My God this story about the class photograph is appalling!

[Needsomebloodyperspective]

Link here.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce5epgp2zdno

Parents given the option to have disabled children removed from their photograph.

Who on Gods green earth thought that was a good idea?!

I’ve heard that happening often so it’s not uncommon

Not one person has.

Those parents can then be told. That is the best we could do. If a child is moving involuntarily in a photo and comes out blurry it isn't a big issue and parents should get over it.

That’s probably right my son is at special school and their school photo wasn’t exactly instgram material but it was lovely as natural and something to look back on and laugh about shows the kids personalities, but I’d imagine some parents who have perfect kids wouldn’t want their school pictures being spoilt

That's what I mean. I get that a blurry picture isn't ideal but it's a snapshot of the class. I don't know why it really matters if Arlo is a little blurry unless your child is Arlo then you might mind.

I worked in a FE college and saw this happen. I don’t think you can blame the teachers or the educational establishment though. Ofsted would have marked us down if behaviour was poor, even if the issues were caused by pupils disabilities. Ofsted ratings were used to allocate funding, so a low rating meant reduced funding, and that would have left us even more unable to meet the needs of disabled pupils. This situation is totally Ofsted’s fault.

Nope its the school/colleges fault. They are prioritising ofsted that's their choice they have to own it.

And as I said, if the college didn’t prioritise Ofsted it would lose funding, and be even less able to support disabled pupils.

The whole point of OFSTED is to see how a school copes warts and all not to remove "problem " during an OFSTED visit.

Tempest seem to have the monopoly on school photos, but as someone working in Special School for many years, I have seen a few good, patient photographers , but most of them are not.. it's like a factory production line... child in, sit, smile.. go.
That doesn't work for a large number of the pupils I work with, many of them are not able to 'comply' or are upset and we certainly don't force the issue.. I really wish the photographer could just come to class and take natural photos when the children are happy and relaxed. But they don't.

I hope Tempest lose their contract with a large number of school, following this.

But it’s not helpful when they take money off the college because Ofsted says it’s not coping. If anything a low rating should come with MORE money not less.

Exactly this, the school dress it up like they are doing the child a favor. Mine is autistic and was in mainstream when they had ofsted but we were at a point where the relationship was so bad I don’t think they would have dared asked me to keep him off. Another parent got asked but she sent child in anyway and phoned ofsted and said she been asked to keep off. Child got her 1-1 support all day that day like she should be having through her ehcp and there was no issues

Yup but it's still a choice they are making so they need to own it. You can't blame ofsted. Yeah it's shit but they aren't the ones saying "keep the kids who might be disruptive or take up our time at home"

I hope Tempest lose their contract with a large number of school, following this
I have to say though, my autistic son and his two classmates with complex needs have always been in class photos taken by Tempest. I imagine this was a decision by that one photographer, not Tempest company policy.

Ofsted would not mark you down for the behaviour of a student that they have been informed has a special need. Or at least only if it's not managed well. They will make their judgement based on how any behaviour that they see from them those students is handled.

I and my school management team were as anxious about Ofsted as anyone else. But let's at least be transparent about what is happening and how they judge. I've had extremely difficult behaviour to manage while being observed (including being punched) yet still had positive feedback.

They know there are complex pupils/students. They just want to see that there are plans and strategies in place to manage them.

I read that the school has a 'special needs hub' and I am wondering if there were two sets of photos available - one with both groups together and one of the separate groups?

Most sen children don't look any different from other children, so how did the photographer decide who was special needs and who wasn't?

I don't think we are getting the whole story here.

One was in a wheelchair and one wears ear defenders (not sure if it's the same child)

@Bluefell insightful post has nailed it 👌 on the head ..
much more succiently articulates ways Ofstead effect and ramifications in the school system..

The theory of what Ofstead should be about

and the reality is different a paradox because of the unrealistic objectives and expections of this Ofstead agency and the very low lack of support given to support teachers in ever increasing extremely stressful environment, due to many factors that need to be urgently addressed..

In my experience ofsted ratings are inversely proportional to how good a school is at supporting kids with Sen. Most outstanding schools are outstanding because they’ve managed to off roll most of their Sen kids or out them off starting the the first place so don’t make out that getting a good ofsted rating is important becuase a school is so interested in being able to support disabled children, it’s really not. Not saying I necessarily blame schools, the whole ofsted system and the way Sen funding works encourages schools to do this

I think this is horrific - what next, shall we erase the kids of different ethnicities next?

Hope that there is some law that’s been infringed and that the photography company is made to answer for this in court, frankly.

I’ve told you what my employer’s policy was and why they had that policy. For some reason you have seen fit to turn that into a personal accusation against me. I have reported your post.

@DinnaeFashYersel

Like ive said before it's easy as a random on here on social media mumsnet and sit in judgement like you are
@Bluefell is just stating the reality of what it's like nowadays
She is not ableist cause of telling it as it is,

Ofstead should be more holistically supportive of the whole school system in reality Ofstead agency ways of doing things creates detrimental effect
there was even a person who worked for Ofstead and decided to not work for them anymore as they didn't like the ways Ofstead ways of doing things
effectively this former employee of Ofstead agency, was whistle-blowering about Ofstead...

@Bluefell

Good 👍 glad you have reported @DinnaeFashYersel post too.
👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