Northease Manor School

[Lozzie12]

I am looking for a secondary school for my DS with HF ASD, he is currently in mainstream primary with a 1:1 TA but we have been advised he won't manage secondary. His main problems are anxieties and SpLd. I am going to look at Northease Manor School, does anyone have any knowledge / experience of this, many thanks.

It's also notable of WoWo's very precise knowledge of the Ofsted Inspectors names and how they relate to this other schools inspection, that's some in depth research for someone who just 'happened' to come across a Thread.

Hello all
I don't want to get into a them and us argument. I'm sure Dontgothere has her reasons for turning on Northease like this but I believe all your posts on mumsnet have been anti-Northease. I really hope that if she has a child there or had a child there that they have gone on to receive the support they needed.
Woowi91. You can't compare Northease to Stanbridge Earls case. That is dangerous talk to even put them in the same category. The comments that both you and Dontgothere there have made leans towards legal minded people wanting to take action.
I don't know what the inadequate actions or (non actions )that were taken by Northease and I hope we will be told.
I agree having an enhanced CRB or DBS check on staff working with children should have been done as a standard. I even made sure the taxi driver used to transport my daughter is crb! I will follow that up with the school.
But this personal attacking of a very very special needs school is what I don't understand. Both Dontgothere and Woowo91 have either of you stated what your relationship with the school is? I am very interested in why you both gate the school so much.
This attempt to destroy the development of so many young people who have already gone through so much trauma in their school lives, is what I really don't understand.
I am really trying to understand the obvious hatred you both have but neither of you have stated what your interests are.
I know the school will survive this attack, they have received a huge amount of support from parents, ex pupils and local authorities. Northease will address the issues raised in the ofsted report and will I hope continue to thrive.

If what I've heard about Northease is true, the only way forward is change and extremely strong leadership without bullying and intimidating behaviour. As for the comments and comparison of this school to another, there are similarities but Northease could use that to its advantage to turn it around. Optimistic I know, but we can't go closing ALL special schools otherwise our children have nowhere to be educated!

In relation to northease manor
I have to ask where in independent schools is the objective view in authority to bring about changes in a failing school?
Is that not what the concern is here?
Whether we are able to afford to pay the fees or are funded by leas we are service users who are being robbed and our children denied the support care and services this school is saying it is proving when clearly it can't or won't!?
To be told that for some months or years the specialist Ot spl and counselling are being arranged or awaiting the appointment of staff does not see a reduction in the fees they are asking for.
They have never to my knowledge refunded parents who's children have not been supported when it has been paid for. In any other sector this is fraud and taking monies under false pretences rather like the builder who says he will provide a service yet it never turns up.
Leas have said in relation to northease they can take no action as it is independent the isc person has said they are not independent and are there to support the head person no matter how incompetent and a mess they are making of vulnerable peoples lives.
As for the lady who spoke on the bbc good on her I say for not being bullied by threats of legal action intimidation and the having the strength to stand up where others have made excuses not too.
I wonder in response to the very hard working parents who's daughter is there why she is not questioning the way in which the head and board of governors are unable to work independently and raise concerns that parents have?
And work with the parents to sort it rather that spending energies on lying and believing parents be satisfied
I feel for you as when my dear daughter started at this school she too was in heaven and was frightened as people were so happy she could not comprehend this was normal.
However within a short space of months she is spending hours alone frightened to venture out and needing time away from school to cope with going in again.
This school has become not even a shadow of itself in the last months.
Ha the special needs school in special measures the one they wanted to close down? yes it now has an ofstead report classing it as outstanding but actually at the end of the day you can get your car mot and the following day a rusty brake pipe will mean it fails just like patcham house the outstanding school now!
It might have cleaned up its act for the inspection but it is still out of control the pupils run wild and beat weaker kids up the majority of teachers give the kids a piece of paper tell them to write about their day or draw a picture then spend the rest of the lesson surfing the internet
Ofstead reports are not worth the paper they are written on.
Ofstead have refused to inspect northease manor until it has put its framework in order probably as they were threatened with legal action after telling the truth that was unpalatable.
Instead they are going to send in ici the independent inspectors who have an age old frame work of tick boxes that the schools know so well.
And why have parents not removed their children as that is what northease have thrived on parents removing children showing a good front plying the children with attention for the first few months parents who are overwhelmed and relieved that they have battled so hard and let out a big sigh believing things can get better
They trust the school with their precious children who have suffered horrendously on a journey to get there yet they are betrayed.

