Video of Wirral Council Special Cabinet meeting over Lyndale School and copy of Cabinet recommendation for closure
Video of Wirral Council Special Cabinet meeting over Lyndale School and copy of Cabinet recommendation for closure
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Video of the Special Cabinet meeting held on the 4th September 2014 to discuss Lyndale School. Please note there is a small break in filming between parts 5 and 6 in order for depleted batteries to be changed.
Councillor Tony Smith (Cabinet Member for Children and Family Services) at the Special Cabinet Meeting of 4th September 2014 to discuss Lyndale School L to R Cllr Stuart Whittingham, Cllr Tony Smith (Cabinet Member for Children and Family Services), Cllr Bernie Mooney and Lyndzay Roberts
Below is a copy of the recommendation agreed at the special meeting of Wirral Council’s Cabinet on the 4th September 2014. An amendment to this recommendation was also proposed and agreed, however the amendment wasn’t circulated to those present at the meeting and the below is the original (unamended) recommendationEd – 7/9/14 10:18 recommendation as amended by the new amendment which adds part 1.3.
CABINET – 4TH SEPTEMBER 2014
THE LYNDALE SCHOOL
RECOMMENDATION
1.1 Cabinet thanks all those who have participated in the consultation exercise, with particular regard to submissions from parents of children at The Lyndale School.
1.2 Having reviewed the responses received during the consultation process, analysed the alternative options and applied the SEN Improvement Test, is it recommended that:
Statutory notices be published in respect of the closure of The Lyndale School from January 2016.
That Wirral Council, under the leadership of the Director of Children’s Services, work individually, with children and families, towards effecting a smooth and supportive transition to an alternative place at one of the following schools:
Elleray Park Special School
Stanley Special School
Another appropriate school
In doing so, that the Director of Children’s Services, in acknowledgement of the close relationships that exist between staff and pupils at The Lyndale School, investigates if staff could be employed, where possible, at receiving schools, (subject to legal practice and the approval of governing bodies).
The Director of Children’s Services be authorised to take all necessary steps to publish the proposals and ensure the prescribed procedures are followed, including requesting permissions from the Secretary of State, in furtherance of the proposals.
A further report be brought on the outcome of the publication of the statutory notices.
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1.3 That the Director of Children’s Services to ensure that Education, Health and Care Plans for all pupils of the Lyndale School are completed by the 31st October.
2.0 REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION
2.1 Having looked at all the options, and applied the SEN Improvement Test, it is our opinion that, while we recognise the special place that The Lyndale School has in the affection of parents and children, the continued operation and maintenance of a school of this size will not meet the future educational needs of the children, nor is a financially viable option, especially when there are good alternative options available.
The Council has a responsibility to ensure for the sustainable future provision of education for the pupils of The Lyndale School. In addition, we have to manage resources effectively for all schools and the school population.
This has been a difficult decision to make, and we would like to affirm our continued intention to work positively with the families and the children affected, and reassure parents of our continued commitment to their child’s wellbeing and education.
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A Martian tries to understand the incredible Lyndale School situation (episode 2)
A Martian tries to understand the incredible Lyndale School situation (episode 2)
Marvin the Martian from Disney’s Looney Tunes
The below is a fictional interview with Marvin the Martian about Lyndale School. Marvin the Martian is trademarked to Warner Brothers Entertainment. Our legal team point out their trademark doesn’t actually cover its use on blogs but in case they try to argue this blog is an “entertainment service”, it isn’t, so no laughing! Yes I mean it, not even a smile! We also point out it’s not an infringing use of class 9 of this trademark as that refers to its use on goods rather than virtually.
JOHN BRACE: Thanks for agreeing to talk about Lyndale School (again).
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: You’re welcome, but I must admit we’re even more confused today.
JOHN BRACE: Why’s that?
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Well we just listened from our spaceship to the BBC Radio Merseyside broadcast.
