How much do parent views effect ofsted report?

[Userno463736737363]

This may sound like a silly question. But I’ve never had kids in school where a full inspection has taken place as it’s always been done before they started.

anyway ds 12 is in year 7 at mainstream and not managing well. He is autistic.

his school has had an long anticipated ofsted inspection recently. Their last inspection was terrible but they did have some positive points about SEN provision - this is why I sent him there as their SEN provision was meant to be good. They’ve had a new head and more recently a more senco who has changed everything.

I am really not happy with the SEN provision there and a lot of other parents feel the same. People aren’t happy with the school all around.

a large proportions of parents have filled in the parent questionnaire and most are not happy.

a massive 80 percent of parents who have SEN children either disagree or strongly disagree that their child is supported to succeed at school.

overall 60 percent of parents would not recommend the school.

the results of the parent questionnaire are quite telling.

300 parents have filled in the questionnaire

how much of parents views are taken into account when the the report comes out?

I have concerns that the school majorly sugar coated themselves for the inspection. DS has an EHCP but has had little support in lessons, but they miraculously found a TA to work with him when ofsted were in.

they are short on teachers . I know that’s quite common at current times but this school is quite severely effected. They brought in teachers from other schools in the area to hide this.

I am not sure what the point of my post is. He desperately needs to be moved to a SEN school but places are limited where I live 🤦‍♀️

The inspection team will look at the send provision. They may however find that the provision is good. They may not agree with parents.

They will read your opinions, but it won't dictate the report.

Parent views are personal and subjective and the inspection team will check if set standards and attainment are being met and suitable processes are in place.

DS has an EHCP but has had little support in lessons, but they miraculously found a TA to work with him when ofsted were in.

This part concerned me the most. How many hours per week does your sons EHCP cover? Putting the ofsted question to the side for a moment, I would be challenging to school to demonstrate how they are using LA funding to support your DS during school hours. It sounds like you are unhappy with the support they are providing, despite the EHCP being in place. They should be able to provide you with a support roadmap to demonstrate how they are supporting him on the funding they have been given.

I’ve never been informed of hours. It goes on units in my area and he gets 10 units I believe. Max is 15 I believe so he is not on max funding. He had full time 1:1 at primary school. we always knew he wouldn’t get it full time at secondary but was told he’d get support in core lessons.

I am really unhappy with the school. 2 years ago when we started making the decision, it was a different senco and people spoke highly of the SEN support. Not so much now.

It is the lack of communication that is a large factor. The senco never replies to me or anyone. She dismisses parents views and thinks she knows best. The communication has broke down, I’ve met a few other Sen mums at the school and not one of them have anything positive about how she works and how the school support the children.

honestly, I’ve met a few sencos. I don’t have a bad word about any of them apart from this one.

I could literally talk about this all day.

Most parents don't fill the form in. Those that do often have a grudge against the school.
That said, it sounds like a significant number of people have responded, and I'd hope OFSTED will have seen sufficient numbers of responses before they left to allow them to investigate some areas of concern.
They won't take the parents comments and pass judgment on just the comments without looking into it themselves

I’m in the exact same boat as you so I can relate. It’s a never ending battle.

I would start by pulling the plan out and making a list of all the things it says DS should be receiving under the funding, just so you’re crystal clear.

I would then be requesting a meeting with the head and SENCO, tell them that you are feeling incredibly unsupported by them. If they refuse to take your complaint seriously and demonstrate how they are using the funding, you will be left with no choice but to make a complaint to the Governors.

If they are unable to provide you with a breakdown of how they are using those units then I would be inclined to also raise it with the Council directly. I’m sure they would be interested to know that the school is not using the funding they are providing to adequately support DS as per the EHCP the council has laid out.

I know feels so overwhelming taking on a school but ultimately they have an obligation to support DS as they have been instructed and paid to do. It’s your job to advocate for DS and you’re entitled to kick and scream until you’re heard.

