Estyn, the education and training inspectorate for Wales, has published a report on the way local authorities in Wales plan and monitor the quality of the provision for pupils with complex special needs in independent special schools with linked 52-week residential provision.

Inspectors found that, for the majority of pupils, the particularly complex range of special needs which these pupils have are not being met well in these placements. Local authorities too often focus on finding a school that can meet the pupils’ most challenging needs, which are often behavioural, rather than assessing all the complex needs of pupils and making sure the school can meet all of these needs.

The full report can be downloaded from the Estyn website.