Missing Children

One of Lib Dem councillors ask a question at last nights council assembly which elicited a shocking response: 

54. QUESTION TO THE CABINET MEMBER FOR CHILDREN;’S SERVICES FORM COUNCILLOR COLUMBA BLANGO

How many incidents of children in care going missing for more than 24 hours have been recorded in each of the past four years? How many children are currently missing from care, and for how long have they been missing in each case?

RESPONSE

The issue of children going missing form care does cause us concern because when a child is missing there is a possibility that they could be at risk of harm or danger.

At present we do not have any children reported missing from care and I am pleased that when our children in care go missing, we are able to return them within 48 hours. On the rare occasion where this is longer we work with the police to alert the media.

–          In 2012-13 there were 168 missing incidents recorded for 36 young people.

–          In 2011-12 there were 88 missing incidents recorded for 27 young people.

–          In 2010-11 there were 17 missing incidents recorded for 9 young people.

–          In 2009-10 there were 14 missing incidents recorded for 9 young people.

All of the above were young people missing for over 24 hours. There has been a significant improvement in the recording of missing incidents in the last three years and we have implemented workshops for staff and our administrative.

END

Really disappointing that no plans were revealed how to fix this. All those Southwarks children in danger. And what are they running from…

Wanamaker Theatre Opens

I have a big soft spot for The Globe. Its growth from large hole in the ground mirrors my adult progress living and working in Southwark. I started working in the area in 1988 moved very locally 1992.

The number of people I’ve taken to the exhibiton and productions over the years!

So I was chuffed to be lucky enough to buy two tickets to the newly opened Sam Wanamaker Playhouse for its second night. FABULOUS. Incresibly atmospheric with the candles adding quite a different dimension.

What a great addition to The Globe. What a great addition to Southwark. Do use this new playhouse. If you havent been to The Globe for a while definately worth a going to see this.

Call For New Secondary School

Do you support a new East Dulwich secondary school?

If you have children due to start secondary school Sept 2016 or 2017 please email me your support for a new exemplary secondary school stating your name, child’s date of birth and your home post code to:

james.barber@southwark.gov.uk

Background:

Locally East Dulwich councillors have been working to solve the Primary school reception places gap. By September 2016 the gap would have risen to 215-235 reception places. We’ve supported one free school that’s opened by finding a site for it and provided the evidence and suggested sites for another two free schools. Together they should provide 170 of the required places and Southwark Council are providing places in neighboring areas relieving demand on Dulwich schools by about 45 places.

But after primary school where will these extra children go – do we need a new exemplary secondary school to provide enough local places?

The bulge in primary school places started in 2009. Those children will need secondary school places 2016. We also know that currently few families are being offered the secondary school places they want.  Instead many are being offered places in New Cross, Crayford, Walworth and that’s before the 2009 primary bulge takes effect.

Council officials tell us we have plenty of places. But they plan secondary school places on a borough wide basis. But most families think much more locally than that.

To test the numbers the Lib Dem leader asked the Labour council leader about school places  (page 19 second paragraph). If you ignore the political ping pong he stated “The forecasts show continuing demand for secondary places and suggest that in the medium term from 2016 additional secondary places may be needed in the borough.”

These jigsaw pieces tell me we need a new secondary school in the Dulwich area opening September 2016.

This date is useful because the East Dulwich Harris Boys Academy will have had two sets of GCSE result by then and should be even more popular with the anticipated great results. So it wouldn’t suffer from a new competing local school. The Charter School and Kingsdale School are both already immensely popular so shouldn’t suffer any rival new school.

Where and what?

Residents don’t need another single sex school because we now have one of each . So a new school would need to be co-ed.

The Dulwich Hospital site is the only Dulwich land with sufficient space for a secondary school. A secondary school would still leave plenty of space for the proposed primary school  and proposed medical facilities.

So which provider?

With your support we will attract a great provider and convince Southwark Council to plan places in a more family orientated way.

Do you support a new East Dulwich secondary school?

If you have children due to start secondary school Sept 2016 or 2017 please email me your support for a new exemplary secondary school stating your name, child’s date of birth and your home post code to:

james.barber@southwark.gov.uk

 

Dulwich Secondary School Places

Locally East Dulwich councillors have been working to solve the Primary school reception places gap. By September 2016 the gap would have risen to 215-235 reception places. We’ve supported one free school that’s opened by finding a site for it and provided the evidence and sugested sites for another two free schools. Together they should provide 170 of the required places and Southwark Council are providing another 45 useful places for our area.

