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Tag Archives: SEND
Minutes show plan to end services to 200 families in Sutton
EXCLUSIVE: Sutton Council has been criticised by a local MP for being ‘insensitive’ to parents of children with SEND, while an official complaint has been lodged over a senior LibDem councillor’s conduct. By our Sutton investigations editor, CARL SHILTON Confidential … Continue reading
‘Strong and stable’? Henderson is third to leave department
It was 2.43pm when the publish button was pressed yesterday at Inside Croydon Towers for our exclusive report of the imminent departure from the council of Rob Henderson, executive director of children, families and education. Two hours later, the council … Continue reading
SEND is ‘system in crisis’ according to Ombudsman report
Children with SEND – special educational needs and disabilities – are increasingly being failed by the system designed to support them. That’s according to no less an authority than the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. In its latest report … Continue reading
Posted in Children's Services, Education, Health, SEND, Sutton Council
Tagged Croydon, Croydon Council, SEND, Sutton Council
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Parents group want Sutton’s head of SEND to be sacked
A parents campaign group has backed a call for the sacking of Sutton Council’s head of SEND, Councillor Jenny Batt. The parents issued a statement this morning in which they said that they have found Batt’s “complete failure to engage … Continue reading
Sutton Council sacks Cognus MD over their SEND shambles
Our Sutton investigations editor, CARL SHILTON, on an inevitable development in the council’s struggles over its special educational needs services Tracey Burley has been sacked as the managing director of Cognus, the Sutton Council spin-off company which is responsible for … Continue reading
Posted in Marian James, Ruth Dombey, SEND, Sutton Council
Tagged Cognus, Marian James, Ruth Dombey, SEND, Sutton Council, Sutton EHCP Crisis Campaign Group
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Council’s sorry performance after Ombudsman’s dozen rulings
One reason that rulings by the Local Government Ombudsman against local authorities, such as Croydon, attract so little attention is that the Ombudsman’s office never insists that the offending councils should publish the findings in full on their own website. … Continue reading
Sutton’s Bailey moves over Cognus as SEND pressure mounts
A crisis over provision of SEND services has forced the council’s chief exec to take urgent action, appointing a director to the company in charge Sutton stages a full council meeting tonight at which the borough’s provision of services for … Continue reading
Posted in Helen Bailey, Marian James, Ruth Dombey, SEND, Sutton Council
Tagged Amalia Banon, Helen Bailey, Marian James, SEND, Sutton Council
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Call for resignations over ‘devastation’ to SEND children
EXCLUSIVE: One of Sutton’s senior councillors is under pressure over continuing failures to provide legally required services for hundreds of vulnerable youngsters. CARL SHILTON reports It is becoming increasingly apparent that Marian James, one of Sutton Council leader Ruth Dombey’s … Continue reading
Scully goes in to Batt at PMQs for Sutton’s SEND families
Sutton’s failing SEND service looks set to get an early return visit from the inspectors of Ofsted, this time accompanied by officials from the Care Quality Commission. At least, that’s what Theresa Mayhem, the lame duck Prime Minister, indicated yesterday … Continue reading
Posted in Education, Paul Scully MP, Ruth Dombey, Schools, SEND, Sutton Council
Tagged Jenny Batt, Paul Scully MP, Ruth Dombey, SEND, Sutton Council
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Council tries to ‘hoodwink’ families to opt out of SEND services
Croydon Council is trying to save £100,000 from its SEND budget for every teenager currently receiving help from the local authority, under services which it is supposed to provide by law. Youngsters with SEND – special education needs or disability … Continue reading
Posted in Children's Services, Croydon Council, Education, Schools, SEND
Tagged Children's Services, Croydon Council, EHCP, SEND
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Angry parents launch petition demanding SEND action
The parents’ campaign group seeking better care and education for SEND youngsters are collecting signatures for a petition demanding action by Sutton Council. As Inside Sutton reported this week, families with children, teens and young adults with special educational needs … Continue reading
Posted in Education, Schools, Sutton Council
Tagged Hayley Harding, SEND, Sutton Council, Sutton EHCP Crisis Campaign Group
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‘Families are at breaking point as a result’ of council action
