Solihull to review vague statements

IPSEA welcomes Solihull’s assurance that vaguely written Statements will be screened out and made more specific at annual review.

In January 2009, IPSEA lodged a formal complaint with the Secretary of State against Solihull under section 497 of the Education Act 1996. IPSEA alleged that the Authority was pursuing a policy of never quantifying special educational provision in the Statements it produced.

In order to investigate IPSEA’s complaint the DCSF examined a sample of Solihull Statements and the Authority agreed to review 50 Statements issued over the period covered be the complaint. Although the DCSF found no evidence of a policy, as such, Solihull has accepted that some of its Statements were

'not sufficiently quantified and specified [and] … has said it will use the annual review process to further scrutinise the content of current statements, clarify any perceived shortfall in terms of specificity and quantification and make appropriate amendments where necessary.’

The DCSF has informed IPSEA that they have

‘… brought this matter to the attention of the Department’s National Strategies SEN Adviser for the region and asked that the work the Authority has committed to is carried through.’

IPSEA is anxious to hear from:

• any Solihull parent who would like help with arguing for quantification on provision in Part 3 of their child’s Statement at Annual Reviews;
• and from any Solihull parent who has experienced resistance for the Authority when they have requested an amendment to their child’s Statement aimed at achieving greater quantification.