Commenting on the launch of Ofsted’s Annual
Report, Ms Chris Keates, Acting General Secretary of
the NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union, said:
“Many of the issues highlighted in Ofsted’s Annual Report
reflect long-held NASUWT concerns about the implications of
Government policy.
“In particular, Ofsted is right to highlight that in too
many cases across the country, SEND pupils are being let down by
failures in joint working arrangements between schools, local
authorities, health and care services.
“While funding pressures are, of course, at the heart of
many of these concerns, it is clear that decisions taken in the
last ten years ago by the Government to dismantle the highly
effective local joint working arrangements it inherited has
wrought lasting damage on the SEND system.
“Too many areas suffer from fragmented and poorly
co-ordinated services. In such cases, it is often hard-pressed
teachers and school leaders who are left to try to fill in the
gaps left by the absence of external support.
“It is right that Ofsted emphasises the impact of poor
teacher wellbeing and workload on teachers and their ability to
focus on teaching and learning.
“In these areas as well as others identified by Ofsted
today, such as the prevalence of off-rolling and lack of
effective support for schools in challenging circumstances, the
absence of appropriate and effective regulation is a key
factor.
“In all these respects, the NASUWT has continued to set out
practical alternative approaches that would tackle these issues
and ensure that national policy provides more effective support
to children, young people and the teachers and school leaders
that work with them.
“The Government would do well to reflect carefully on
Ofsted’s Annual Report and recognise the key changes needed to
better support the education system in future.”