Here, unedited, is the full text of the letter sent on behalf of the Sutton EHCP Crisis Group, to Ruth Dombey, the leader of Sutton Council. The letter was dated June 10. Dear Councilor Dombey, We are the members of … Continue reading
Posted in Children's Services, Ruth Dombey, SEND, Sutton Council
Tagged Hayley Harding, Jenny Batt, Marian James, Ruth Dombey, SEND, Sutton Council
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Parents threaten to take council to High Court over SEND
EXCLUSIVE: Officials in Sutton have suppressed a report that slams council leadership over its failing services for special needs and disabled children, as a campaign group threatens a Judicial Review with angry parents maintaining that the council’s private service provider … Continue reading
Posted in Children's Services, Ruth Dombey, SEND, Sutton Council
Tagged Conservative, Hayley Harding, Jenny Batt, Liberal Democrats, Marian James, Ruth Dombey, SEND, Tom Drummond, Tory
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Protesters SEND message: it’s not just money that matters
CROYDON COMMENTARY: Families who have children, teens and young adults with special educational needs and disabilities have become increasingly frustrated with the lack of care and attention provided by their councils. Yesterday, they staged a march on Westminster. SARAH BOWELL … Continue reading
Posted in Children's Services, Croydon Council, Education, Schools, SEND
Tagged #SENDNATIONALCRISIS, Children's Services, Croydon Council, London, SEND
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Council couldn’t care less: Ombudsman upholds 7 complaints
Croydon Council had seven public complaints upheld against it by the Local Government Ombudsman in the first three months of 2019, research conducted for Inside Croydon can reveal. The rulings resulted in several apologies from the council, and hundreds of … Continue reading
Our children deserve help to improve their life opportunities
CROYDON COMMENTARY: It is autism awareness week. There’s been events staged at the Town Hall, and tomorrow there’s a special meeting at which teens, young adults, parents, guardians and carers can discuss their situations with councillors and officials. SARAH BOWELL, … Continue reading
Hear Autism meeting, The Cherry Hub, Apr 6
Posted in Children's Services, Croydon Council, Education, Jerry Fitzpatrick, Schools
Tagged autism, Jerry Fitzpatrick, SEND
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Flemming’s SEND strategy report gives much to live up to
The council cabinet meeting at the Town Hall on Monday saw Alisa Flemming present the council’s draft strategy for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities – SEND. Councillor Fleming is the council’s cabinet member for inadequate children’s services and failing schools. … Continue reading
Posted in Alisa Flemming, Children's Services, Croydon Council, Education, Schools, SEND
Tagged Alisa Flemming, SEND, Special Educational Needs
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Council’s SEND consultation coming to a close – but when?
There is just a week left to take part in the latest Croydon Council consultation. Or it might be that there’s just one day left to take part in the council’s under-publicised consultation over its services for young people with … Continue reading
Posted in Children's Services, Croydon Council, Education, Schools
Tagged Croydon Council, SEND
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Consultation begins for borough’s SEND travel and services
The council has opened a consultation on its planned services for children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities and their families and carers. Croydon’s draft SEND Strategy 2019-2022, and its Draft Post-16 Travel Assistance Policy for young … Continue reading
Posted in Croydon Council, Education, Schools
Tagged Croydon Council, London Borough of Croydon, SEND
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Henderson’s ‘leaving present’: Kingston’s Ofsted failure
Another local authority has failed a visit by Ofsted inspectors, this time nearby Kingston for its poor delivery of services for children and young adults with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, or SEND. For parents and carers in Kingston, the … Continue reading
National charity names Inside Croydon among autism heroes
Steven Downes, the editor of Inside Croydon, was honoured by a national charity last night when named Journalist of the Year at the Anna Kennedy Online Autism Hero Awards. According to the official citation, Downes was nominated for the award … Continue reading
RightfulLives exhibit challenges lack of provision for autism
An exhibition launches online on Monday which say it is an attempt to explore the relationship between the Human Rights Act and people with autism or learning disabilities. Developed without a penny of Arts Council or local authority grants, the … Continue reading
