Why multi-agency collaboration matters in SEND

Ofsted and CQC emphasise that effective support for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities requires robust multi-agency collaboration. However, bringing together professionals from health, education, social care, and other sectors to deliver truly coordinated support presents a significant challenge: how do you ensure everyone shares the same understanding of quality?

Without a unified approach, definitions of "good quality" can become subjective and inconsistent across teams, ultimately impacting outcomes for the children and young people.

The Ofsted and CQC joint inspection framework for local area SEND services explicitly evaluates how well agencies work together.

According to Ofsted's framework, local areas must demonstrate that different services work together seamlessly, with clear evidence that this collaboration leads to improved outcomes. This is about demonstrating tangible impact through coordinated quality assurance practices.

Maintaining quality standards across multiple agencies is a challenge

Different teams or individuals may have varying interpretations of what constitutes a "good" EHCP, not because of competence but due to professional perspectives and training backgrounds. Without clear, objective criteria, subjectivity can lead to inconsistencies in how EHCPs are reviewed across your local authority.

The solution: A unified multi-agency quality assurance framework

The answer lies in implementing a single, shared quality framework that all professionals can access and apply consistently.

A unified framework means everyone – from educational psychologists to occupational therapists – works to the same quality criteria. The framework should be grounded in legislation and referenced from nationally recognised good practice with clear definitions of what ‘good’ looks like.

This approach creates opportunities for professionals from different agencies to learn together. When everyone uses the same framework, you can:

• Identify patterns in quality across different types of advice

• Highlight areas where specific teams or individuals need additional support

• Share best practices that work across all professional groups

• Build a common language around EHCP quality

A good framework empowers professionals to assess and improve their own and their peers practice.

Building a collaborative approach through moderation sessions

Multi-agency moderation sessions represent the practical application of your shared quality framework. These sessions, whether conducted online or in person, bring together professionals from across your SEND partnership to review EHCPs collaboratively using an EHCP that represents the range of needs, complexity, and contributing professionals in your area. During moderation sessions:

• Each professional reviews the same EHCPs using your shared framework

• Ratings and observations are compared across the group

• Discrepancies in scoring prompt discussion about different interpretations

• The group works toward consensus on what quality looks like

Targeted training

Moderation sessions naturally reveal where training is needed. You might discover that:

• Speech and language therapists need guidance on how their advice translates into educational outcomes

• EHCP coordinators require support in synthesising complex medical information

• Auditors need standardisation to ensure consistent application of quality standards

These insights enable you to deliver training that directly addresses real gaps in understanding and practice.

Build a shared understanding

Most importantly, moderation sessions create a shared understanding of what constitutes a high-quality EHCP. Participants learn:

• How their advice is used by other professionals

• What makes advice truly actionable and useful

• How different professional perspectives combine to create holistic support

Key benefits of multi-agency quality assurance

Implementing a robust multi-agency quality assurance system delivers benefits across your SEND partnership:

For children and young people: Higher quality EHCPs that lead to better coordinated support and improved outcomes

For families: Greater confidence that all professionals are working to the same standards and that their child's needs are being met

For professionals: Clearer guidance, better support, and opportunities to learn from colleagues across different agencies

For senior leaders: Robust evidence of quality assurance processes for Ofsted, better data to drive improvement, and assurance that statutory duties are being met

For commissioners: Clear evidence of impact to support funding decisions and service development

A shared future

By implementing a shared quality framework, conducting regular multi-agency moderation sessions, and using technology to support consistency and collaboration, you can:

• Demonstrate to Ofsted and CQC that your multi-agency approach is robust and effective

• Build genuine shared understanding across your SEND partnership

• Drive measurable improvements in EHCP quality

• Most importantly, improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND

By working together with a shared understanding of quality, your SEND partnership can achieve the coordinated, holistic support that every child with SEND is of high quality