I cannot begin to tell you the amount of parents who have thought it was just them and are discovering it isn't. We have not removed our children as we believe the founders vision can be restored and northease can become the wonderful school with needs met and children able to have respect for themselves once again.
We will not remove our children so others can under go the same traumas our children have been put through.
This head needs to take a long hard look at what she has created and the governors need to realise they are not fit for purpose and gracefully step down before the matter is forced apon them
Just a few parents and caring individuals who have the real needs at the children at heart.

I have been reading these comments on Northease and feel i must speak up for my friend who did the interview. Firstly i think she is very brave to speak out and her reasons for resigning are very valid. For those of you who speak so highly of Northease why are you not supporting the Friends Committee, it has been left to 4 parents who despite having problems with their children within school still support the events and fundraising. I have 2 children in the school, one has flourished despite not having all of his statement met so we sent our second child there where it was his last chance. Despite their promises they are not meeting the most basic needs in his statement and his learning is suffering because of it. Like many we don't have other choices and are continually going into the school trying to get issues resolved. I have known many staff and pupils leave and this is still happening. On the plus there are some amazing staff at the school who give their all but there seems to be more children with behavioural problems causing disruption and bullying that isn't being dealt with. For those having no problems i am really pleased for your children but there is no need to attack someone who us brave enough to speak out about issues that are not being resolved. :-(

Well said mother germ. There are many children who have been let down and become victims of abuse/bullying and the senior management turn a blind eye. Even some of the local education authority's are aware and have done nothing. Maybe with the visits from eastsussex, Brighton and Essex LA's and a voice from Norman Baker MP someone may take action and listen before more vulnerable children are harmed.

Have to point out there is a steady trickle of children leaving we have been advised to look for other placements as they will be filled quickily.
Of course northease management do not care as other unwittingly take their place the new build is the focus now more bums on seats again without providing for these children.

I feel that in the view of the current developments at The Northease Manor School, that should issue this statement in support and in explanation of why have chosen to speak out at the televised interview on the Monday 19th May 2014.
My daughter is 14 years old and is a day pupil at the above school in a year 9. She has joined the school after long negotiations with the local LEA. She has previously attended an excellent mainstream secondary school with impressing track record and outstanding ofsted reports. Despite the school doing their utmost best, my daughter ended up with more or less of a nervous breakdown and stopped going to school. The school has agreed that they were unable to meet my daughters complex needs which are dyslexia, dyspraxia and sensory integration problems, (but has impeccable behaviour and is naturally very obedient child and pupil with real desire to learn.)
In the end my privately commissioned professionals (educational psychologist, Speech and language therapist, Occupational Therapist and Dyslexia Specialist) agreed together with the professionals commissioned by the LEA that my daughter needs specialist provision.
I went to an open day at Northease and was extremely impressed with the headmistress as well as with the school and its surroundings. My daughter has subsequently attended a trial day. It was amazing to see her walking out of the school with a huge grin on her face saying that she has had the best day at school ever! From that day onwards I was on a mission to get her in!
It has taken long six months to get the LEA to name Northease in her statement, and despite it was a lot of stress, tears and about 10 000,- in various fees she has joined the school on the 24.5.2012. I was told that six months is in fact pretty short amount of time for these sorts of proceedings so I was delighted.

