait time for an education, health and care (EHC) plan down by eight weeks from last year.

Just a few hundred yards away from County Hall, hundreds of parents gathered in Bonn Square for a peaceful protest organised by SEND Reform England.

Witney Gazette: Terez Moore with her teenage son Theo at the protest in Bonn Square Terez Moore with her teenage son Theo at the protest in Bonn Square (Image: Albert Tait)

Terez Moore, a protestor from Didcot, had livestreamed the council meeting on her phone, but wasn’t convinced that anything would change because of it.

Her teenage son Theo spent two years out education before finally being placed at an appropriate school in Lincolnshire.

“Unless we see action, then it is just more words,” she said.

Abbie Bates, who has also struggled to find schooling for her autistic daughter Harriet, two, added: “You can speak all you want but without action we’re not going to believe it.”

Witney Gazette: Abbie Bates, who has struggled to find schooling for her autistic daughter, was also at the protestAbbie Bates, who has struggled to find schooling for her autistic daughter, was also at the protest (Image: Albert Tait)