Council chiefs have apologised for failings in critical services for vulnerable children - after a damning inspection report found there had been insufficient improvements on weaknesses identified three years ago.

The leader of Kent County Council and the chief nurse for Kent said shortcomings in services would be tackled as a priority.

The apology came after a report into how the local area – KCC, NHS Kent and Medway, local schools and other settings – provided support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in the county.

Following an inspection by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in 2019, nine areas of weakness were identified.

At the time, a written statement was submitted by KCC and NHS Kent and Medway which promised swift actions. It said a new strategy would be implemented to improve support for children and young people with SEND and regain the trust of parents, carers and families.

However, a follow up visit by Ofsted and the CQC in September 2022 found that the local area has "not made sufficient progress" in addressing the weaknesses previously identified.

Inspectors spoke in September with children and young people with SEND, parents and carers, representatives from the parent/carer forum Parents and Carers Together (PACT), school leaders representing educational provision across the area and local authority and NHS staff.

"It feels as though my son’s needs are not being prioritised, and they don’t care..."

In its letter setting out the failings, Ofsted and the CQC said: “Parental confidence in the local area’s ability to meet their children’s needs is at an all-time low.

"In 2019, parents were said to be ‘upset, angry and concerned’.

"In September 2022, almost 2,000 took the time to share their views with inspectors."

The report quoted one parent as saying: "Communication is poor; co-production is non-existent… It feels as though my son’s needs are not being prioritised, and they don’t care. They are incompetent."

The inspection recounted “desperate and dispirited parents who repeatedly told inspectors about their experiences, particularly of poor communication".

It adds: "Examples were evidenced where parents and school staff had attempted to call SEN officers forty or fifty times with no response.”

According to the inspection findings, “several parents and some headteachers commented on ‘insensitive’ and ‘unhelpful’ communication from leaders which made parents feel they were being blamed for the ‘cost’ of having a child or young person".

It adds: “There continues to be too wide a variation in the quality of provision and in commitment to inclusion in schools. The lack of willingness of some schools to accommodate children with SEND has continued.”

The leader of KCC, Roger Gough, admits the report "makes uncomfortable and hugely disappointing reading".

"We accept the findings and offer our heartfelt apologies to all the children and parents who we have let down and we are very sorry for the impact this has had on them," he said.

"Clearly the council is under massive pressure on its budget but where it is needed, we will invest...”

Cllr Gough says money would be found to turn around failing services "if needed".

He says the council has not shied away from investing in services for those children with special educational needs. He pointed to investment in child psychologists in 2019 - after the earlier critical Ofsted report identified growing demand for help.

“Where it is needed, we are certainly willing to invest," the Conservative said.

"One of the things we are creating is the central hub for those who will manage much better communications, which is something we have been planning for some time.

"Clearly the council is under massive pressure on its budget but where it is needed, we will invest.”

Cllr Gough says families will see improvements in the quality of services and there would be a focus on ensuring better monitoring.

“It is not something we have ever lost sight of but frankly it is something we have taken too long to make the difference in parental experience," he said.

Asked where the buck stopped in terms of political accountability, he said: “We are seeking to ensure new leadership in this area both politically and in terms of the management of services.”

He says he has not considered resigning.

“I am not the cabinet member responsible for this but it is something that as leader, I certainly take seriously," Cllr Gough added.