Kingston’s support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities generally leads to positive experiences, inspectors have found, but health-service waiting times still need to improve.

    The joint Ofsted and Care Quality Commission inspection took place from 22 to 26 June 2026. It examined the local partnership’s arrangements across education, health and care, rather than rating an individual school.

    Kingston Council publicised the findings on 23 September. The partnership includes the council, Achieving for Children and NHS South West London Integrated Care Board.

    Where inspectors found strengths

    The published inspection report describes effective joint working and early identification of needs. It found that children and young people’s views informed planning, and that education, health and care plans were generally issued promptly.

    Inspectors also identified support for participation in education and community activities. Their overall judgement was that arrangements typically produced positive experiences and outcomes, with action being taken where improvement was needed.

    Health provision needs further work

    The report calls for shorter waits for services including autism and ADHD assessment and community paediatrics, alongside better support for families while they wait.

    It also asks leaders to make commissioned provision more consistent, particularly occupational therapy and continence services. Inspectors found some transitions into adult healthcare difficult to navigate.

    This inspection uses a written area-level judgement. It should not be described as an “Outstanding” grade for Kingston’s SEND services. Families looking at a particular finding can read the full report, which sets out both the strengths and the required improvements.

    Updated on 28 October 2026.

    Kingston Guildhall, December 2015. Archive location image, not a photograph of the reported event or inspection. Kingston Guildhall – archive photograph 2015 by Stevekeiretsu, CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and compressed; display crops may vary.