JOHN BRACE: Ahh, I see.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: The way Lyndale was described it’s a hospital, not a school.
JOHN BRACE: I see why you’re confused. It’s both in a way.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Well thanks for clearing that point up. So now we can say the red politicians want to close a hospital?
JOHN BRACE: No the red politicians will say they invented free hospitals, that hospitals are very dear to their heart and that they don’t want to privatise them as it doesn’t fit with their socialist ideals. They’ll tell you that hospitals aren’t safe in the hands of the blues or the yellows (or any other colour than red).
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: But the blues, yellows and greens want to keep this “hospital” open! The reds keep voting at every stage to close it!
JOHN BRACE: The reds will say they just voted for “consultation”, won’t call it a hospital and if pressed, they’ll just blame it on the blues and the yellows.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Right there’s another point I want clearing up now too. The bureaucrats who work for the reds, say that the blues and yellows are giving the reds an extra £260,029 this year for special educational needs.
JOHN BRACE: Yes.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: But the blues and the yellows say that it’s not £260,029, but £364,135 and that the reds were told in January that they can spend this SEN Reform Revenue Grant to “choose how to spend the money in order to best meet local need” and that its purposes is (according to the blues/yellows) to “improve outcomes for children and young people with SEN; increase choice and control for parents; and promote a less adversarial system.”?
JOHN BRACE: The reds would prefer you didn’t mention that.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Why?
JOHN BRACE: Well their whole argument is blaming the blues and yellows for giving them less money, not more. It’s an “inconvenient truth”.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: And in politics you don’t talk about the inconvenient truths?
JOHN BRACE: Yes, it’s not diplomatic or tactful to do so. If you try that with a red politician they’ll call you “political”.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: And why is that a bad thing?
JOHN BRACE: Because like unravelling a ball of string, once you start plucking away at one bit the whole thing starts falling apart.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: So the reds believe if they repeat enough that the blues and yellows are giving them less money that people like BBC Radio Merseyside will repeat it?
JOHN BRACE: Yes, they’ve been on a media training course you see.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Oh, in how to deal with people like you?
JOHN BRACE: Partly, but anyway your arguments about money are pointless.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Why?
JOHN BRACE: Because Wirral Council has been given the money referred to above (at least the first two instalments), but they don’t officially have it.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: What kind of double talk is that?
JOHN BRACE: It’s not part of the budget that Labour agreed back in the Spring of 2014.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Was that deliberate?
JOHN BRACE: You mean they’d deliberately try to close the school, then suddenly magically find money they knew they had all along but tried to keep quiet and then use that to keep it open to make themselves look wonderful?
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: No, did they deliberately set a budget knowing they had this extra money?
JOHN BRACE: I don’t know, you’d better ask them.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Going back to the radio show, they said it should be about the children.
JOHN BRACE: Yes it should.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: So why do they keep getting talked out of the discussion?
JOHN BRACE: Because politicians would rather score political points.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: I listened to the parents, they referred to a “David versus Goliath” battle.
JOHN BRACE: It always is with Wirral Council, see the battles I had with them over filming meetings (until central government stepped in).
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: So they were worried you’d film them “scoring political points”?
JOHN BRACE: No.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Oh so they were worried you’d film them trying to close a school?
JOHN BRACE: No.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: So what were the reasons then?
JOHN BRACE: Health and safety.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Well that’s ironic in a way isn’t it? They’re bothered about the health and safety implications of you filming meetings but not the health and safety of the Lyndale children?
JOHN BRACE: You might put it that way, I couldn’t possibly comment.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Well, the parents seem to think it’ll affect their children’s health if the school is closed.
JOHN BRACE: A lot of people think it would.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: And if the school closes all the staff are out of a job too.
JOHN BRACE: Yes, but the reds are the “party of the workers”.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: What does that mean?
JOHN BRACE: It means they side with the unions and the workers.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Ahh, so the unions want to close Lyndale?