My daughter has blossomed! I was blabbing to just about everybody how amazing the school is and recommending it to just about everybody I have met. She has made improvements in her confidence; started making friends as well as her reading have improved enormously. There were few issues that I was concerned with regards to her provision so I went to see the head on a few occasions on was reassured every time that she was on the case. Some of the issues such as IT and green overlays for reading were not really enforced, despite the reassurance, but she was making progress so I have let it go. After all she was making a progress, so do not be a neurotic parent i said to myself.
Towards the end of the last academic year the problems have started and things like her PE kit, clothes and other items were being flashed down the toilet by one the other girls. I was not happy about it and raised this with the school, I was told that they are on the case and situation will resolve, it did not, but accepted the fact that some children have got a hard time in adjusting to a new school environment.
Suddenly I am very concerned, because loads of members of staff (I have counted 17) are leaving the school. Some of which were the very qualified and experienced in dealing with children with SEN, not mentioning being very kind and patient with my daughter. I ask why and two of them said I just cant stay here any longer.
Now is the beginning of the new academic year and my daughters stuff is being flashed down the toilet again. On the 9th instance I have lost it after she has brought home a bag of her soiled school clothes, which I have purchased just a few weeks before, covered in faeces and urine. So I have shouted down the phone requesting immediate remedial of the situation. Once again I was reassured, received an apology and told the situation will be handled. Unfortunately this has caused my daughter to become anxious about going to school and some being fearful of her peers.
It sort of was sorted out, but the process was rather painful. First they have accused my daughters best friend, which was in fact with her at all times so she could not do it, they then established to culprit and situation has calmed down.

In September 2013 I have joined the friends of Northease as I wanted to support the school in the great work that they were doing. I was looking forward to all the fantastic fundraising events we were going to organise.
Within a couple of weeks the calls started coming in, people wanted to know if other parents were having the same problems such as bullying, no communication, mishandling of poor behaviour etc. Some just sent me an email, others called, others attended the friends meetings in order to discuss. I was a bit concerned, but could not really help, so told everybody to contact the headteacher. After all she was always personable to me.
I have raised this with her directly during one of our friends meetings, which i have attended with my fellow committee members, and she told us to dismiss them and just refer everybody to her. I asked about some sort of forum for parents and whether there was a parent governor or someone that could listen and give advice. We were told that parent governors are always a nightmare, because they always have their own agenda.
We have also asked what is happening about IT provision for all the students which have it in their statement, as we have had the intention to raise money and to look for sponsors, which could supply the children with ipads. We were told that there is nothing available that would meet the needs for all the students that is too complicated, but the school is looking into it as it has been for the last couple of years. We have walked away a bit deflated, but hoped for the best.
Meanwhile I am trying to get hold of my daughters SALT to find out why she is being taken out for her therapy out of her favourite lessons, if we have agreed otherwise. I have left a message with 3 different members of staff, but all of them have failed to pass on the message. It became apparent that as there was no hand over from the previous therapist (the whole SALT department staff have left the summer before), she was not aware, that Mrs Harvey Browne agreed that the therapy will be delivered during either music, as my daughter cannot cope with the noise, or at RE which I do not consider as important as SALT. (there were no notes in her file to that effect)

At the same time my daughter is reporting on daily basis disturbance in various classes by badly behaved children, some of which are rather aggressive. She says the teachers are spending time with them and have no time to teach! We are struggling with home work, because most of them never come with any instructions; no follow ups, no feed backs. Sometimes I find a roll of them inside some folder. I have sent emails to the school highlighting the problem and had no reply.
Other parents are complaining to me of the same problems, some of my daughters are removed from the school by their parents, because of the above problems such as bullying, class disturbance, poor communication with management, problems not being addressed. SEN statements are not being met; their children are not getting the therapies that are in the statement despite them urging the matter with the head for several months now. They are now sending me copies of the emails that they have sent to the school and got no answers to. Some were shocking!
My daughter is now in tutor group without her friends and is anxious about going to school; sometimes she makes her self sick so she doesnt have to go in.
So I told people that they have to complain in accordance with the school policy. This way they cant be ignored. I have asked the school office for a copy, which they have supplied, and I have distributed it amongst the parents.
Now is January and number of members of staff are suddenly gone ( I now count about 21 people maybe more, but I cant remember the names of the gap students), some of which my daughter had very good relationship with. Thankfully Hannah (OT) is still there, because she has been absolute gem in helping my daughter.
In February I got two calls from staff members saying that the parents need to know, what is going on the school and how staff are being bullied, people are filling complains with Ofsted, teachers struggle to cope with the poor behaviour of some of the new recruits . Parents are telling me that there are safeguarding problems at the boarding house as well as the day school itself.
Its an annual review, I attend and we have discussed IT, therapy, class disturbance, why is my daughter copying from white board if she cant read it back, coloured overlays. Some things are put in to practice; others are a subject of action plan. The SENCO seem to have very good understanding to children with special needs so I feel reassured. There is student profile accessible to all teachers. I asked her about the staff turnover, but she cannot comment.

