“Culture of Failure”: Liberal Democrats respond to “worrying” Oldham Special Educational Needs report

Oldham Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Education, Councillor Helen Bishop has responded to “worrying” findings of a report into Oldham’s Special Educational Needs (SEN) services.

SEN services, which are the joint responsibility of Oldham council and NHS Manchester Integrated Care Board, received a mixed report from OFSTED following their recent inspection published this week.  Amongst the findings, Oldham Council was deemed to be failing to provide adequate services in several areas, leading to “unacceptably long wait times for care assessments and appointments.”

Councillor Bishop, who represents Saddleworth South on Oldham Council, believes that wholesale changes are needed within Oldham’s approach in order to achieve any sort of progress, and that the focus should be on early intervention. 

Councillor Bishop said, “Whilst it is positive to see that some areas of good practice are highlighted, overall, the borough is failing to provide adequate support and learning outcomes for children and young people with Special Educational Needs, many of whom face significant challenges to receiving an education that is fit for purpose.

“The aim should be for pupils with additional needs to be equipped by the local authority to fulfil their academic potential, not just to keep them occupied, or offer them an education that is little more than a tick box exercise.  I have spoken to many parents who are at their wit’s end and feel as though they face a relentless battle to get the support they know their child needs. They feel constantly fobbed off, and some slip through the net altogether, having become totally frustrated with the system.

“A new Director of Education has been appointed recently.  I hope that this represents the beginning of a robust approach to addressing the failings that have been identified.  The council needs to produce a swift response to the report, with a clear commitment to working meaningfully with children, their parents and carers, and education professionals to improve the situation, accompanied by a timeline against which progress can be clearly monitored.  We cannot allow a culture of failure to take root.”