JOHN BRACE: No, the unions are against closure. See UNISON’s response starting on page 37 which states the consultation was “misleading” and compared to Children’s Centres that there is no “equality or fairness” for Lyndale staff. NUT (National Union of Teachers) also states the consultation was “misleading” and that if Lyndale was closed “some of our most vulnerable pupils will be left without access to a local school.”
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: This whole politics thing is starting not to make any sense!
JOHN BRACE: Now you know how people feel about the whole thing.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: So to recap, the blues and yellows gave the reds more money for this sort of thing that the reds won’t spend (yet). The reds say the blues and yellows are giving them less money.
The blues, yellows, reds and greens all say they’re on the side of the people and the reds say they’re the party of the unions. The unions seem to be on the same side as the blues, yellows and greens?
JOHN BRACE: No because a lot of those involved with the unions to put it mildly dislike the blues.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Your whole political system makes no sense whatsoever!!!
JOHN BRACE: That’s “democracy” for you.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Don’t people get frustrated having to live under such a system?
JOHN BRACE: Yes which is why they get a vote.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: And what does a vote do?
JOHN BRACE: It allows people to pick the politicians out of the reds, blues, greens, yellows, purples et cetera.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: So if your political system is as it is it’s the public who are to blame?
JOHN BRACE: Well no, our system ignores a majority of their votes. Let’s give an example. This year in Pensby and Thingwall 4,086 people voted.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: OK.
JOHN BRACE: Roughly one in three of those voted for the red party, the rest (two in three) voted for someone else.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: So someone else won?
JOHN BRACE: No the red party won, although most people voted for someone else.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: So you’re saying the red party is now in charge making the decisions, even though most people who voted in Pensby & Thingwall didn’t want them in charge?
JOHN BRACE: Yes.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: So your voting system means you ignore the wishes of most people and then just pick someone that most people don’t want?
JOHN BRACE: Sometimes.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Well doesn’t that mean whoever is in charge is unpopular?
JOHN BRACE: Well that’s the weird thing about our political system, since the red party have been in charge, they’ve become slightly more popular with the public.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Well according to what you just told me they weren’t very popular to start with!
JOHN BRACE: Indeed, but if you look at that election I just mentioned it was between a red and a former red that had switched to the blues. The reds really really did not want their former colleague to win.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: So the public were asked to vote to choose between a red and a former red who is now a blue!
JOHN BRACE: Yes.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: So let’s get this straight, the reds are in charge not because they’re terribly popular but because of your voting system.
JOHN BRACE: Yes.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: And most people don’t vote or when they do vote often their vote doesn’t count (which is why they often choose not to vote)?
JOHN BRACE: Yes.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: And that’s called democracy?
JOHN BRACE: Yes.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: But the children of Lyndale are not allowed to vote?
JOHN BRACE: No.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Why not?
JOHN BRACE: I don’t make the rules here.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: So Lyndale School can be closed by a bunch of red politicians that most people never voted for and in some places a majority don’t want, that claim to be the party of the unions (who are against the idea), claim to the party of the people (who are also against the idea) and the ones who will be affected (the children) don’t even get a say in whether the politicians are red, blue, yellow, green (or something else) this year?
JOHN BRACE: You left out the bit about the reds blaming it all on the blues and the yellows.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: Oh yes, the red politicians say they don’t have any money because of the blues and the yellows, but the blues and the yellows say well that’s the reds’ fault but they’ve given the reds more money anyway?
JOHN BRACE: As usual it is more complicated than that.
MARVIN THE MARTIAN: And you call that “democracy”, sounds like disorganised chaos!
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The text of the emotional handwritten responses to the Lyndale School Closure Consultation
The text of the emotional handwritten responses to the Lyndale School Closure Consultation
Phil Ward (Wirral Council’s SEN Lead) at a later meeting of Wirral Schools Forum 2nd July 2014 (who chaired the consultation meeting at Acre Lane on the 16th June and is referred to in some of the responses)
The first is from pages 9-10 of the file marked Lyndale parents.
