(UK) Yorkshire: Elem school failing SPED kids; no qualified teachers/aides

Mar 27, 2023, Oxfordshire Post: Parents take vote of no confidence in trust running Yorkshire primary school https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/education/parents-take-vote-of-no-confidence-in-trust-running-yorkshire-primary-school-4080407

Scathing accounts were given by parents, teachers and a local councillor over the running of Ash Grove Primary Academy, in South Elmsall, near Wakefield. More than 50 people who attended a public meeting also voted to bring a joint grievance against Inspire Multi Academy Trust. Parents Rachel Parry and Naomi Horne arranged the meeting, which was held at the town’s United Services Club.

Ms Parry told the meeting she had removed her son, who has special educational needs, from the school due to the lack of an appropriate education, health and care plan (EHCP).

She said: “This started with a complaint to Ofsted. I was ringing up every day. He was getting sent home, he wasn’t learning. I have had a safeguarding issue which have been constantly swept away. We are getting nowhere. I have had 30-plus messages from parents saying there is no support, no funding.

Scathing accounts were given by parents, teachers and a local councillor over the running of Ash Grove Primary Academy, in South Elmsall

"I took my son out of school. It has been four weeks and I have absolutely no intention of sending him back while they are in charge. There is absolutely no way. Staff are dropping like flies. Across the school, there is just no support for anybody.”

Another parent told the meeting. “There are no special educational needs teachers in the school at the minute. So who is looking after our kids? Who is actually qualified to look after our children with special educational needs, because there is nobody there to make sure they are looked after. Why are people leaving? There have been many, many people that have gone suddenly. There are no teachers, there are no TAs (teaching assistants).”

Inspire was established in 2016 and has nine primary academies across the Wakefield local authority area….