We’re all fully aware that every single service is stretched and the pressure on schools is very much on. It’s not an adequate excuse when it comes to the welfare and development of our children though.

It sounds like the EHCP is rubbish and needs amending. If 1:1 is not specified and quantified in F that will be why 1:1 isn’t being provided normally. What does section F say about support? If it is specified and quantified you can enforce the provision if it isn’t being provided.

Have you appealed to SENDIST for a SS?

Hairdressers and cansu posts are so sad. Parental views should be considered but it seems they are largely dismissed. Generally.

You will have to fight OP. Senco, Head, Governors.

Thanks all. I will request a meeting with school

I have already been in touch with the SEN team at the council regarding his ehcp. The problem is the much of the EHCP is things such as close adult support and ongoing support rather than specifically stating 1:1 in many areas so I think this is the problem. It does state he needs support in core lessons though. Not strictly the schools fault however the school are generally unsupportive with lack of communication, dismissive and not really caring tbh. we are currently dealing with school refusal on some days. The school see it as all my problem rather than addressing the problems at school.

I was told he would get support in core lessons but getting very little. The senco doesn’t believe in children becoming reliant on TA’s. I get that to an extent but there’s literally zero support.

I do believe that the senco and other senior members of staff are not fit to be in the role. I totally totally understand how stretched schools are, I get it.

to put into context, most of the kids (not just SEN kids) are on a waiting list to be transferred to the other school in the catchment that’s now subscribed with this one having plenty of spaces! I could have got ds into the other school having an echo but in previous years it has been said his current school has fantastic SEN support but somewhere it’s gone down hill. They also have a higher than average turnover of staff.

I cannot even find out who the governors are. Nothing on their website or online at all. It’s strange!

I tend to read ofsted reports for all the local schools (yes I really am that sad - I used to work in education and I find it interesting!)

From what I’ve seen, those parent questionnaire results sound REALLY bad. Much worse than anything I’ve ever seen. If that represents a significant enough proportion of the parents then I’d be amazed if they get better than requires improvement.

Is it an academy school @Userno463736737363 ?

The problem is the vague and woolly EHCP. “Close adult support” and “ongoing support” is far too vague and woolly to be of any use and isn’t enforceable. Unless the support in core lessons is detailed, specified and quantified that is also too vague and woolly. Focus on getting the EHCP amended by requesting an early review.

Absolutely. I think I was a bit naive. He’d always had 1:1 at primary and didn’t really think otherwise at secondary. I’ve been nagging the senco to sort a review since October!

Yes it is

You might need to look for the board of trustees if there's no information about governors available.

You don’t need the SENCO to sort it. Send IPSEA’s model letter requesting an early review to the LA’s Director of Children’s Services. When are you due an AR anyway?

I must be quite sad then too 😂 I’ve not worked in education and find it interesting. I never knew the school I went to in the early 2000’s was inadequate until I read that recently 😂

anyway… I don’t know much about the parental views but I do think that 300 out of 1000 students is a pretty good number, considering some parents might have 2 or 3 or even more kids in the school.

I know there are a lot of unhappy parents and this not just parents with SEN kids, people are frustrated about how the school is ran etc.

they got a new head after their previous inadequate. I honestly think she’s took the wrong approach and make the school even worse. But like I said I’ve never worked in education.

I cannot fault the teachers at all. All the teachers I’ve met or spoke to seem great. It’s issues with the senior staff and how the school is ran. Even a teacher admitted to me he’s struggling to support my SEN child and the rest of class without help. My son isn’t disruptive as such, no behavioural issues but his academic ability holds him back massively. He needs a lot of support and guidance in lessons.

Thank you. I didn’t realise this. It’s due in the summer May sort of time. However, the senco herself mentioned an early review in September and said she’d sort it but has not. I have been mentioning it in my emails with no luck!

Thank you. Yes I’ve just looked into this and found some info. My younger child’s school is an academy school and has its own governors but this one has board of trustees like you say!! I am new to all this. Ty