Lyndale is a vital service to children with the most difficult lives.
They can’t cope with moving schools, because for the most part their health is very fragile.
I want to see a 2-19 facility at Lyndale School so that the children there can continue to receive the care they so desperately need. No other school on Wirral can provide this.
See ‘Parents Response to the Lyndale Consultation Document’ for a further explanation of my views.
Name, address, telephone number and e-mail address is all blacked out apart from Wirral in the address field.
From Page 17 of the Lyndale parents file:
PLEASE SEE OUR SEPARATE SHEET ENCLOSED WITH OUR FEEDBACK COMMENTS. THANK YOU.
===========================================
These are from the file marked Lyndale others starting at page 3.
member of the friends of Lyndale School association
Having helped with fund raising and attended events at the Lyndale School I have always been impressed by the ‘can do’ attitude of the staff and the calm and the happy atmosphere of the school.
Because of the very special and complex needs of these children I do not believe and neither do their parents that these needs can be met at the other special schools on the Wirral. I feel that the welfare or even the lives of these children may be endangered.
I would ask the Council not to sacrifice these very special children for ???? ???? of financial criteria or rationalisation process that is not in their best interests.
Surely the mark of a civilised society is the way that they care for its most vulnerable members
Contact details blacked out apart from Wirral.
From page 27:
I write this as a grandparent to my 3 year old granddaughter who has PMLD. I have witnessed the amazing progress she has made since she began attending Lyndale School. She has clearly benefitted from the range of professional skills of the staff team based there.
It seems cruel to uproot her from the school to another of two schools which appear to be oversubscribed. It is also devastating for the parents of Lyndale School, whose lives are tough enough dealing with their childrens complex needs, to have to endure the uncertainty facing their childrens schooling. Keep Lyndale School open to maintain a geographical spread and encourage more parents to send their children there, to benefit from all the outstanding resources on offer
Contact details blacked out apart from MERSEYSIDE in address field.
======================================
From Stanley others file (page 3)
Having read the consultation document, if both Elleray Park and Stanley have the capacity to offer an additional 40+ places, then ideally, the children from Lyndale should be offered these places.
This will only be an issue if the numbers of children requiring specialist provision increases within the borough.
(Other staff section from page 7 onwards)
Member of staff ticked “THE OBSERVATORY SCHOOL” written in Other.
Whilst I understand all the reasons for the closure of Lyndale School, I would hope the opinions and feelings of the parents and carers of the pupils attending the school are listened to sensitively and with genuine regard for them.
Personally, I have real affection for the Lyndale School but also acknowledge the amazing provision offered by Stanley and Elleray Park schools.
I would love to see all three schools continuing to provide for CLD/PMLD children but understand Elleray Park and Stanley School can provide for Wirral’s children and also understand the financial implications and issues. I am confident that the correct decision will be made and know that this consultation will be well supported. I wish Wirral Cabinet well in their decision-making process.
Name is blacked out. Address: THE OBSERVATORY SCHOOL, BIDSTON VILLAGE ROAD, BIDSTON, WIRRAL Postcode: CH43 7QT. Telephone and e-mail address blacked out.
Page 9 onwards
Other: HEADTEACHER BHSC
1. Logically keeping a small school open in an area where alternative provision is available of equal quality of provision is not a feasible option. I base this judgement on financial basis, community flexibility, breadth of staff experience, staff workload.
I agree that Lyndale should close and students reallocated.
2. I agree that any financial savings must be redirected into receiving schools to ensure no detriment to student provision.
3. Other options proposed:-
– Restricting places at Elleray + Stanley would lead to possible under occupancy and therefore no financial security
– 2-19 is an interesting option worth a feasibility study.
