OFSTED’S report on the failings of SEND services in Worcestershire was “heartbreaking” to read - but didn’t come as a surprise, say politicians.

One county councillor says he feels like he’s experienced gaslighting by the council after fighting for improvements over the past three years.

In a report published this week, Ofsted said there are “widespread systemic failings” in Worcestershire’s SEND services.

It said too many children are facing unacceptable waits for diagnoses and parents are left feeling like they have no choice but to home-school their children.

Pershore county councillor Dan Boatright-Greene said: “This was predictable, I've spent three years fighting as this has got worse.

“Like the parents, I'm exhausted trying to fight what is happening. Been made to feel like I'm interfering whenever I've raised issues and now I just feel like I've experienced gaslighting by the council.”

Worcester MP Tom Collins said: “Today’s report on SEND provision in Worcestershire is painful and heartbreaking reading, but it will be no surprise to parents, families, educators and health professionals.

“We need urgent action, and I will do all I can to trigger swift and decisive work to bring change.”

Christopher Bloor, the MP for Redditch, said: “Today's report on SEND provision in Worcestershire is difficult reading. But I know it reflects the experiences of many children, young people and their families in Redditch and the villages.

“This can't be allowed to continue and I will do all I can to ensure all our children and young people get the education and support they deserve.”

Worcester city councillor Elena Round said: “These failures were identified in 2018, and were meant to be addressed by the Accelerated Action Plan in 2021 but it is clear they were not, and as a result are still failing the most vulnerable of children.

“That’s six years in a child’s life where the failures of those in authority have failed children.

“How much longer do children and young people have to wait to get an education and support in Worcestershire?

“There is no proper scrutiny of their procedures and policies, still failing to maintain timeframes as required by law, still failing to answer legitimate questions, still failing to provide specialist school placements to children and young people, still failing to provide crucial specialist nursery places so that children can be assessed early, still failing to provide essential therapies.”

A joint statement from the NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board, Worcestershire Children First and Worcestershire County Council said the authorities fully accepted the findings of the report.

The authorities declined to comment on Cllr Boatright-Greene's "gaslighting" comments.