A 19 Year Old Heading Children and Family Services?

They are trying and failing to get funding partly because of the numbers. Ignoring this is exactly the same as ignoring the rise in young people claiming PIP. There are probably links from some of the figures I have seen. I don't care what Farage thinks about it but I would like someone to think about it.

Growstuff sensible well thought out comments
What a shit show

Further to my comments on Reform's vetting drawbacks, a local councillor in Cliftonville, Kent, has stood down as he is under investigation by the police.
The allegations include threatening and lewd communications, and plotting to kill his wife.

Galaxy

They are trying and failing to get funding partly because of the numbers. Ignoring this is exactly the same as ignoring the rise in young people claiming PIP. There are probably links from some of the figures I have seen. I don't care what Farage thinks about it but I would like someone to think about it.

I'd like somebody to think about it too because I confess that I don't really understand what's going on.

I was reading a report by the Health Foundation which claims that pupils eligible for free school meals are twice as likely to have SEND than those who don't. On the other hand, there has been a faster growth in those actually receiving support amongst those who don't receive school meals. Something isn't right. There needs to be a thorough investigation because the whole system is in danger of collapse and nobody will get any support, unless parents can pay for it.

I just hope this 19 year old understands the issues.

Chocolatelovinggran

Further to my comments on Reform's vetting drawbacks, a local councillor in Cliftonville, Kent, has stood down as he is under investigation by the police.
The allegations include threatening and lewd communications, and plotting to kill his wife.

He's actually been charged and has appeared in court.

Yes I agree entirely growstuff, anecdotally I am wondering if there something about SEMH, which is also through the roof, the presentation is often similar, I am not suggesting wrong diagnosis, but I do think we need to look at what is going on.

Semh etc is to do with lack of funding too though

Well yes but the actual numbers are rising, we have an entire team now dedicated to it, that didn't happen for no reason. We are failing these children if we don't look at what us going kn.

Is going on

There has been a nearly 50% increase in the number of children with EHCPs from 2020 to 2024. Nationally, nearly 20% of all pupils have some kind of SEND plan. Those are incredible figures.

I spent my entire teaching career in secondary comprehensives with inclusive policies (we didn't refuse SEND pupils by "back door" means) and I can honestly say that I don't ever remember more than two or three pupils in a mixed-ability class of 30 (10%) having needs I couldn't cope with using normal teaching strategies. I don't know why the numbers have increased so dramatically, but I'm not going to accept the easy answer that there's over-diagnosis. My gut feeling is that the obsession with exam results is more likely to be a cause. It could also be that there is too little guidance from mental health/support services at an early stage.

A councillor in charge of policies (and the finances to deliver change) needs to understand the issues and be sensitive to the needs of everybody involved. It could be that money needs to be spent on a thorough review.

I agree, what is going on

growstuff

The same council also has a 22 year old Reform councillor as Deputy Council Leader and holder of the adult social care portfolio. He allegedly expressed the view that depression isn't real.

He's also alledged to have discreetly deleted mysoginistic comments on social media. So, Social Care in Leicestershire will be nice and safe with him.........

TerriBull

Oh well William Pitt the Younger was PM in his early 20s. Anyway shouldn't they all be Labour supporters at their age

Hmm, but I wonder if Hooray Henry's identify with Labour? When I saw the photo of these two in The Guardian something about them gave the impression that said "entitled and opinionated", but as I'm only going on appearances I could be very wrong, maybe.

windmill1

TerriBull

Oh well William Pitt the Younger was PM in his early 20s. Anyway shouldn't they all be Labour supporters at their age

Hmm, but I wonder if Hooray Henry's identify with Labour? When I saw the photo of these two in The Guardian something about them gave the impression that said "entitled and opinionated", but as I'm only going on appearances I could be very wrong, maybe.

It's a superficial judgment, but I thought they looked as though they should be on "The Apprentice".

My first thought was how dreadful and that a 19 year old would have no clue about families and children. On mature consideration, I think I was being ageist because some 19 year olds have wisdom beyond their years and this person may possibly ( hopefully ) be one of them. I was married at 19 looking after a home and studying hard and I don’t think I was particularly immature.

nanna8

My first thought was how dreadful and that a 19 year old would have no clue about families and children. On mature consideration, I think I was being ageist because some 19 year olds have wisdom beyond their years and this person may possibly ( hopefully ) be one of them. I was married at 19 looking after a home and studying hard and I don’t think I was particularly immature.

Do you honestly think you could have made decisions about other people's children? By definition, most of these children have complex needs. Some have multiple learning needs, while others come from families where they are not being given the support they need. In some cases, there will be abuse and tough decisions will be needed. Did you really have experience to deal with that? This 19 year old is a university student (studying computer science) and attended a selective, independent school. Where has he gained experience to deal with people and sensitive issues, never mind oversee a multi-million pound budget?

I suspect that in Primary Schools years of government cuts have impacted on the number of teaching assistants specially trained to work with teachers to provide support to individual children, groups and classes. The last Labour government provided money and resources for this. I was involved in the training and evaluation and saw how well it worked in our Local Authority and elsewhere over a number of years.

I don't think we can ignore the impact of covid and a lockdown on vulnerable children either. That should be taken into account.
I've known many wise and sensible 19 year olds, however I've also known many unwise and not sensible ones too. I hope he has good advisors and listens to them.

Leicestershire County Council has a huge agenda for change in SEND, which includes speeding up the EHCP assessment process and building more special schools. It's difficult to see how that can be done without more funding. I'm not sure Reform HQ will be happy to support one of their councillors asking for more SEND funding, given their previous statements on the matter.

Grandmabatty

I don't think we can ignore the impact of covid and a lockdown on vulnerable children either. That should be taken into account.
I've known many wise and sensible 19 year olds, however I've also known many unwise and not sensible ones too. I hope he has good advisors and listens to them.

The increases in SEND numbers started before lockdown.

Isn’t this more about his age and limited experience rather than which party he represents? I think that’s somewhat irrelevent. As a councillor in charge isn’t he guided by paid officers of the council who do have the knowledge and experience or who should have as it’s their career? Each councillor is usually given a role for overall responsibility for something. If it goes pear shape presumably the chair of Council will do a reshuffle and replace him.

Let’s face it - absolutely anything reform do will be viewed negatively on this board, because they’re despised by so many on this site.
They could find a cure for cancer & some on here would still moan about it.

Chocolatelovinggran

Further to my comments on Reform's vetting drawbacks, a local councillor in Cliftonville, Kent, has stood down as he is under investigation by the police.
The allegations include threatening and lewd communications, and plotting to kill his wife.

Does that fall into the same category as Mike Amesbury, Kate Osman, who was elevated by starmer after threatening a reporter, and of course the very infamous Ricky, kill them all, Jones. Who even now has not been fast tracked into prison. All Labour. So guess there are rotten apples everywhere. Wouldn't you agree. Or is it just Reform that you're after.

If Labour had done this it would be seen as enterprising.

Of course it's the paid officers who are responsible for delivering the services. However, ultimately it's the responsible councillor who is responsible for policy and allocating the budget. Difficult decisions need to be made based on experience and priorities. Leicestershire County Council's spending on SEND and children's services in 2024 was £384,802,540. The council is under pressure to reduce that at a time when demand is rising. It's the councillor's responsibility to decide on policy and where the cuts will be made. Mr Pugsley will be told by his party string-pullers to conform and agree to cuts because they have made it clear that they don't see SEND or children's services as a priority.