Following a bout of meetings and disputes between Rutland County Council and parents of SEND children in and around Rutland, RCC hosted a meeting on the 21st of April 2022 in an attempt to tackle some of the many concerns raised by local SEND groups.

The Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee was gathered after an SEND meeting on the 17th of March 2022 in which parents voiced their concerns about the care given to SEND children and their carers by RCC.

Following this, one group of carers released an open letter to Cllr Paul Ainsley Chair of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee. This letter, from SEND Action Rutland, detailed the "overdue Ofsted visit", "integral issues" and "dismissive attitude towards parents".

As such, this meeting on the 21st of April was a critical moment for the relationship between groups of SEND parents and Rutland County Council, and recommendations were made to help prevent further escalation.

Paul Ainsley suggested that: "The Children's Services offer of an independent person to oversee a communications action plan. This is clearly the most useful and logical way forward, given the passions and views expressed in the deputations.

"It is to be hoped that the independent person enjoys broad terms of reference and with a requirement to report regularly to the Department Head, the fledgling SEND Action Group, Rutland Parent Carer Voice, indeed all parent / carers or groups.

 "As you are no doubt aware the three current scrutiny panels, including the Children's and Young People Scrutiny has been replaced by a single scrutiny committee. It is to be hoped that the concerns and actions raised at last Thursday's meeting will continue to be actively scrutinised." 

The parent and carer group, SEND Action Rutland said: "SEND Action Rutland are pleased with the outcomes of last week's Children's Scrutiny Committee and would like to thank the committee for listening to our deputation. We feel that we put our case across well and that the subsequent long term outcomes for the future look hopeful. 

"SEND Action Rutland look forward to working together with Rutland County Council and tackling the issues that we've found in the SEND community. We are stronger together."

To find out more about Scrutiny at Rutland County Council, visit their website.

Meanwhile, get in touch with us at Oakham Nub News to share your views and concerns around childcare provisions, your local Council and more by emailing [email protected] or by clicking the 'Nub It' button at the top of the news page.

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