54. Memorandum from the Reverend Mary
Taylor
With reference to the current government legislation
Every Child Matters I am writing to express my deep concerns regarding
the move of the children and families identified above. In light
of the aims and outcomes identified in the Every Child Matters
green paper and outcomes framework I would be remiss in my role
as a SENco and a primary school teacher not to share my professional
judgments regarding the holistic impact of this move on the children,
in addition to the educational ramifications—as outlined
on the government's site.
The Government's aim is for every child, whatever
their background or their circumstances, to have the support they
need to:
— Make a positive contribution.
— Achieve economic well-being.
The proposed move of these families poses a
stark contradiction to the aims outlined above for a number of
reasons which I will present below; as such any consequences that
occur as a result of this move will have occurred despite government
guidelines and the professional and personal recommendations of
those involved in this correspondence.
Within the Be Healthy section of the outcomes
framework the government identifies that inspectors will be looking
to see if:
Action is taken to promote children and young
people's physical and mental health
On a simplistic level the manner of this move
is in direct contradiction to the action outlined above. The move
itself will cause great disruption to the emotional well being
of the families concerned however it also poses significant interruption
of current support that children and adults are receiving from
health and educational professionals. The move of these families
to another authority, which is at a differing level of progress
regarding the integration of services to form their Children's
trust, means that this support may not be automatically transferred
resulting in the whole process of fresh referrals. There are of
course financial implications that this will bring due to the
number of new professionals involved and this is of course if,
as a result of the move, the emotional and physical well being
of the families does not change. However, the interruption of
support, for the time periods involved are likely to carry with
them increased health problems for these families. This will therefore
involve further contradiction to the government aim outlined above
and result in further financial implications for the agencies
and authorities. It is important to note that two of the children
concerned with this move have already received involvement from
other agencies to enable them to settle in their current school.
With this support, they have made progress, the sudden removal
of them from their current setting will not only disrupt this
level of support and the significant relationships that they have
made, but will also result in further disruption for these children
that could inevitably lead to a compounding of their needs and
difficulties.
Within the Stay Safe section of the outcomes
framework the government identifies that evidence of safe practice
will be found where
Transitions between settings ... are well managed
My first response to this is to identify that
in terms of the education of these children, this move will result
in a mismanagement of transition between their school settings.
No arrangements have been made for the children involved to visit
new schools, no arrangements have been made for the children to
meet new staff, and due to the very brief notice that the families
have received, no provision has been made to support these children
in leaving their current settings, or at the very least, for them
to be able to say goodbye. For any child this would be a significant
upheaval which would carry with it emotional consequences. When
you therefore consider that the children involved with this move
have undergone other significant emotional challenges and changes
(at best) in their lives I would ask you to consider the grave
effect that the mismanagement of this move will have upon these
children and their families. Transition between schools and key
stages is an area that their current education authority and the
professionals that they work with take very seriously. Because
of the age of the children involved in this move, a number of
the children and families concerned have been in receipt of support
for the transition of their children to and within identified
settings in this authority. Both adults and children have made
significant links with the staff and pupils involved and are a
significant way along this process. The proposed move would therefore
cause unnecessary disruption to their lives and relationships
and further contravene the government proposal that
"Action is taken to promote children and
young people's physical and mental health"
The current support that these families have
received within the Wakefield Children's Trust falls is within
the section of the outcomes framework entitled Enjoy and achieve.
Here the government identifies that inspectors will be looking
to see if
Parents and carers receive support to enable
their children to enjoy and achieve
The management of this move, indeed the very
nature of this move, does nothing to fulfil this and again works
in direct contrast to it. I therefore strongly recommend that
these children and their families are not removed from Wakefield.
These judgments reflect my deep professional concern with regards
to the consequences this will have on their education and well
being. They are additionally made in light of current government
framework and recommendations, recommendations which highlight
the responsibilities of all agencies involved with families and
children to work together to safeguard and promote the well being
of the child.
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