School Administration Manager

St Pauls Independent School, Balsall Heath 37.5 hrs/week Term Time Only St Pauls Independent School works with pupils who have had multiple challenges in their lives.  The pupils all have Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and the focus is very much about capabilities and not disabilities.  St Paul’s focuses on the strengths and aspirations…Read moreRead more

There is No One to Help You

B came to Birmingham from another EU country with her son.  It was clear – though she was too polite to say it directly – that she found her experience in this city a real contrast to the help she received elsewhere.  B reflected back to us a nightmarish picture of the system in Birmingham…Read moreRead more

We Need to Know How Many Unlawful Exclusions There Are…

J  told us about her struggle to get to her son educated in a mainstream school.  She made it clear she believes the school acted without regard to the law; and saw inclusion as an add-on it couldn’t afford.  J, however, stuck to her demands and, eventually, it has been the school that has changed. …Read moreRead more

The Shame of Seeing Money Wasted

G has two children with additional needs.  Her daughter is 21 and has global development delay.   She is still battling to get her the support she needs.  G’s non-verbal autistic son does get extra support – Birmingham City Council pays for him to go to a private school outside the city .  But G feels…Read moreRead more

‘I Couldn’t Believe There Were No Resources…’

  C’s child has autism.  He is now 13 and at a special school in Birmingham, but the move to special school took more than a year.  During the time he was in mainstream school and whilst the family waited for the assessments and reports to be done to get him a place at special…Read moreRead more

A Hellish Journey…

  K told us about a 4 -5 year journey during which her daughter Q had little, or no, access to school.  Laura commented: ‘I have rarely seen such inappropriate assessment and responses to a very bright, capable young girl who just needs a customised approach’. K’s daughter Q is now at a special school…Read moreRead more

Do We Need a Better Local Offer?

We think SEND children, young people and their families in Birmingham should have a better Local Offer. Join us by Zoom on 8th and 22nd July to share your experience… The City Council has been given funds by government to improve the Local Offer. The Council says it wil use most of this money to…Read moreRead more

Do We Need a Better Local Offer?

We think SEND children, young people and their families in Birmingham should have a better Local Offer. Join us by Zoom on 8th and 22nd July to share your experience… The City Council has been given funds by government to improve the Local Offer. The Council says it wil use most of this money to…Read moreRead more

New Local SEND Offer

Tuesday 4 May 10-11am Much-needed additional money for the Local Offer for SEND Children might not be enough to ‘fix’ mainstream schools which off-roll and persistently exclude children who ‘don’t fit the box’.  Instead, CQ says, the SEND Local Offer could be made co-operatively between schools and communities. Join the Zoom chat online to look…Read moreRead more

Develop Local Potential to Serve SEND Children Right

Councils are working out how to spend an increase in the higher needs block funding they get to provide education to SEND children.  In Birmingham, the Council is encouraging mainstream schools to improve the way they serve vulnerable children through partnerships aimed at developing local potential.  In the light of widespread Off-rolling of SEND children…Read moreRead more