Ofsted should judge schools on the number of children in their local area who are not accessing education. At the moment, data collection based purely on test results rewards schools for "managing out" non-academic kids.

Such stigma around this, because the older generations don't realise how easy it is to get excluded now. "In my day" it was for physical violence or drugs. Now it seems you can be sent home for uniform infringements and being annoying. But it sets you down a road of more exclusions and shame.

No, but I would be very interested to find out!

Absolutely love Talking Mats. We used to run consultations for the local council. "What do you like and dislike about your day centre?" - the mats made these conversations easy and fun. So much better than a survey. A quick photo of the mat and its all done. So simple, so effective.

Ah I'm glad you like it! I've just added the standards to the top of my "portfolio" page: www.claretarling.co.uk/work-copy

Yup - the Local Authority’s tick-list of what happens in the years up to transition is really just a series of exasperating statements about “what should have happened but didn’t”.

Take a look at the huge rise school exclusion rates in recent years.

It’s the systems and organisations who are supposed to be supporting kids who need to be more “resilient”.

Awesome! I nearly made it to London but the dates didn’t quite work out.

Unfortunately this does not surprise me.

The only thing I would find truly surprising is if this was an isolated case.

Well done to the parents for organising and speaking up.

Yes!