Hertfordshire's special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) services have taken a significant step forward after the Government confirmed a formal improvement notice has been lifted.

The notice had been issued following a damning inspection in 2023, which found widespread and systemic failings in support for children and young people with SEND across the county.

Now, more than two years on, the Department for Education has confirmed the notice has been removed, recognising "key improvements" made by Hertfordshire's local area partnership.

What has changed

According to the council, inspectors and Government officials acknowledged several areas of progress, including:

• Stronger governance and oversight of SEND services
• Better performance in meeting statutory deadlines
• Improved use of data to drive decision-making
• Greater involvement of children, young people and families in shaping services

A monitoring inspection carried out by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission in late 2025 also found the county had taken "effective action" in key areas such as data use and quality assurance.

Long road to improvement

The lifting of the notice marks a turning point after years of concern from families, MPs and inspectors about delays, poor communication and gaps in provision.

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The original inspection highlighted serious issues, including delays to education, health and care plans (EHCPs) and failures to meet children's needs, prompting the Government to intervene.

Since then, Hertfordshire has been working through a formal improvement plan, with regular reviews by national bodies.

Cautious optimism

Despite the progress, the council has acknowledged that improvements will take time to be fully felt by families across the county.

Officials say while experiences have already improved for some children and young people, it may take longer before changes are consistently seen across all services.

A full re-inspection of SEND services is expected within the next few years.

What this means locally

For families in Hitchin and across North Hertfordshire, the decision signals that services are moving in the right direction after a difficult period.

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However, with demand for SEND support continuing to rise, the focus now shifts to whether these improvements translate into faster assessments, better communication and more reliable support on the ground.