Wolverhampton is continuing to make 'strong accelerated progress' to further improve services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities' (SEND).

That is the finding of the most recent review meeting between the city's SEND and Inclusion Partnership Board, the Department for Education (DfE) and NHS England, which concluded that the city continues to make 'sustainable progress' and that this work is 'having a positive impact'.

The review meeting, the latest in a series of regular progress checks, found that clear and sustained progress had been made in addressing another of these key areas – how partners share information – meaning it will no longer be monitored going forward.

Assessors found Wolverhampton's 'Local Offer' of information and support for children and young people with SEND and their families had been relaunched with the development of a new website, www.localofferwolves.co.uk. As a result, awareness of the Local Offer had 'significantly increased' and people now 'feel better informed and know where support is available'.

Four of the other areas for improvement have already been 'closed off', and assessors will continue to monitor the one remaining area of “the lack of accuracy in EHC plans and the delays in assessment, writing and review of those plans” over the coming months.

Jon Dore from the DfE said: "I know this positive outcome is as a result of a great deal of commitment and hard work on the part of the local authority, the Integrated Care Board, families and front-line staff across education, health and social care.

"I would like to thank you for all that you are doing to support some of the most vulnerable children and young people in society, and to congratulate you on the progress you have made. Please do continue with these efforts and build on the successes you have already achieved."