To think that Local Authorities Education depts are often dysfunctional org. cultures

[StarlightMcKenzee]

I have read this today:

www.specialneedsjungle.com/why-send-department-targets-mean-culture-change-reform-may-never-happen/

It doesn't surprise me.

Does it surprise any of you, especially those in Education?

You would think so balacqua

It's something I have been thinking of, not sure where to start with it tbh

Often I think cases are too complex balacqua to translate into easy newspaper articles.

When I suspected a council manager was lying, I used FOI requests to prove she was, then called her on it in front of a councillor (got her to repeat her lie in front of him, then waved the FOI in front of her). She actually shut up for five minutes (miracle). She has behaved (so far) since, although I try not to have anything to do with her.

OK that's amazing, small victories using foi- is that easy to do? IE can you request to read council emails via this?

Surely the Guardian or telegraph or panorama?

In my case I had the date & name of a meeting so it was easy to find (o needed minutes). The FOI clerk was very helpful & went through & looked for any other discussion by that group concerning the issue I was interested in

If this message that people really will follow up on lies and corruption perhaps this will force a cultural change.

However one of the corrupt places I have worked which was also involved in this area had very clever heads of service who were never minuted saying something that wasn't part of the plan or ever put anything traceable in writing.

I don't understand how local authorities can have told the DfE they were ready for the reforms, when the vast majority failed to meet the 31st May deadline for children with statements moving to post 16 placements. And if they've failed so radically with that one, how are they going to cope with the much larger numbers requiring new Education Health and Care Plans by 15th February next year because they are moving to the next phase in education?

Why would any LA nobody respectable local government worker risk their job simply to tell a senior civil servant or a Minister the truth. It would be silly.

Suppose their LA was the only one which admitted to failing. Goodbye cushy job, hello to DWP austerity.

That explains a lot - and it's vile. Anyone who denies needed support for a child with SEN because of their targets and because they want to secure their own bonus is a disgusting person. And of course the people with the right intentions won't last in the job long if they're not meeting the all-important targets.

Have there always been targets? It seems so distasteful when you're dealing with people who have genuine need.

Anyone who denies needed support for a child with SEN because of their targets and because they want to secure their own bonus is a disgusting person

Perhaps. But most humans are just trying to please the boss when they do awful things. Look on Wikipedia for the Zimbardo experiments.

I can barely read this thread as my son has been let down so badly in mainstream secondary. I've just made a request for him to be moved to a special school and am expecting a fight. I am in limbo until the panel sit and currently have no idea when this will be. I will ring and ask tomorrow though as I just need to know.

I am literally on the point of withdrawing DS from school and home educating him but that's not right for him either.

It shouldn't be such a fight to get our children the support they need....but it is.

And of course the people with the right intentions won't last in the job long if they're not meeting the all-important targets

They will. It's called cognitive dissonance. When your behaviour doesn't fit your beliefs, you'll modify whichever of these is easiest to change. So it's usually your mentality- for most people. Deciding that pushy middle class parents want the earth is a great deal easier than going on the dole, or changing a whole culture of a large organisation.

Think of Aesop's fox convincing himself the unreachable grapes were sour after all

Do you think this kind of thing is as pervasive in other areas? IE targets in social care that are not in the best interests of the child? Not to take away from the send issue here- but if there is a dysfunctional culture in send, surely it won't be the only place which is dysfunctional, IE is this going on in yots and other areas dealing with vulnerable children and young adults. I find it seriously concerning and feel that the closed culture - IE only by foi can truths be gained- petuates the problem.