sand12

This is the larger issue. The whole system of education divorced from LA control is shambolic. The schools do their level best at times to help with what they can, but more often than not they don?t have the budgets to do it and certainly their performance indicators, league tables, don?t incentivise taking, keeping, or expending any resources or labour for children with additional needs. Even if you have a child with an EHCP, there is no real accountability for anything to be actually delivered. Local Councils are ostensibly taking the money (from ring-fenced but small budgets) and giving it to schools to deliver this support or therapies. The amounts and services are negligible or laughable and sub par compared to what you can get or achieve in the private sector. The schools scramble to find the money and/or resent having to take money out of their budgets to make up the difference. I?ve despaired of having any positive outcomes from local state or faith schools despite having their glowing reputations built on (in some cases like Dulwich Hamlet and Dulwich Village and Charter North) 10 years outdated Ofsted ratings of Outstanding or Good. It is a load of crock. Most of the best teachers and leaders are long since retired or forced out by the terrible workloads and academisaation process. The rest is smoke and mirrors and only stands up to some scrutiny because East Dulwich, Dulwich Village, West Dulwich are perceived as middle class, white, professional families compared to what surrounds us. The racism, classism, and ableism in local schools is very apparent if you look closer or spend any time in these schools. If you have a child with ASD, ADHD, Dyslexia, MH, Anxiety, physical or developmental disabilities, or any SEND these schools purport to inclusivity, but more often than not they will fail your child and expect you to be grateful for the chance to be ?included?. All schools should be inclusive, sadly most are not and don?t even know why not because they frankly cannot be bothered to listen or figure out why. This report explains a lot about Local Government attitudes toward SEND pupils and families. It will be submitted to the SEND review: https://www.specialneedsjungle.com/las-send-failings-everyones-fault-but-ours-too-easy-get-ehcp/ Cllr Hamvas, I hope you will have a chance to read the blogpost and the report. If you are a SEND family and need support please refer to: https://sossen.org.uk/ And https://www.ipsea.org.uk/ Both are impartial and non government subsidised charities unlike https://www.southwark.gov.uk/schools-and-education/information-for-parents/southwark-information-advice-and-support-team-sias There is serious conflicts of interest and lack of expertise at SIAS (well meaning, lovely people but not legal experts). Renata Hamvas Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hi Bodsier, I am a Southwark Councillor! I > represent Peckham Rye Ward, this encompasses South > Nunhead, a bit of East Dulwich and a bit of Honor > Oak, south of Peckham Rye Park and east of Forest > Hill Rd. No Southwark secondary schools are under > LA control, They are all academies/free or faith > schools. Most children who have the most common > SENs ie ADHD/dyslexia/dyspraxia don't have a > statement of SEN and therefore the schools don't > get additional funding to support them. What I > have reported her is purely the feedback I have > had from parents with children with SEN who have > attended and had good experience of support for > their child in local schools, in some cases they > have picked those schools due to how children with > SEN are supported at those schools from what they > have heard from other parents. I know parents with > children at Charter ED but have not had any > feedback about their SEN support.

The SEN provision at Charter North and East is talked about by many past and current parents. If you have a child with no issues, and plenty of friends they will be fine. As soon as your child has any issues though, your are quickly told to go elsewhere. It is underfunded, under staffed and frankly the trust is really interested in just appearing to be good enough as the local independents, by using less then half the spend per pupil. Avoid if you can especially if you have a child with SEN. The Hamlet is one of the feeder schools for the charter as well, and their SEN support is horrendous. All those kids end up at the Charters (unless their parents decide to go private or move to be closer to better secondaries) as well and are served no better unfortunately.