In March Ex member of staff got in touch to confirm the above problems are true. I panic!
I emailed the Senco & OT about my daughters anxiety with having no friends in her tutor group.
So I make an appointment with Mrs Harvey Browne, which I have attended with my husband, told her about parent complains, asked why staff are leaving in such a numbers, have there been complains to ofsted? Has the school changed its Admission policy why is there so much disturbance in class. Is it because they are now taking children with more complex needs in order to raise money for the new build?
The answer was: there are no complains, there were no complains to ofsted; only very few staff members have left and all through natural progression. There is no evidence of class disturbance. Home work is up to each individual teacher. I asked about independent listener for parents she said there will be forum. The parents representatives are being just pulled out of the hat! I told Mrs Harvey Browne that people are saying they cannot get involved with fundraising, because they are too preoccupied with dealing with their childrens problems at the school and have no time until those are sorted. She said she will try to recruit some help.
But my daughter will be moved to different tutor group so she can be with some her friends.
Over the Easter holiday I get lovely email from the SENCO, reassuring me that my daughter is doing well, saying she has been moved to different group. Things are on looking up.
Then day before Easter one of my personal teacher friends send me email with Northease Ofsted report. I am shocked!
I have asked those questions about safeguarding, staff turnover etc. during my meeting with Carmen and she has denied them all!
After Easter I have emailed her and the governors and asked for a statement, pathetic email came through saying Ofsted made a mistake!
Two days in Mrs Harvey Browne called the children in to assembly to say (in the words of my daughter and some of her friends) Horrible Ofsted inspectors are trying to close down school like ours, but do not worry I will fight for you! The children went home in distress. The majority of them just remembered the school is going to close! Why would she not speak to us parents first???????????

