A FAILURE to meet the needs of some of Oxfordshire's most vulnerable pupils has been partly blamed on funding pressures.

Oxfordshire County Council was the subject of a string of concerns raised by education and healthcare regulators this week, regarding its provision for children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) in schools.

A joint report released by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found 'significant areas of weakness', particularly with plans the council is responsible for producing for the most needy pupils.

The council's cabinet member for education, Hilary Hibbert-Biles, said: "It's important to remember that Oxfordshire is among the very poorest government-funded areas for education in terms of per-pupil funding, which has a bearing on the ability of schools and local agencies to bring in specialist support.

"We receive £17m less in 'high needs' funding than neighbouring Buckinghamshire, despite being a slightly larger county with higher levels of deprivation."

County councillor and education expert, Professor John Howson, added: "Oxfordshire as a local authority must not be blamed for shortcomings in the NHS.

"Tackling mental health issues early is of great importance and Oxfordshire is not able to do enough with current funding levels.

"Despite being one of the worst funded local authorities for education, Oxfordshire does many things well for its pupils with special educational needs."

The Department for Education has previously defended the level of funding awarded to Oxfordshire, and has insisted a new funding formula due to be introduced in the coming years will bring £10m more to the county's schools.

Ofsted and the CQC's report said areas of weakness had 'not been tackled sufficiently quickly or robustly', including low attainment, high exclusion rates and 'disjointed transition' from child to adult services.

It added: "A significant number of parents reported dissatisfaction with their experiences, describing the struggle they have had to ensure that their children's needs are suitably recognised and met."

The report noted a particular downfall with education and health care plans (EHCPs) – documents produced by the council for certain SEND children and young adults, to ensure they gain the correct support in school or college.

Ofsted said most of these were not drawn up by the council within the statutory timescale, and 'often fail to match children and young people's needs and aspirations'.

Former teacher Gillian Stickings, however, said she was happy with her 14-year-old daughter Judith's ECHP, produced by the council last year.

She said Judith, who has cerebral palsy, had 'flourished' since attending John Watson School near Wheatley.

Mrs Stickings, who lives near Sonning Common, said: "It's really hard with a child to precisely, in split-hair detail, pin down what they are going to be doing into adulthood. It's unreasonable to expect that - the plan is going to continue evolving."

EHCPs replaced previous plans called statements of special educational need.