LIZ Boait's quote was very scary in a news article last week: "Calling in the decision will not change things at the end of the day. It will only delay the process."

Is that the voice of a representative of the people?

Time to have a good look at the council again. I would like to question how much the council actually knows about how it should be putting through recommendations and the reports of stakeholders in their community.

Here are some examples:

The Blade Values Report on the SEN public Consultation in the Forest of Dean as sponsored by the LEA. This report listed many questions and suggestions by the stakeholders to the LEA over 32 pages in November/December and its main findings were:

1. There appeared to be an overwhelming but not universal view that the original premise of inclusion leading to the closure of Dean Hall is a flawed approach.

2. A second major concern that coloured much of the debate was the perception that the consultation process itself was flawed.

Both these major concerns relating to the closure of Dean Hall and the lack of faith in the process were expressed with a high degree of emotional commitment.

What did we get in reply? One page with no detail, and some suggestions eg 'one of our educational psychologists is in the process of producing a digest of research information which will be available as soon as possible.' Maybe we could write to the Centre for Studies in Inclusive Education? (Part of Bristol University also sponsored by DFEE amongst others). Which leads in turn to ask why are we then sending three teachers to Vancouver to learn about inclusion from Lakers?

So let's turn to the Ofsted Report on the LEA itself: 'The crucial weaknesses are not just in the number of individual services, they are in major strategic areas that must be performed well, if the LEA is to improve.

'It is for this reason that the weaknesses outweigh the strengths.

'The implementation of Best Value has been slow and unsatisfactory.

'It will therefore be necessary to reinspect the LEA in order that Ofsted may satisfy itself that progress has been made and that the LEA has the capacity to improve.'

I also looked through the auditors' report to GCC on its Best Value Performance Plan to find 'A Draft Guidance Manual covering the strategies in relation to the 4C's (challenge, compare, consult and compete) and the methodology for carryout Best Value reviews was produced some time ago but was never completed or issued to all staff.'

If the council wanted to get out of this predicament I would suggest that the review was deemed incomplete as they were unable to implement (given the short time-frame allocated by the Government) to ensure the Best Value had been acted upon. Therefore, they would be able to justify Dean Hall on the basis it has relatively few primary children they having been through inclusion already (NB Ofsted do not criticise inclusion for seniors at all) and provides excellent value all the stakeholders concerned. Let's refer to the school's excellent Ofsted and the views of the primary holders. In turn increased performance and usage will decrease cost per capita and I'm sure some form of accounting could show this.

('The amounts charged to the education budget for corporate services are not supported by service level agreements. As the education budget in total is set at the education Standard Spending Assessment including corporate recharges, this means part of the education budget is neither transparent not open to the same scrutiny.' LEA Ofsted).

Of course, what happened to the vote of no confidence whatsoever?

Returning to Liz Boait's question about how much people really know about the proposals perhaps she should refer to the above.

I have 20 years' experience in purchasing goods and services in both the public and private sector. Also, I am currently seeking sponsorship from the charity MIND concerning stress on parents, carers and teachers in the SEN environment. I have three children: one with physical and learning difficulties. It's turned into my job to be informed! – Pauline Mulford, Coalway.