Dave Boys (chair of governors) asked me to make a meeting. Which I did, but I was not allowed to bring a friend. I was not happy so I asked to meet just governors as I now had grievance with Carmen Harvey Browne after all she has lied to me and dismissed my concerns!
It is within my rights and in accordance with their complain policy (if the head is a subject of complain, the governors should hear the complaint). Meanwhile I have managed to get hold of ex parent governor through the old staff list which used to have their direct emails. Thankfully she picked it up the night before the meeting and agreed to come to support. I called my LEA to ask for advice, and the manager said he will come to support.
Some parents have their meetings already; during some Carmen mentioned that people do not get involved because Friends meetings are run as bitching club about the school. So I resigned I have spend too much time, money and my own resources on some of the activities we have run (being asked by the school to run), I felt I did not deserve that! Some of the activities were completely unsupported by the school do you remember the Easter Bonnet parade turn out????!!! two teachers came with a handful of kids!
It was an awkward meeting say the least. Carmen was raising her voice at me at times. The other governors are not here because they do not have to. Mr Boys doesnt know that I wanted to complain about Carmen, he has no correspondence BUT HE HAS REPLIED TO THOSE EMAILS!
The rest of the answers were similar; there is no evidence of class disturbance. Home work is up to each individual teacher there is a policy in place, if the teachers are not following it - it is their fault. I asked about independent listener for parents it is not necessary to have one - there will be forum. The parents representatives are being just pulled out of the hat, because it doesnt matter who they are, personalities do not matter! Statements are not being met well that is not Carmens problem that is why she employs highly qualified Senco. They spend thousands on IT, they do not know what system they will adopt for the students yet, but something should be coming in September.
The staffs that have left did not meet the high standards of the heads expectations. (This includes people like Mr Andy Millard!) The new ones do not have to be qualified in SEN or experienced in dyslexia as they will be trained on the job or once they get to the school. No not many staff hold SEN qualifications (only three at present), but they have load of CPD hours under their belt! And ony two will be leaving at the end of the term. (but two have already gone during the last two weeks!)
And once my LEA representative left we were told that the OFSTED report will come back changed and that the inspectors were on a mission to close schools like Northease on orders from Mr Gove.
And we should not worry because they (Carmen & Dave Boys) have the childrens best interest at heart.
So we walked away once again deflated, I have got a good idea, how the parents that tried to speak to Carmen feel, but decided to wait for the revised Ofsted Report.
And then it arrived worse than before! I HAVE BEEN LIED TO LIKE IT OTHERS.
And then the journalist from BBC called (he got my number form the websites friends newsletter) and he had that statement from Mr Norman Baker the MP. So I felt had no choice taking all the above into consideration - I just had to speak out.
I am angry, because I have spent a fortune to get my child in to this school, being sold a model of calm environment, specialist teaching and individual treatment! I have taken in to consideration, removing my daughter from Northease (she is a day pupil only) and I may do still do it, but i believe that despite the problems it is a great school full of wonderful teachers and therapist, that have contributed enormously to my daughters new found confidence and undoubtedly she has made a progress whilst being there. And I am very grateful to her English teacher, media teacher, drama teacher and many others that she adores. But I truly believe that many of them will not be there if things carry on as they have been and the only way to remedy the situation is new management and new governors which have got true interest and objective on things.
I much rather see this school to flourish and once again being the wonderful school it was. And I hope that people will not just remove their children, but they join forces to change things around.
I am not going to be revisiting this site as I do not feel I can expand on this any further. Oh and please excuse the spelling English is not my first language!

Sorry its so long I got a bit carried away.

You are a very brave, fair minded woman; you have begun a story that, I have been told, began after the leaving of the previous head of Northease - and it has to be told.

I do hope the compassionate ethos of that wonderful school of the past can be re- found. But I'm afraid that any solution will have to be surgical.
The dilemma for all parents is stark.

Mystery1 - your daughter is fortunate to have such role model for a mother.
She will be so proud of you as she grows older.

I agree with Oldtimer. There needs to be a 'New Northease Story' written now. One where the people in charge lead with integrity. One where parents, children and staff are treated with care, respect and courtesy. One where there is honesty and clarity. Northease was a wonderful school. It can be once again with the right people at the helm.

