‘Dogma, drift and decay’…situation normal for Birmingham children’s services
Cllr Bennett recalled: “I wanted this published, Les Lawrence wanted it published, but as we were marching towards the election and our political demise, it was never published.”
Warming to his theme about the need for wholesale reorganisation of senior schools and social services officials, Mr Bennett told the committee: “The children’s services department is a shambles and has always been a shambles. You can’t polish a turd.”
It emerged that the independent report by the Stamford Forum, exposing a “lack of clarity” over the future of special needs provision, has still not been seen by the current cabinet member, Brigid Jones, or by Cllr Ward, some 17 months after it was commissioned by the council and published.
More worryingly for the current Labour-led council administration, education scrutiny committee chairman Anita Ward made clear her concerns about children’s services, warning that the “overwhelming message” about the special needs green paper was that Birmingham head teachers did not understand it.
Cllr Ward, generally regarded as a Labour loyalist and key backer of council leader Sir Albert Bore, went on to criticise education officer who she claimed had failed despite being asked several times to provide her with a copy of a ‘child-friendly’ questionnaire to be filled in by special needs children.
A special needs survey that appears on the council website includes questions about sexual orientation and gender reassignment issues, which Cllr Ward said were unsuitable topics to be put to children.
There is growing concern among Labour councillors about children’s services, which will soon enter its fifth year under government special measures having been declared inadequate by Ofsted.
Strategic director Peter Duxbury has been absent from work for two weeks and is taking “urgent unplanned leave”. Meanwhile, Ofsted are due to return for another inspection later this year.