Tom and Belulah represent the very ableist cyclist attitudes that the original post was talking about. You assume any objections to your choice to cycle on pavements and footpaths is justified by your (legitimate) concern for safety. I?m a cyclist myself and also cycle with a little one. We use the roads and when it is safe and I am secure in my child?s ability to navigate and be aware of hazards. When it isn?t, we dismount and walk our cycles on the pavements because that is the most considerate and safest option for ourselves as well as the pedestrians on the footpath. We plan journey times taking this into account, not just based on the shortest, fastest, or most convenient option for us. Your choice to cycle on the road while your child is on the footpath or both of you use the footpath may well be safest option for you and your family, but it does show a lack of consideration for others. The contempt and disdain you hear towards cyclists is partially to do with the risk assessments some, not all cyclists are making about their own family and not taking into the safety of anyone else around you in your community. It demonstrates a lack of empathy and a sense of entitlement that is not very civic minded at all. Tom, your post and many cyclists like you assume that any objections to your views are people who are somehow the ?non-fit? part of the population who you have a clear hatred of and despise. It is condescending and ableist. I have friends and neighbours of all ages, disabilities, and body shapes who cycle. Most are very considerate cyclists because they actually care about their neighbours who also use the footpaths. Same does also go for scooters too. I saw an elderly neighbour get clipped on Woodwarde by a LO on a scooter a few years ago. Not child?s fault, the parent was miles behind distracted and not paying attention to where the child going at speed. It was extremely upsetting and could have been far more dangerous to the elderly person. If you are elderly, frail, blind, deaf, or have sensory issues, not matter your age you are vulnerable on the footpath and having any wheeled rider coming by you is startling. Your reaction time is slower and you might not be able to move quick enough to avoid a collision. Rockets Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > tom1975 Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > I would like to invite Nigello, CPR Dave, > Rockets > > and anyone else to join me next Wednesday on > the > > school cycle run from ED to Dulwich so you can > all > > experience what it's like to ride in London > beside > > buses and cars. I think it would be enjoyable > and > > educational for you and hopefully reduce the > > amount of hostility you feel towards cyclists. > The > > only way to improve the impression you have is > to > > join in the experience for yourself and learn > from > > it. > > > > We will commute to my childs school and then > > continue to my office north of the West End. > That > > includes going up Dog Kennel hill at decent > speed > > then past Kings and through Camberwell, onto > > Elephant Castle and Waterloo, all in peak-hour > > traffic. I hope you're of reasonable fitness > > because I need to be at work for 9:15am. > > > > You can make your own way home and we'll meet > the > > morning after to repeat the journey and discuss > > what you've learnt and why cyclists may choose > to > > jump red lights to remain safe and why children > > ride on the footpath. > > > > Anyone interested can meet me on the corner of > > Friern Rd and Goodrich Rd at 8:20am next > > Wednesday. > > > Tom, been there, done that, got the t-shirt. Used > to cycle from East Dulwich to Hammersmith for work > and DKH was a great way to start and finish my > journey - the thigh-burn! I used to love cycling > to work it was a great way to start the day - 45 > minutes of cycling through some lovely parts of > London. I hasten to add, I deliberately cycled > routes to avoid the busiest roads. > > Red light jumpers used to annoy me when I cycled > because so few cyclists seemed to believe they > applied to them - often they would take very vocal > offence that I had actually stopped for red lights > - sometimes there wasn't much bonhomie between > supposed like-minded individuals. > > Some cyclists believe rules don't apply to them > and, as per this thread demonstrates, there is a > problem that needs addressing.

Unfortunately, this is not near the court lane park gate. It is in effect a cul de sac on the other end of court lane down in the village. It is extremely dangerous at times as well when people are making three point turns in the limited space and dodging young cyclists as well as the speedy adults coming down the hill. Some of these people are my neighbours and fellow parents in the village schools. So, it isn?t the beleaguered young mums trying to do the right thing by getting their kids to the park. You do occasionally see them, by the court lane gate, but usually they have prams or dogs. The sensible thing to do would be to put in a CPZ around the Court Lane gate which I think is going ahead and the Court Lane Cul de Sac at school pick up and drop off times. rachp Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I?m not a fan of SUVs either but if someone is > parking on Court Lane with kids and bikes, there > is a good chance that they are headed to the park. > And herein lies the problem, lots of people, > especially with kids don?t cycle on roads because > there is insufficient cycling infrastructure to > encourage people out of their cars altogether for > local journeys. So they drive and add to the > problem and so it continues. I can just about > getting to Dulwich Park on a combination of quiet > residential roads and LTNs but it?s still sketchy > in parts and can be pretty stressful with kids in > tow. I?m not sure which active travel supporters > would seriously hail the example cited as an > example of active travel to be celebrated, it?s a > symptom of the problem they are campaigning > against. > > sand12 Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > This is sadly very dangerous at the moment. > I?ve > > seen three different cyclists take nasty spills > on > > court lane in the past few days. Each time it > was > > male adult cyclists speeding over the traffic > > calming humps in the road. > > > > The pavements and roads are covered in > frost/ice > > in the mornings. Saw a little one slip down > just > > this morning on the pavement as her younger > > sibling scooted and the childminder pushed the > > pram with an infant. All after they had emptied > > out of a car in the Court Lane cul de sac. > > > > The hill is steep and icy. Pavements are meant > to > > be for pedestrians. I?d advise parents who are > > cycling with their kids to have them get off > and > > walk their cycles downhill. It isn?t safe > > especially in the morning. If the road isn?t > safe > > for a stretch, then we were always taught to > get > > off our bikes and walk for a bit till we could > get > > back on the road. > > > > Unfortunately, much of the parent/childminder > and > > child cyclists and scooter groups I see are > > rushing around to get from one place to another > > and pretty oblivious to others on the pavements. > > > > > My favourite though is seeing the lovely > parents > > parking their SUVs on Court Lane, popping the > boot > > to retrieve a cycle or scooter and a dog and or > a > > pram. This is then seen by the local ?Active > > Travel? and ?Clean Air? folks as somehow better > > for the environment and health of locals.