Our reasons for removing our son from Northease Manor are as follows.
Like many parents our battle to get our son into Northease was a long and expensive one. It involved three years of reports and a very specific hard fought for SEN statement. This robust statement enabled our son to have a very successful last two years in primary school where he had a very close group of friends and very supportive staff including a specially trained 1:1 TA, 1:1 dyslexia specialist literacy support for one hour per day, and one hour per week 1:1 speech and language therapy.
We made the decision however that this type of provision was unlikely to work in a mainstream secondary school and were delighted when he finally secured a funded place at Northease in 2010. Like most parents we sat back, relaxed and turned our attention to our other three children. Through my help group I shared my son’s statement with other parents who were then able to get a place at Northease without a lengthy tribunal.
At the first annual review we were disappointed with our sons reading level, as this had only gone up by a couple of months, but remained optimistic. By the time he left at 14 years 8 months his reading age was still less than seven years. Despite his very low reading age he was academically bright with predicted grades of B’s at GCSE, clearly to access this level of curriculum and become more independent he would need to use assistive technology such as voice recognition, text to speech software. This was not being provided by the school despite it being in his statement. His SALT was also often not being delivered due to the large turnover of therapists.
In September 2011 we arranged for our son to have an independent assistive technology assessment from Mike Williams from Expert AT Service. This report recommended the appropriate software for our son at that time. We shared this report with the school and purchased Dragon Naturally Speaking Premium and Kurzweil 3000 read write software for the laptop computer we had also had to buy. The school made no effort to allow our son to use the above preferring instead to continue to hand out worksheets he could not read and asked him to copy from the whiteboard. This was painfully slow for him and again he could not read what he had been asked to write.
In January and February 2013 we independently commissioned Lesley Burnett B Ed (Hons), M.A, PG Dip (Dyslexia Literacy), PG Dip (Autism) Associate Member British Dyslexia Association, Assessment Practising Certificate PATOSS, to do two school observations. Her observations of our son were not good and she could see very little evidence of dyslexia friendly teaching or effective use of assistive technology. The primary benefit of Northease was its small class sizes. Based on this report we tried very hard to work with the school to improve the teaching and learning for our son. Mr Millard the then deputy head and Mrs Kruschandle the head of English supported us as much as they were able, but Mrs Harvey Brown and Sarah Leaney made it clear that assistive technology was not a priority at Northease at that time.
Alongside these academic concerns we also felt that our son’s social communication difficulties were not being addressed. He was becoming socially isolated and often described being excluded and bullied. I optimistically put this down to ‘boyish banter’ that he was misinterpreting due to his ASC. However on the school residential trip last July this was noticed and reported back to me by Rowena Carr the trip organiser.
Our son has since left Northease Manor School and is now back in mainstream to do his GCSE’s and hopefully A Levels. He has experienced no bullying, is greatly enjoying the faster pace of work free from constant interruptions from disruptive pupils, and is benefiting from the school approach to iPads. There is also a very efficient Virtual Learning Environment where he is able to access the curriculum independently. He still needs a high level of support with a reader and scribe for all tests, and some web sites such as Mymaths are still not audible. Course books are where possible iBooks that can be read by the accessibility facility on his iPad and the general GCSE course books are available via a requested audible CD or a website called ‘Load to Learn’.
Our son continues to have poor social communication skills and has suffered from a lack of confidence due to his treatment at Northease. Changing schools in year ten would be difficult for any teenager, but with a supportive school and recent cognitive behavioral therapy from Guys St Thomas hospital in London he is maturing into a hard working independent young man.

Just in case you do not know who I am!
My background is in education and design. I worked for West Sussex LEA for many years as a classroom teacher and also as an advisory teacher assisting schools in delivering the national curriculum. I then went into the private sector teaching at three Sussex boarding schools before leaving to spend more time with my growing family. My middle son has a statement of SEN including dyslexia and ASC. I did a return to teaching course in 2011 in West Sussex. I run a local help group for parents dealing with children on the autistic spectrum.
My son attended Northease Manor School from September 2010 to July 2013 and I was the parent governor at the school from November 2011 to July 2013.
As a parent governor I was invited on the board and not elected by parents, I did not have a ‘hidden agenda’ I simply wanted to use my experience in education and construction to help the school.

