Watchdog reforms ‘enable discrimination’

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Ofsted released a report this week with a promise to place more “focus and scrutiny” on how schools in England meet the needs of Disabled children, following a public consultation that was heavily critical of its current approach.

ALLFIE has raised serious concerns about plans by the education watchdog to reform the way it inspects and assesses schools, as featured in this Disability News Service article: Ofsted’s plans to reform inspections ‘will continue to enable discrimination’

Read | Disability News Service article 

ALLFIE’s full statement…

“We would be particularly encouraged if Ofsted recognise the diversity of Disabled people, and ensures that their voices are represented, and that our mainstream experiences are framed within a context of rights and entitlements to Inclusive Education. We would also hope that the new school inspection framework includes a measure relating to its own staff diversity, policies, cultures and practices. 
 
For far too long Disabled children and young people and individuals labelled as having SEN have been framed within a deficit-needs-based system that has all too often led to their systematic exclusion into segregated provision. We remain deeply concerned about the harmful approach that persists. This is an education system rooted in grouping and ranking children which perpetuates societal inequalities and discrimination. 
 
ALLFIE does not believe that the new inspection system will effectively deliver on the government promise to address the fundamental issues of accountability and neither will it end excessive focus on judgment. It also does not put an end to ranking of schools. Rather, the system will continue to enable discriminatory practices that allow schools to exclude Disabled children and young people, rather than taking meaningful action to support their inclusion. Schools should be creating systems that ensure every child is welcomed and fully included into the school community.
 
The accountability of the Department for education (DfE) and other government departments in this inspection process is crucial. Inclusive education requires a collective and collaborative practice, and all departments must also be held accountable to ensure that schools are inclusive and supportive of Disabled children.
 
ALLFIE is disappointed that Ofsted and DfE has not worked with Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs) to develop a system rooted in the foundation of inclusive education as defined by the UNCRPD. This was a missed opportunity to deliver on the government’s obligation under the UNCRPD to progressively realise the right of Disabled people to mainstream education as a human right. Framed by a social and disability justice framework the inspection process could be a new opportunity to dismantle the systemic barriers that deny Disabled people their right to mainstream education.

We would welcome a new framework that puts at its center the goal of creating an inclusive and equitable educational system for every child as outline in our Manifesto: Inclusive Education for All

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