20/06/2026
Yesterday, Sunshine and Smiles and 21 Co. were featured on BBC Look North, sharing our response to the Ofsted/CQC SEND inspection for Leeds.
As a charity supporting children and young people with Down syndrome and their families, we know first‑hand the struggles people have faced for many years in trying to secure the right support.
The inspection highlights serious, long‑standing challenges for children and families in Leeds; ❗long waits for assessments and EHCPs
❗inconsistent support in schools
❗too many children without the provision they need.
For families, none of this is a surprise. We’ve lived these challenges for years.
This must now be a call to action for the whole city - to work together, to listen to families, to invest in inclusion, to make sure every child receives the support they need to thrive.
Leeds has strong values around inclusion and compassion — now we need to see those values in practice, not just in principle.
Real change is possible and our children deserve to be able to access an education that is right for them and enables them to flourish.
🔗You can read the full report by Ofsted/CQC here: https://ow.ly/9ypB50ZeLWf
And watch the piece on BBC Look North on iPlayer here: https://ow.ly/2TzZ50ZeLWe (starts 01:10)