I was approached during this time by a number of parents and staff with complaints that they felt were not being listened to by the head teacher Mrs Harvey Brown or the chair of governors Mr Boys. Parental and staff complaints were coming to me via my personal email and social events such as the ‘friends’, or through staff meetings and I raised these concerns with Carol Thomson chair of the education steering group (married to Graham Thomson chair of the finance steering group), and Carmen Harvey Brown. I was told not to listen to ‘tittle tattle’ and to direct parents to the school complaints procedure which I did.
Some parents however were reluctant to do this as they felt they would not be listened to. They were also reluctant to raise concerns about the lack of SEN statement provision because they thought the LEA’s may take away their funding. Many parents were left feeling powerless and without a ‘voice’.
During this time I also raised concerns about the huge staff turnover and the effectiveness of staff training and continuity of care if staff were going to continue to leave at this alarming rate.
I raised concerns about the lack of IT provision in the school and despite these being my personal observations regarding my son I was told not to share these views with parents as this would reflect badly on the school.
During the time of the May 2013 Ofsted report I was being prevented from attending governors meeting or receiving minuets by David Boys undemocratically and without consultation with other members of the board.
Clearly the situation at Northease has continued to deteriorate in the past year and I believe the findings of the 2014 report to be accurate.
I do not believe the school is acting appropriately by frightening children and parents into believing this is a political game to close Northease Manor School, “serious safeguarding concerns” do not simple mean administration errors.
How can parents not be seriously concerned when they read the following findings?
The school fails to adequately safeguard residential pupil’s welfare, health and safety to ensure they are protected and kept safe.
The leadership and management oversight and monitoring of the operation of the residential provision is inadequate.
The school governors do not robustly scrutinise records and provide sufficient challenge to the senior leadership team, to bring about improvements in safeguarding and the promotion of residential pupil welfare.
I am pleased to see that as a result of the above report the HMI Ofsted, ISC/ISA and the LEA’s are now actively involved in the day to day running of the school in readiness for a full inspection and to address the concerns that parents and staff have raised over the past three and a half years.
This would not have been possible without the brave actions of those speaking out publically and I would encourage you all to add your story here and write to Ofsted and Norman Baker MP for Lewes.

It is allegedly fear that prevents people from speaking out - fear of losing a job, fear for a child's progress at the school, fear because of the seemingly alleged - given the above postings - bullying,irrational and callous leadership of the school (both emanating perhaps, from the leadership within the governors and the school). It is a potent mix especially when parents have fought so hard to find a sanctuary for their children.

A glance at the 'outstanding' Offsted report of 2007(?) may highlight difference in the school between then and now in 'Offsted' terms. Indeed I think it states that it was amazing to see how the school could deliver such high care for the money... I think the school is a charitable foundation so the mission was not to wring assets for profit;I have been told that the school is ' asset rich' by a past teacher. But the consensus now seems to be that it is run much more as a business. Not that that way is necessarily wrong but it can often come with a less caring attitude and pedagogical concerns can easily become subverted.I have been told that the Charity Commission has been alerted about the school's business side but I don't know definitely if this is so. I have also heard that a recent resignation was influenced through a seeming conflict of interest between the school's building works and a property business. But again I can give no first hand knowledge here and all could well be well. What one can say is that all these caveats reflect on the atmosphere of fear that seems to pervade any conversation about the Northease Community.

I suppose one could at least say that it is not an open community and that this is not necessarily healthy for a community caring for vulnerable children.The extraordinary high staff turnover has to have had a deleterious effect on continuity of care; reasons for this wide ranging tumultuous turnover in employees - teachers, teaching assistants, therapists, a whole crew of governors, bureaucrats.... have not been clear. In view of the prevailing economic climate this churn seems even more remarkable. I do believe that ex governors have found it impossible to speak out because of particular circumstances but I think some have tried.

Other people are not able to speak out because of what I think are called 'compromise' agreements. I believe that at the court case concerning a previous business manager it was made possible, because of this for people, should they have wished, to have made statements 'in camera'. I think that it was felt by some that what had happened to this business manager in terms of her treatment may perhaps have contributed to her unhappy story and alleged breakdown. I have a sense that it is believed that other staff members' mental balance may have been exacerbated by their experience of being bullied and being ostracized.

Child protection issues have apparently been raised in the past but I do not know how these were dealt within the school.

I think other contributors to this thread have stated that local authorities have been contacted in the past; I wonder what outcomes came from this. Now I see, from a recent post that they are involved in the day to day running of the school. Examining boards have allegedly been made aware of protocol issues.

I am pleased that Norman Baker has become involved. His involvement lends weight to concerns and may well have encouraged people to speak out. I hope and believe that various professional organizations too are aware of the school's current ethos and have been actively involved over the past few years.