But after primary school where will these extra children go – surely we need more secondary school places?

Council officials tell us not. But they plan secondary school places on a borough wide basis. But most families think much more locally than that.

To test the numbers the Lib Dem leader asked the Labour council leader about school places  (page 19 second paragraph). If you ignore the political ping pong he stated “The forecasts show continuing demand for secondary places and suggest that in the medium term from 2016 additional secondary places may be needed in the borough.”

These jigsaw pieces say we need a new secondary school in the Dulwich area from September 2016.

This date is useful because the East Dulwich Harris Boys Academy will have had two sets of GCSE result by then and should be even more popular with the anticipated results. So it wouldnt suffer from a new local school.

Where and what?

Residents don’t need another single sex school because we now have one of each . So a new school would need to be co-ed.

The Dulwich Hospital site is the only Dulwich land with sufficient space for a secondary school. A secondary school would there would still leave space for the proposed primary school and proposed medical facilities.

So which provider?

When should children start school?

Around the world almost universally children start school much later than the age of 4. In the UK it is 4.

Why 4? 4 is not based on any research.

 130 UK early year education experts have called for informal, play-based preschool activities to continue to the age of 7 and only at 7 start formal schooling.

The evidence from Scandinavian countries is that this approach leads to more confident children and better educational experiences and better results for the children concerned. Scandinavia has more patents, PhD’s etc per head of population even that the UK. We’ve even had UK sponsored Dept of Education research supporting more play-based schooling.

 So why the push to lower the start of formal schooling in the UK from the Secretary of Sate and UK Office for Standards?

 My concern is that formal schooling results in more introverted conservative children. That the push for earlier formal schooling is not about better schooling for children but about creating more regimented children with conservative outlooks.

Versus the more liberal scandinavian approach.

Black History Month – Great War Pilot

I’ve not found many events in Southwark I wanted to or could attend.

One exhibition that did catch my eye was at the RAF Museum in Hendon – ‘Pilots of the Caribbean: Volunteers of African Heritage in the Royal Air Force’.

I had imagined more great storys related to WWII. But what really caught my imagination was WWI pilot William Robinson Clarke.

But the curators were clear that they’re looking for more material about black RAF personnel and their families. If you have any such material or know someone who may contact them at rsearch@rafmuseum.org or call them on 020 8358 4873.

3 seconds

Living Streets have just launched a campaign to ensure the rules around how much green crossing time is allowed for pedestrians reflects research by University of London. This research shows  that most people over 65 years old can’t walk quickly enough to cross in time allowed. It’s also a dangerous problem for parents with buggies, young children.

Locally in East Dulwich we have the dreadful crossing points at the junction of East Dulwich Road with Crystal Palace Road and Adys Road. Immediately adjacent to this junction on the north east side is a great playground. 200m to the north a popular local school, Saint John’s and St Clement’s CoE Primary School. So it’s also a necessary route to school for many.

Do you support enough green time being allowed to make this junction safe for everyone crossing?

20mph Police Enforcement

The Association of Chief Police Officers have just released new guidance about speeding.

It now includes enforcement of 20mph with new speed awareness courses being ready from November. The recommendaitons include sending errant drivers to speed awareness courses. Previously the Police counldn’t for 20mph speeding!

This change follows pressure from Lib dem Transport Minister Norman Baker.

Due to technology limitations this actually means people travelling 24->31mph, allowing for +10% +2mph for car speed display errors.

This is great news and should see fewer crashes and less severe injuries on our roads.

 

New East Dulwich Primary School latest

Latest news  is that Southwark Council as the planning authority has said it is happy for the Dulwich Hopsital site to have different planning applications for different parts.

It removes one of the Department of Health excuses for not freeing up a small part of this public land for a new local primary school.

Hopefully they’ll now see sense and release 4,500m2 of the total 27,000m2 for a much need new local primary school.

 

Teen Rapists?

A study by Emma Fulu funded by a UN programme to tackle gender based violence has delved into the causes of male sexual violence in some countries. Sadly the UK wasnt one of the countries.

http://download.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/langlo/PIIS2214109X13700743.pdf

Overall the study showed that 58% of thgose who raped started while in their teens. This tells us that the potential to divert and stop rapists exists in childhood and education programmes could target this issue.

What we need now is such a study in the UK and South London.