Thanks, the fridge and what looked like a toilet cistern are gone. The van is still there along with the bookcase and about half a dozen Xmas trees. The area around the bike hanger is a compost pile though and needs a good clean. I am not sure who uses the cycle hanger since there aren?t any cycles in it and I?ve never seen anyone accessing. It really should be moved to somewhere along the Eynella road pavement where the pavement is quite wide and there is plenty of space, the Plough car park or maybe the library garden? DulwichSociety Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hi sand12, we have reported this to Southwark and > they should be clearing away the rubbish next to > the Landells Rd cycle hanger by the end of today.

This is sadly very dangerous at the moment. I?ve seen three different cyclists take nasty spills on court lane in the past few days. Each time it was male adult cyclists speeding over the traffic calming humps in the road. The pavements and roads are covered in frost/ice in the mornings. Saw a little one slip down just this morning on the pavement as her younger sibling scooted and the childminder pushed the pram with an infant. All after they had emptied out of a car in the Court Lane cul de sac. The hill is steep and icy. Pavements are meant to be for pedestrians. I?d advise parents who are cycling with their kids to have them get off and walk their cycles downhill. It isn?t safe especially in the morning. If the road isn?t safe for a stretch, then we were always taught to get off our bikes and walk for a bit till we could get back on the road. Unfortunately, much of the parent/childminder and child cyclists and scooter groups I see are rushing around to get from one place to another and pretty oblivious to others on the pavements. My favourite though is seeing the lovely parents parking their SUVs on Court Lane, popping the boot to retrieve a cycle or scooter and a dog and or a pram. This is then seen by the local ?Active Travel? and ?Clean Air? folks as somehow better for the environment and health of locals.

Xmas trees, litter, and flytipping. On Landells Road, the cycle hoop bike hanger is the designated local tip along with The Plough bus shelter across the road. A large fridge and book case are wedged between the hanger and a derelict builders van. Post Xmas, it is now collecting a forest of Xmas trees, liquor bottles, smokers paraphernalia, take away wrappers and packaging, courtesy of the Local Sainsbury?s, the betting parlour, plough cafe and takeaways? patrons around the corner. Have called Southwark environmental services a few times, nothing happens. Saw the lovely street cleaners sweeping around it today. Our local Dulwich Hill Councillors seem to be oblivious to this part of their ward. Hardly see them on here or around anywhere. I hope James Mcash will consider this end of LL in the upcoming meeting. This end of LL isn?t part of Goose Green Ward, but we sorely need more attention from council services.

Haven't received any post or parcels via Royal Mail and their subsidiary ParcelForce for over two weeks. Missed medical and hygiene supplies in addition to Christmas presents, cards, and hospital reports. No justification for this other than greed and mismanagement. Official complaints don't seem to be getting anywhere nor are appeals via the MPs or councillors. Might be time to start an official news and social media campaign to bring more scrutiny and pressure on the service to make changes?

It is very kind of Penguin to explain the current system. The current system in not fit for purpose today. The article I linked above explains how even as it stands today, there is a lot of inequity baked into it by design. There are loopholes and failures to reflect today's realities. I agree central govt has to give more as well, but current politics make this very difficult. While we wait for the political calculus to change, local services and residents are neglected and suffer. I don't think local govt is great across the board at all, but I do think that they have been left holding the bag under austerity and the most vulnerable and areas with the most deprivation have suffered further. People trying to make do with what little they have can only go so far and food banks, charities, and philanthropy are no substitute for properly functioning local and national services.

Not expecting or asking for any ring fencing just for areas that have seen property values rise. Should be distributed across the borough to meet critical needs of vulnerable (Social care, SEND), but no one can argue that more funds would not be helpful and property reassessments would be a pretty straightforward way for councils to do this. Politicians might not want to touch this for fear of upsetting their constituents who will have to pay more. Someone has to have the courage though to state the obvious. Central govt funding is inadequate, local (esp London) property values have risen, yet the formula for calculating it has not been updated to reflect these changes in the past 20+ years? Makes no sense. There are several local clean streets groups (EDSTN , Dawson?s Heights) and friends of Dulwich park that also do litter pick ups. I do what I can as well when I am out, but individuals can?t do much about persistent fly tipping, over flowing dog shit barrels, parking, inconsiderate builders and planning regs not being enforced, or other anti social issues. Most people do care about their local areas and I don?t think whether you rent or own or your salary has anything to do with it. Collective responsibility and expectations that there is a negative consequence for disregarding the rules deter people from this, but if no one is enforcing things? Speaking with several council employees over the years, the consistent refrain is that there isn?t enough money to enforce half the laws or regs on the books. You need actual people to do this effectively. That means salaries, pensions, and other labour related costs which the council has had to shrink in the interests of efficiency. Cutting labour costs to the bone is a false economy when the result is blight and deteriorating critical social and health and safety services.

