A REVIEW of Mossbourne Federation schools is underway after a highly critical safeguarding report in Hackney exposed serious failings in support for children with special educational needs and disabilities reports the Local Democracy Reporter.
The review, requested by Thurrock Council’s Children’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee, follows the publication of a Hackney Local Safeguarding Children’s Board learning report in December.
The report found Mossbourne schools were failing to implement legally binding Education, Health and Care Plans, with concerns about reduced numbers of teaching assistants, inflexible behaviour policies and SEND pupils being denied recommended support.
One staff member alleged they were told to “just shout at her” when seeking advice on helping a pupil experiencing Emotionally Based School Non-Attendance.
Senior Mossbourne leaders have since entered discussions with the Department for Education and both Hackney and Thurrock councils.
Thurrock’s Assistant Director of Education has met with the federation’s CEO, who pledged support for a collaborative approach and agreed that all EHCPs across Mossbourne’s Thurrock schools will be reviewed during January and February.
Parents will also be contacted for their views on how plans are being delivered.
The chairman of Mossbourne Trustees contacted both local authorities and the DfE to arrange a joint meeting last month to agree how recommendations from the Hackney report will be implemented across the federation.
Gary Byrne, Independent councillor for The Homesteads, revealed more than 150 children withdrawn from Mossbourne-run schools in Thurrock had been left “to fend for themselves” with no contact from the council.
Mr Byrne told a recent full council meeting that families choosing elective home education had gone months without visits, despite assurances that safeguarding checks were in place.
“It should not take a councillor publicly challenging children’s services to get them to pick up the phone to families,” he said.
“If officers are only now making contact after being questioned, that’s proof the system wasn’t working.”
In Thurrock, frustration has been mounting since Mossbourne took over three former Ortu schools in January: Mossbourne Fobbing Academy, Port Side Academy, and Herd Lane Primary.
Parents reported excessive disciplinary measures and rules, including banning mobile phones.
The scrutiny committee will receive a full update at its meeting on February 12.
