Memorandum submitted by Mrs Clare Newman
PARA 1
I am a parent of two boys, one in Year 1 (23.07.02)
and the other in Year 5 (02.09.97) and they both attend the same
primary school.
PARA 2
My son in Year 1 has a statement of special
educational needs and I have had to fight the school to enable
him to attend a mainstream school. I want my son to attend a mainstream
school, the educational psychologist and paediatrician both agrees
that this is the best place for my son. The school do not agree
with this as WSCC have delegated funding to schools and therefore
if they can turn as many SEN pupils away as possible the money
can be spent elsewhere as it is not ring fenced for SEN. I have
had to involve both the Children and Young People's Services Director
of WSCC and my MP to enable my son to receive the education he
is entitled to.
PARA 3
At my elder son's (Year 5) parents evening I
was told he needed to learn his times tables and improve his hand
writing. Speaking to other parents, they were all told the same
thing. Instead of learning this, since October he has spent
(i) one week where he was allowed to chose his
own timetable (of course maths and literacy were not chosen);
(ii) one day on a class swap which he spent with
his Year 1 SEN younger brother (the schools decision not his);
(iii) one day making pizza as part of maths;
(iv) he is not learning about the Victorians
but he has to spend two days dressed as one; and
(v) he needs to take a pillow and sheet in for
a pillow fight.
PARA 4
I have been told by both the LEA and Ofsted
that I must write to the Teacher, Head, and finally the Governors,
which again puts my name forward to the school and makes my children
vulnerable (the Year 5 boy has been told he may not leave a voluntary
lunch time club run by the Head).
PARA 5
Should it not be possible for parents to ring
Ofsted and make such complaints to them and if there are sufficient
or they feel justified then they can take the matter up with the
school on behalf of the parents who remain anonymous to the School
or explain to the parent how what is happening at a particular
school is part of the curriculum? Ofsted seem very much on the
side of the school and are only of any interest and help to a
parent within a few weeks after they have been inspected and the
Ofsted report published. Ofsted should surely be interested in
the day to day happenings at a school, not just a snapshot on
the days they attend to inspect. They should want to hear from
parents what has happened in the past, but also there must be
some way that parents can report to them what is currently happening
and what is planned to happen.
November 2007
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