I think the overwhelming majority of the wider Northease diaspora would want to offer support to the school and its current community as it strives to regain trust in an institution that has changed countless lives in the past through kindness, love and absolute professional dedication.It would be nothing less than tragic if its present incarnation proved its downfall

Despite having spent our life savings on getting our son funded to go to Northease, he left earlier this year and is now in a mainstream school. He is severely dyslexic and has verbal dyspraxia. Interestingly he told me the other day that he has learnt more in mainstream in three months than in a year and a half at Northease. Having said this, Northease helped him to be more confident and increase his self-esteem (which was rock-bottom).
The school has many committed teachers but most of them lack the training to deal with the complex needs of many of the children. In my opinion the Head teacher has been too focused on expansion and has not put the needs of the children first. She seems to want to get as many kids in the school as possible without considering how they will deal with so many conflicting needs. I think she should be more honest about what the school can offer. Firstly it is not anymore a school for kids who are just dyslexic and have no other needs, which is very sad. The children in Year 7 have a wide-range of difficulties, from Aspergers and ADHD to complex health issues. Unfortunately the Head seems to think that everyone can be catered for but they can't when most of the teachers are not sufficiently qualified. I put all of the blame for this situation on the Head (I don't know much about the governors). She has changed the school and insisted on expansion to the detriment of the children and teachers. It is really really sad that parents who have fought so hard for their kids to be there have been let down in this way.

I cannot argue either way about Northease but is never straightforward when a school can be excellent one year then ALL points are inadequate.My Daughter goes to Frewen and the increase in applicants is obviously the result of the " inadequate" label put on Northease. I looked at Northease when trying to find a school for my daughter as there are far too few. It is evident that a mistake were a child is at risk will put the spotlight on a school for a long time. 2 of these mistakes have put them under immense scrutiny. I cannot argue about the reasons its deemed inadequate but from experience of a primary that was put into special measures, yet was great for my child proves how individual our children are. What is a disastrous school for one child will still be great for another. I am glad my daughter is at Frewen as the stress of finding these schools is immense and to have to change is the last thing these children need.

Without knowing the details of these two incidents it is hard to say if Ofsted have been too tough. They surely have little choice though if there is a danger ( such as no CRB check ). I Would want to know if my child was there and was put at risk as im sure most parents would. They have a chance to improve and it can be done quiet quickly ,so for the benefit of the children I hope it is. Maybe it is a problem when these schools do open up to too many different types of disabilities as teachers are generally not equipped for ALL types and this will lead to the possibility of unsafe procedures.

For the original poster ,Lozie12 who questioned about SEN schools -To confirm Frewen is mainly Dyslexia /Dyscalculia/ dyspraxi and speech ,language and communication disorders but do look at individuals with many overlapping conditions. Good luck

northeaselewes.forumotions.co.uk/
New forum for parents teachers pupil s past or present to have a voice in an area dedicated to them

A forum sounds like a good idea, but does not replace responsible concerns being raised through the school complaints procedures and the various appropriate bodies: Ofsted (inspectorate), your local authority, The Charities Commission (Governance and Charity Effectiveness), Local Police (if there is a criminal issue), The Department of Education, The Independent Schools Association, your local MP or your union or professional body for staff. Typically Ofsted and The Department of Education will not get involved until the school’s complaints procedure has bee exhausted, but in this case you may be heard more easily.

From many of the comments above, it seems like the head teacher has been avoiding accepting responsibility for things that go wrong and instead defusing the blame to others, including the victims -with her actions rubber stamped by the governors. One might wonder what the relationship between the head teacher and the governors is that allows this behaviour, and what other relationships there might be out there to the detriment of the school. It is in the public interest that the school is preserved and improved, but is any effective fix possible with the head teacher and governors in place?

In my experience no as said before a special school in brighton namely patcham house has regained outstanding.
Yet as a parent said there have been a few changes yet it is as before.

The children out of control and many teachers not fit for purpose.

Only when it is in real serve crisis will agencies act too little to late as my child said he is scared by what he endured and further so after the experience at northease manor

It is beyond disgraceful.

I meant to say scarred
The children are all over suffers and the damage they have to carry with them along with the issues their conditions they have to deal with each day.
Someone must be held to account and now.