Deep systemic failings across WSCC impacting SEN families
As a parent of multiple children with special educational needs, I have experienced years of serious and ongoing failings across West Sussex County Council. These issues span several departments, including SENAT, Education & Skills, Transport, Children’s Services, and senior leadership. Many other SEN families in West Sussex report similar experiences.
Across the council, statutory processes are routinely delayed, deadlines are missed, and essential support is not put in place. Communication between departments is inconsistent, information is often contradictory, and families are frequently passed from one team to another without resolution. This has left many children without suitable education for extended periods.
Parents are sometimes pressured or threatened with attendance‑related action even when the council has not provided the support required for children with complex needs. This creates an impossible situation for families who are already struggling.
What is most concerning is that even the highest levels of the council — including senior directors and the Monitoring Officer — do not appear to intervene when serious issues are raised. Families repeatedly report that statutory duties are not being followed, yet no meaningful action is taken. Many families describe being ignored by those at the top of the chain.
With the recent exposure of the WSCC data breach at two unoccupied sites, public confidence has been further damaged. When a council already facing major challenges in SEND provision also fails to safeguard sensitive information, it raises serious questions about governance, oversight, and the protection of vulnerable residents.
These problems are not isolated. They reflect a wider pattern of systemic failure that has affected SEN families across West Sussex for many years. Published promises are not fulfilled, and this entrenched failure has caused lasting harm to the public.
Significant improvement is urgently needed to restore trust and ensure children receive the support they are legally entitled to.