Council leaders say they are ‘too painfully aware’ of the struggles faced by families with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Bracknell Forest.

An open letter signed by 148 parents with SEND children to the authority was discussed by councillors at a meeting on Wednesday, November 27.

In the letter, parents expressed their ‘deep dissatisfaction’ with the council’s services, accusing the authority of treating their children as an ‘afterthought’.

Council bosses responded by acknowledging a need for ‘significant, lasting change’, and argued progress was being made – even if it had not filtered through to parents’ experiences.

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Questions were then raised about the letter by councillors at a meeting on Wednesday, November 27.

Councillor Patrick Smith asked Roy Bailey, cabinet member for children and young people, what changes were taking place to address families concerns.

He said the letter ‘suggests that progress is not always translating into a positive experience for parents.

Councillor Bailey said the letter had been taken ‘very seriously’, and that he had engaged in ‘daily’ conversations on the matter with senior officers.

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He told colleagues: “My whole focus throughout was to make sure we weren’t missing anything – were there any patterns in what parents were saying?

“We all want to do what is right to ensure that families affected by SEND get the right attention in a timely fashion. We are doing our best to do that.”

Bracknell Forest Council was rated as having ‘significant areas of weakness’ in its provision by Ofsted in 2022.

It has since entered the government’s Safety Valve scheme, in which two new SEND schools will be funded in return for a reduction of the councils overspend.

Councillor Gareth Barnard, who was previously responsible for SEND in the conservative administration, said the Ofsted inspection result was ‘one of the lowest points I had as a councillor here’.

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But he added that he was ‘disappointed’ that the response to parents ‘sought to minimise their impact’.

In response, Councillor Bailey said: “I’m only too painfully aware of distress and frustration felt by some parents you’ve referred to.

“I know there are many parents who are frustrated, and I won’t ignore them.”

Councillor Barnard requested the Overview and Scrutiny Commission conduct a review of the SEND department. He said a review would show parents the council had ‘clear political leadership’ on the issue.

Councillor Bailey said that he would work with colleagues to conduct the review with his ‘100 per cent support’.