Radio5 Live Talk on SEN Reforms

[TooOrangeyForCrows]

Anyone listening? I think this is the link www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01y3pvb.
I only came in at the end, but it's been very interesting and a touch grim.

Oops - no, this is the Listen Now link: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b041trdp

Loads of coverage, really moving HT breaking down because he can't cope with his job being under threat from ofsted / SATs obsession due to all the kids academies refuse to accept coming to his door and him being judged not on how happy they are but their SATs grades. Council leader totally dodged question about why all the other schools were refusing children entry. However I have to say most of the kids on the radio would not even merit a sen label in my neck of the woods let alone a special school place, all far too social and articulate. Been nice to hear a few children with genuine language difficulties being interviewed, didn't feel very representative of high needs kids.

Can hear it on iplayer radio app, 5live breakfast.

The section where the HT spoke was heart-reading and enraging all at the same time - it reminded me of when DS1's teacher was placed in a similar dilemma a few years back. Make the data conform - we don't care how, and we don't care whether it's what your kids need, or what it does to them. Fail to do this, and you're out of a job.

Everything I've heard about this guy has been positive, he sounds like he's one of the few who walks it like he talks it on inclusion. There's not many of us here who've had positive experiences working with school HTs. The system is genuinely fucked beyond the point of repair if people like Nigel Utton can't find a way to continue without breaking themselves.

I think he's getting a gig with IPSEA though - I doubt that it's the last we'll see of him.

I've been following him and communicating with him on twitter a little. I thought he was amazing. I hope he finds a way to continue with his work and passion somehow. The kids need people like him. Our kids.

My LA is desperately short of special school places due to lots of things including a high influx of school age children of all levels of ability including some who need SEN prov. However the government is not allowing LAs to build any new schools - only academies or free schools can be built. And of course no-one wants to make an academy or free school for general SEN. So in my LA it's probably easier to get your kid into Eton than a special school right now!!

I listened to it and thought, wow, a Head teacher speaking the truth about academies and inclusion. Kind of confirmed to me that I am not completely mad. I didn't know you could follow him on Twitter, he is getting a new follower!

Claire Why can't the current schools build resource or provision schools/units on site?

If every school had one classroom dedicated to a different SEN wouldn't that work? Provided it wasn't pretending to be a mainstream-inclusion model type thing where it wasn't appropriate.

'Of course no-one wants to make an academy or free school for general SEN'

Why not? I thought the Government were trying to encourage this, and not even require a statement for attendance.

By all accounts LAs are in despair about ever managing to get health authorities to produce reports, go to meetings etc within the time limits envisaged. As for the idea that they must provide reps for mediation which must take place in 30 days, there is an awful lot of hollow laughter.

And ensure that schools are consistently following the regulations by Sept that have not yet been published nor likely to be anything but vague..........

My council uses a dirt cheap mediation service whose expertise lies in neighbour disputes. I say 'uses' but actually quel surprise no one has wanted to use the service so commissions is probably more accurate. Compare that to DFE speak about mediators and you would think they were employing specialist experienced mediators. Mostly these are lawyers and charge £2000 a day. I have been involved in using this type of mediator via work and it can be effective (but both parties also had lawyers in room and experts on speed dial). This isn't what sen parents are being offered, the mediation contracts are more likely to cost £2000 a year not per day. Not all mediators are equal!

A certain LA Legal contractor firm are offering a 'mediation' branch and their 'mediators' are ex SEN LA staff

Are you talking total and utter BS again, star?