A panel which looks into the provision of special educational needs and disability (SEND) services to children in Kent could be scrapped.

The 17-strong sub-committee was set up after the county council was found to be failing vulnerable youngsters in a damning Ofsted report back in 2022.

But its effectiveness in improving SEND provision has been questioned, with one councillor saying it has “done very little” since its inception.

Now KCC’s scrutiny committee is considering disbanding it altogether.

The chairman of that body, Cllr Andy Booth, said: “The SEND scrutiny committee have done very little in a year, in my view.

“When the committee was set up the provision of SEND was the number one issue facing the council. It was so important that I suggested that we should meet every week if necessary.

“I would have expected them to come back with a number of recommendations as a result of its work but instead I cannot see anything.

“I am frustrated by it and the council wants answers and the public wants answers.

“If my committee decides it is a waste of time we can maybe give them three months or deal with it at scrutiny.”

The SEND sub-committee - made up of cross-party members, church representatives and parent-governors - was formed when KCC was ordered to improve its performance by Ofsted/CQC.

The watchdogs concluded Kent was unable to meet SEND children's needs and there was a lack of willingness by schools to accept SEND students.

Ofsted also complained of poor standards, poor progress and inconsistencies within Educational Health Care.

The committee’s remit was to scrutinise SEND provision, make recommendations, call for action and to hold KCC leaders accountable.

However, its annual report, set to go before the scrutiny committee this week, does not make recommendations.

Instead, it makes observations in nine areas of weakness in SEND provision highlighted by the Ofsted/Care Quality Commission inspections in 2019 and 2022.

The report states: “While further work is required, the sub-committee is pleased to produce this report which confirms that progress is being made against the APP and that improvements are being put in place.

“Complacency cannot be tolerated in this vital space where so many people rely on crucial support from KCC and the NHS – therefore the sub-committee strongly supports a maintained focus on scrutinising SEND provision and holding decision-makers to account.”

It also suggests areas requiring further exploration, which includes how KCC can decrease its reliance on Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

EHCPs have been hugely controversial in recent years because they allow parents to claim free taxi travel for their children.

Sub-committee member Harry Rayner, who is also deputy cabinet member for finance at KCC, said the current cost of SEND provision is £60m a year and set to rise to £80m 2024-25.

He warned the price tag could soar again to £100m in the year 2025-26.

Cllr Rayner added: "The provision of SEND services is one of the fastest, if not the fastest, growing costs facing KCC at the present time.

"The number of EHCPs needs to be reduced and brought into line with counties of a similar size, such as Essex, which has considerably lower."

The sub-committee's chair Cllr Perry Cole said he had no comment on Cllr Booth's remarks.

But he added the body was set up for a year and that "any outstanding matters could be dealt with by the scrutiny committee".

One of two recommendations contained in the papers ahead of the April 24 meeting states scrutiny committee members “determine whether the SEND sub-committee should continue its activity or be disbanded”.

The KCC scrutiny committee meets tomorrow.