La Gazza Ladra

I knew home education was a fantastic way of raising children. I had no idea it granted magical powers cribbed from 1st Edition AD&D.

Because, you see, it was a magical protection against social workers granted with the magical words “we are teaching this child at home” that prevented Birmingham Social Services from protecting Kyra Ishaq.

Never mind that the words weren’t uttered for at least three of the months that Kyra wasn’t attending school. Never mind the months of abuse she had suffered while attending school that led to no referrals, or ignored referrals.

Because the Protection against Social Workers works BACKWARDS THROUGH TIME.

It was so effective that is prevented at least thirty individuals who could have prevented Krya’s death from doing so.

It also somehow prevented Birmingham Social Services from preventing another seven children that they were aware of dying from neglect or abuse, even though they weren’t “home educated” either.

But apparently, if Social Services had an undeniable right to enter the house for the purposes of assessing education (which is the recommendation of Badman), then Birmingham Social Services would have used that to save her.

Never mind the raft of available powers that would have permitted them to intervene.

Because she had the Home Education Protection from Social Workers.

Which doesn’t exist.

What I’m fairly sure of saying is that if Kyra had been abused like that anywhere but Birmingham (and possibly Tower Hamlets), she could well be alive today. For that matter, if the recommendations in the laming report had been rejected, and childrens services were still geared towards protection rather than welfare, she could be alive today.

The Badman recommendations would not have saved Kyra. Given the number of school related suicides in the UK every year, they could well end up condemning more children to death.

Thought for the day; Rather than giving Social Workers draconian powers, why not give them a note that says “have you tried talking to their neighbours?”

You know, as well as decent funding, proper support services, decent training, and laying off the “I’ve got a new wheeze!” approach to policy.