– Federation can lead to leadership issue and lack of focus for all schools in the federation including competing agendas – not feasible
– colocation is possible but why? when alt schools can accommodate demand
– Academy or free school does not alter the facts at present re student numbers or finance. If Lyndale improved to to this change there are only so many students to go around + the issues are only deflected into alt schools
– Additional places at Elleray + Stanley + closure of Lyndale is the most sensible option financially and educationally
Name blacked out Address: Bebington High Sports College Wirral Postcode CH63 2PS Telephone and e-mail address blacked out.
====================================
From the Others file starting at page 57:
I HAVE LISTENED TO THE DISCUSSIONS FOR AND AGAINST THE CLOSURE OF THE LYNDALE SCHOOL. TO PUT TO ONE SIDE THE EMOTIONAL ISSUES THAT THE THREATENED CLOSURE HAS CAUSED, IN MY VIEW THIS IS A MEDICAL POSITION. THE CHILDREN REQUIRE SUCH INTENSE ONE TO ONE ATTENTION THAT SOME HOW THE MONEY MUST BE FOUND, POSSIBLY JUSTIFIABLY INTO A 5TH BAND THEREBY QUALIFYING FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING. ANOTHER OPTION IS TO APPEAL TO THE D OF E FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING DUE TO THE CHILDRENS’ VULNERABILITY. SURELY THERE MUST BE A MORE HUMAN APPROACH TO CARE FOR THE ELDERLY AND VULNERABLE IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY RATHER THAN BASE THEIR NEEDS ON CALCULATIONS.
This is not a handwritten response but is very hard to read due to a lack of contrast with the background (from page 59 of the other responses):
Dear Councillor
I am writing to tell you how worried I am about the possibility that the Lyndale School in Eastham may close. This is because the children at the school are very vulnerable and need to be with people they know well. Their fragile health means they will not be able to cope with losing all that they know and adjusting to a new environment.
The staff at The Lyndale School have years of experience, knowledge and expertise in caring for and educating children with a very high level of special needs. They create a very special environment where each child is valued and given the support they need to enjoy a good quality of life and achieve their potential. Parents feels that no other school on Wirral can provide the same safe and caring environment.
The children who attend Lyndale have many challenges to face in their everyday lives and their families are there alongside them. But this threat of the Lyndale closure is a challenge too ??? and many of the families are feeling under great strain at this time, worrying about having to send their children to schools that they know won’t be suitable for them.
The Lyndale School provides a service that is really needed both now and to future generations. It supports and gives hope to children and their families through some of the most difficult times in their lives. Will you please pledge to support the school and prevent its loss as a valuable asset in our community.
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EXCLUSIVE: 90 Incredible Lyndale School Closure Consultation Responses
EXCLUSIVE: 90 Incredible Lyndale School Closure Consultation Responses
Phil Ward (Wirral Council’s SEN Lead) at a later meeting of Wirral Schools Forum 2nd July 2014 (who chaired the consultation meeting at Acre Lane on the 16th June and is referred to in some of the responses)
It’s not often there’s a “stop the presses” moment here or as this is an online publication “stop the electrons” moment. Yesterday I had planned to write about the Hoylake RNLI Open Day today.
However this was just four responses out of ninety that were known about. I was always curious about what the other eighty-six were! The following documents should show this. Sadly Wirral Council has taken it upon itself to black out a lot of the detail such as who the responses are from, however the other details can allow you to guess at who some of the names are. Apologies over some parts being hard to read, I think as part of the redaction some quality has been lost and a few are handwritten responses. I’ll try my best to type up some of the harder to read sections.
Wirral Council will be publishing these responses as part of the Cabinet papers by Thursday.UPDATE: Wirral Council will now not be publishing the consultation responses as part of the Cabinet papers. Apologies for this, in previous consultations they had published the consultation responses with the papers for those making the decision and Wirral Council had stated they would publish the responses but seemingly either changed their mind or lied. The responses are split by which category they came from into ten files and provide an interesting insight as to what was going on behind the scenes both during the consultation and as far back as the call in meeting. The way the consultation meetings were conducted comes in for criticism, so does the claim in the consultation documents that staff would be redeployed.
