Decision details

Cllr Phillips, as the member for Barton, Sandhills & Risinghurst, addressed concerns about reduction of bus services for children attending Wheatley Park School, and concerns about the safety of their children who would need to cross the dual carriageway without a pedestrian crossing. Cllr Phillips also raised concerns over the safety of the cycle path.

Kimberly Morgan highlighted systemic failings by Oxfordshire County Council in supporting SEND children, referencing 13 cases upheld by the Local Government Ombudsman. She emphasised the need for a fit-for-purpose action plan and trauma-informed approaches, urging the Committee to ensure the proposed policies genuinely meet the needs of SEND children.

Anita Steptoe shared her experience as a mother of a child with autism and developmental delays, detailing the failures in handling her son's EHCP and the distress caused by inadequate support. She called for an apology from the Council and urged the Committee to ensure no other parent endures similar hardships.

Claire Brenner, speaking on behalf of the Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS) working group, discussed the need for detailed, comprehensive guidance on EOTAS, expressing concerns about the current draught policy and its lack of clarity. She emphasised the importance of trauma-informed approaches and urged the Committee to ensure the policy and guidance are co-produced with parents and reflect their needs.

Neil Barry, speaking as a parent of a former Woodeaton student, described the decline of Woodeaton Manor School, attributing it to the exodus of over fifty staff members and the failure of the interim governing board. He referred to early visits by the Chief Executive of the Propeller Academy Trust and alleged conflicts of interest among governors.

Melody Drinkwater addressed the Committee on behalf of Oxfordshire SEND Parent Action and set out the group’s concerns about the Council's response to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) directive for section 19. She emphasised the trauma experienced by the SEND community and called for measures to mitigate harm and address unmet needs. Ms Drinkwater expressed disappointment with the lack of co-production in the latest plan and urged the Committee to consider an extraordinary meeting with stakeholders before the next Cabinet meeting in July.

Katie Squires described her son's experience at Woodeaton Manor School. Initially supportive, the school faced issues when the headteacher took leave, leading to staffing problems and reduced timetables. High staff turnover caused disruption, triggering her son's anxiety and self-harm. Essential therapies ceased, and parent communication declined. Ms Squires withdrew her son, who lacked alternative provision for seven months. She called for accountability and highlighted the impact of this situation.

Nadine Haigh shared her experience as a full-time caregiver to two teenagers needing EOTAS packages. She requested a short-term deferral of the draft EOTAS policy for genuine consultation with parents.

D/Cllr Sally Whiteman explained that she had sat on the Committee until the May 2025 election and expressed concerns about the lack of communication from Woodeaton about future plans and lack of transparency over the dealings of Woodeaton.  She encouraged the Committee to ensure they scrutinised the issue in full.

Emma Bliss discussed the severe impact of trauma and burnout on families needing EOTAS. She described the catastrophic effects of trauma on children, including loss of basic abilities and constant distress. Ms Bliss criticised the EOTAS policy for not mentioning trauma and stressed the importance of a trauma-informed approach.

Tressa Verrier highlighted that parents generally want their children in school and criticised schools for failing to meet children's needs, leading to crises and the need for alternative provision. Ms Verrier shared her personal experience of her son being ignored by his school, resulting in him walking out and eventually refusing to return. She emphasised the importance of the action plan arising from the Section 19 report kicking in quickly to save children and reduce costs for the local authority.

The Chair had invited Oxfordshire Parent Carer Forum to address the Committee, with Jules Francis-Sinclair, the Co-Chair, raising concerns about the Section 19 response's lack of clarity, transparency, and accountability. She noted that the Council had admitted confusion about its duties, leading to legal issues. Ms Francis-Sinclair criticised the action plan's development without proper consultation and harmful language in documents. She called for a formal apology, meaningful co-production, and improved oversight of Section 19 and EOTAS guidance.