Vocal Voices

I do not have much of an idea why Ofsted is poking its nose into Children's Services, but thank goodness it has.

Its latest annual report pulls no punches when calling them a "national disgrace" and accusing them of having "manifestly and palpably weak" leadership. It also also calls for "a wider recognition of the impact of children's environments, such as irresponsible and alcohol-dependent parents and living on streets lined with betting shops and fast-food shops."

Ofsted's main concern is with education but these things, not directly in its remit, do impact on education and it is right to speak out and be critical.

Maybe a precedent could be set where "outsiders" could poke their noses in, from time to time, rather than organisations being constantly inspected from within or from those with close links?

Not sure what exactly you are referring to WM as haven't seen any news yet today but Ofsted are involved in anything to do with children I think.

I know that the adoption services are regularly Ofsted.

Involved with education and skills absolutely, Debih, but it is not the inspection authority for Social Services or Planning, and it is in those sorts of areas where the report has been critical.

We know that poor parenting affects education but some social workers do not put the child(ren) at the centre of their services.

We also know that the local physical environment is hugely important but town planning isn't exactly child friendly.

A local council estate has a parade of five shop directly opposite a pub. There use to be rent office, a post office, a greengrocer's, a baker/deli/butcher and a newsagent and tobacconist. It now has takeaways at both ends. A newsagent, tobacconist and off licence store, complete with booze on the bottom shelves, hardcore porn on the top, and sweets and cigs by the till, sits next to the Chinese. The middle shop is a charity shop, and the other one is a sort of grocer's/glory hole with a sideline in booze and cigs for when the "newsagent's" shuts in the evening. They are the only shops on the estate. Round the back is the local primary school. It is this sort of "planning" that is being criticised.

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013 ... ted-report

Huge swipe at Birmingham, richly deserved. It's a failed city and needs breaking up at almost every local Government level, not just children's services.

That Birmingham information is frightening, Ossie. It is an excellent example of why open and critical reporting is an absolute necessity.

The whole thing totally ignored on the BBC 6:00 News, needless to say ....

Also totally ignored on the Birmingham Mail website. Hardly surprising, it's a bigger left-wing mouthpiece than the BBC.

Yes Birmingham,just one of those shameful councils that has been and is exposed for what it is, a shameful excuse for leadership in every department. This is just one county where children "little girls" are regularly rushed to hospital following the barbaric act of female mutilation. "All kept very quiet until recently"
Young girls disappear from the classrooms having been whisked away overseas to be forcefully married to someone she has never previously met. Cruelty to little ones is ignored, name me one individual who has not left with a huge golden handshake and pension, been promoted, or has been taken on in another top position elsewhere following a catastrophe involving the little one.
I cannot believe that our standing in education world wide is bottom of the league. Our children are being failed in every direction. Teachers found to lower standards of teaching cheating giving higher rates to students enabling them to get a university place. Councils giving the incentive of 1m a year to social services if they reach adoption targets, we have seen their methods, shocking.
We have become a sick society, not one that I am proud of.