Lyndale School Consultation Meeting: Julia Hassall “we’re not having straightforward consultation” (part 10)
Lyndale School Consultation Meeting: Julia Hassall “we’re not having straightforward consultation” (part 10)
Phil Ward (Wirral Council’s SEN Lead) at a later meeting of Wirral Schools Forum 2nd July 2014 (who chaired the consultation meeting at Acre Lane on the 16th June)
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This transcript below starts at 1:05:50 in the video above.
DAVID ARMSTRONG (ASSISTANT CHIEF EXECUTIVE)
Just before we get to it, just before we get to it, I’ll just make the point about you’ll know there a number of people sitting here who will know we’re having discussions about Elleray Park and Stanley …(unclear)… and more recently we’ve been having discussions about Foxfield based on comments that have been made towards us.
Subsequently and clearly I’ve got to talk about the nature around the Wallasey School, but what was referred to was Wallasey School is currently based at an outpost base where inevitably …(unclear)… similar …(unclear)… some space …(unclear)… and I think that’s a very short-term arrangement, so it’s nothing at all to do with the Lyndale School.
TOM HARNEY (CHAIR OF GOVERNORS)
Well thanks for that point about a shared site.
JULIA HASSALL (DIRECTOR OF CHILDRENS’ SERVICES)
Can I just come back to the point the gentleman made at the back you know? I’ll come back in a minute on what Alison McGovern said. You’ve said why haven’t we got parents at the front telling?
GENTLEMAN AT BACK
I said there’s, I don’t want to object, but whether it was legal.
JULIA HASSALL (DIRECTOR OF CHILDRENS’ SERVICES)
and I had a meeting with the Chief Executive of the Council, Graham Burgess. There were three parent governors, two of whom are here tonight and they said to Graham Burgess and myself, it feels like we’re not having straightforward consultation about some of these issues. We don’t know err what you’re doing to investigate the other eight options along with the other proposals that have come forward and what we have done and what Alison McGovern also said was I think, was is there something about, can you recreate Lyndale ethos in a different setting? Can you explore that and so we’ve had one meeting so far, we’ve got another meeting on Friday, to try and have a different kind of conversation about how we explore all the different options because I think the gentleman here raised the point when we were at the Floral Pavilion, it feels like when we have these meetings sometimes you can, questions from the floor, we know we kind of almost it feels like defend the position, whereas you can with smaller groups sometimes saying you can have a different kind of conversation but we’re doing that in tandem with these meetings to try and flush out all the different options and look at them in real detail.
GENTLEMAN FROM AUDIENCE
OK, well can I just say that the replication of Lyndale and that’s what I want to talk about. Lyndale even though we knew at the beginning of the year and it’s fully documented, it says many of the children have had PMLD [profound and multiple learning disabilities], it’s the actual, it’s the vast majority, it’s almost all the children.
JULIA HASSALL (DIRECTOR OF CHILDRENS’ SERVICES)
It is.
GENTLEMAN FROM AUDIENCE
So, the reason why Lyndale is so effective in that area is because it’s a small, lovely school and it does feel like, it does feel like a home and people say …(unclear)… 0.1%, it’s the very most vulnerable of our children. So they are all, this facility actually caters for them because they are vulnerable, they are vulnerable to other more boisterous children in care.
They need more responsible adult care, they are in the absolute …(unclear)… in this Borough and the reason why I’ve gone round approaching all those businesses, is because one hundred percent of the people think that that 0.1% of our most vulnerable children should be the …(unclear)… number one priority on everybody’s agenda and everything else should come second to this.
He received a round of applause for what he had said.
1:09:00
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