I don't think it is that complex. Property values have skyrocketed in the past few decades, and yet the council taxes don't reflect this bounty that is in private hands. I think this does explain it pretty clearly: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2018/mar/03/council-tax-unfair-westminster The area has been a centre of gentrification, yet the council services have not kept pace, and in many cases declined. IMO, if councils want to deliver quality services and residents want improvements, we have to reasses property values to the current values in 2021. How is it fair otherwise for anyone to complain about services? " It should start with an acknowledgement that property taxes can be progressive and efficient. Generally, we under-tax wealth in the UK, which means we place excessive burdens instead on working people?s income and spending, while the rentiers who have prospered from property wealth gains have been left relatively untouched. Taxing property is also relatively simple, as houses can?t be hidden."

Maybe this is the problem? Council tax bands have been static since 1991???!!! So, a property in Dulwich which now on avg goes for upwards of a million pounds might still be banded as what the value was in 1991? How does that make any sense. Does anyone know how many local properties have been revalued and rebranded in this century? James Barber Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > The average home pays Band D Council tax to > Southwark Council of ?1,034.11 this council tax > year April 2021 to March 2022 - > https://www.southwark.gov.uk/council-tax/bands-and > -charges > The council cash spend pa has remained stable > partly due to new homes - every new home the > government pays councils ?9,000 for the first 7 > years. Hence all those studio, 1 bed and 2 bed > flats across Southwark. > > I can't think of any organisation I pay over a > ?1,000 every year and am unable to phone someone > when I have issues.

The lack of funding is true across the UK with councils having to make do with far less from the Tory central govt. This doesn't change the fact that this area in the past 20 years has gone through a massive gentrification process. Property values and rates have gone up, but services don't reflect this increased tax base. Seems like the opposite has occurred where despite the increase in wealth and business activity, the local area infrastructure and maintenance has deteriorated. Social services are also pretty bleak at the moment as well as local school standards. Very likely many of the outstanding ones will be downgraded according to Ofsted. So, yes not just dog shit and graffiti. I know TFL take care of the shelters, and I've done this as well. What happens a few weeks later? More of the same because, it isn't just one thing, it is the accumulation of lots of little things that make the area depressing and bleak: uncollected bins, flytipping, graffiti, dog mess, empty storefronts, slow slide into blight.

I agree with you on all of these. Just putting in another request on the council website tonight about fly tipping on a side road off of LL near the library. Weeks of it not getting any attention. Spoke to a Southwark streets maintenance person one day who said he would report it. That was a month ago. The entire area has deteriorated considerably at this end of LL near the library. More litter. More fly tipping daily. People and businesses leaving rubbish on the pavement in bags. I thought it was just us, but we have had visitors who came after a few years and they even remarked how the area had changed. The councillors for our ward are MIA. Jon I think and Margery are never to be seen around here. I?ve brought up the filth, graffiti on bus shelters/boards and neglected state of the area. Very little response or interest. You see them all over Twitter on the doorstep walks, but never mentioning any of the actual issues constituents raise or what they are doing about them. The dog mess is delightful this time of year with wet leaves and rain. The joy of feeling a squishy mess as you walk somewhere trying to dodge the people being walked by their dogs. The reality is the councillors are only interested in issues that burnish their resumes from what I have seen. Big campaigns, social media hoopla, virtue politics and signalling. The hard, tedious, and boring work of handling complaints and dealing with day to day service failures doesn?t interest them. Getting tangible results for their ward members is not a priority.

Hi, Thought I would just send a quick note. The best places to go for local advice are https://www.sossen.org.uk/contact_us.php I have not trust whatsoever in charities or advice orgs that are affiliated with the local authority. The other excellent resource is https://www.ipsea.org.uk/contact-ipsea It is great that you have come through the EHCP battle, but now the fight (and it is a fight) will continue to see how cheaply they can adhere to the outline of the EHCP. The LA has some great people in it, but unfortunately it is a money game. This country really doesn't value education or disability rights. Much of this is window dressing. If you want the best outcomes, you will have to keep fighting all the way through. Best advice is to always seek out independent advice and input from folks who are not also consultants with the LA. Don't go based on what anyone else says, including the current school. They aren't experts in autism. I would look for a small mainstream school with a SENCO that is responsive. Ask to speak with other parents with SEN needs at the school. Sorry, can't name a specific school for you. They also really should not do this to you over the Easter Holidays. Most staff need a well deserved break.