Lynne Featherstone

An investigation must be held to uncover why vulnerable children in Haringey face over double the average wait to be adopted, Liberal Democrats have said today. Recent figures show the average wait for an adoptive family to be found by Haringey Council, following a court order, is twice as long (107 days more) as the time taken in similar local authorities in London.

Information released by the government shows the time taken to adopt a child in Haringey (739 days) is similar to that in boroughs deemed to be statistical neighbours (717days) but over 100 days more than the English average (625 days). Liberal Democrats have said that, while the disparity with the national average is concerning, the average time taken (239 days) by Haringey Council from court order to adoption is “disappointing” and is twice as long as other boroughs. The average for comparative local authorities is 132 days.

Liberal Democrats have asked Labour’s cabinet member for children why there are such delays in completing adoptions and why vulnerable children and parents anxious to adopt have to wait twice as long as those in similar local authorities.

Cllr Katherine Reece, Liberal Democrat Children’s Spokesperson, comments:

“It is very sad and disappointing that children in Haringey, on average, have to wait twice as long as children in similar councils to get a place in a secure family after the courts have granted an order.

“Vulnerable and often young children should not have to endure long waits. Considering similar councils in London have much shorter waits an investigation is needed into Haringey Council’s performance.

“This is exactly the type of issue that the proposed new scrutiny panels should investigate and we are asking the new cabinet member for Children’s Services to explain what is happening with adoption in the borough.”

Lynne Featherstone MP, adds:

“An investigation is needed. I understand that cases can often be complex but vulnerable children having to wait over a hundred days more than others in London boroughs should not go unchallenged.”

Parents of children who need extra help to do well in school are to get a new legal right to buy-in specialist Special Educational Needs (SEN) and disabled care under coalition government proposals.

Parents will be given the power to control personal budgets for their children for the first time. This will allow them to make the decisions needed to get the expert support that is right for their child.

This is the biggest reform of SEN for 30 years and will force education, health and social care services to plan services together, making the system easier and less time-consuming for parents.

Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Hornsey and Wood Green, commented:

“Liberal Democrats in the coalition government are doing the right thing to end the agonising battle many parents have had to fight to get the support for their children.

“Under the current system, a child’s welfare is often buried under the bureaucracy of getting the help needed as parents are passed from pillar to post between different authorities and agencies.

“These reforms will put parents in charge. They will provide better information for families, bring services together with families to provide a package of support that meets their needs, removing the cliff-edge at 16 and helping young people into work and living as independently as they can.”

Hornsey and Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone visited a local Greek Secondary School in Wood Green on Friday, to talk to students about politics and life as a minister.

The Member of Parliament took questions from students between 12 and 18, and teachers.

She discussed important issues relevant to young people, including the body confidence campaign, staying safe online, and the Home Office campaign, “This is Abuse,” which aims to raise awareness of the dangers of abuse and rape amongst teenagers and young people.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented,

“I always enjoy visiting local schools, and I was delighted to visit such a unique school. The students recently went to visit Parliament, and it’s clear that many of them are really engaged with politics.”

Lynne Featherstone visited the Noel Park, Wood Green branch of Barclays Bank on Friday 11^th May and heard from staff how they are supporting local businesses. She urged the bank to engage with the community to ensure that local people who want to set up a business have every chance to succeed.

Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, commented:

“It is encouraging to hear about businesses in Wood Green that are succeeding and growing despite the difficult economic climate. Banks need to give the right support to local businesses and that is why talking to them is so important. Cash flow is clearly a problem for many businesses and that is where high-street banks can make a real difference if they offer the right support.

“The coalition government has delivered lower taxes and less red tape. They will help get business moving again.

“Vince Cable’s government department also announced last week that the government-backed Angel Co-fund has made its first investment in new businesses. The £50million fund aims to support new small businesses in partnership with private investors.”

Rehanaz Noor, Barclays Bank manager of the Noel Park branch commented:

“Our commitment to the area is demonstrated by the fact that we have made a major investment in refurbishing the Noel Park branch. Our small business customers have remained resilient throughout the downturn with many adapting and diversifying to ensure they remain successful and most have survived and are starting to look at growth opportunities now. The start up market has been vibrant with many people taking the opportunity to start their own businesses using the skills they have.”

Lynne was recently contacted by a number of local residents experiencing trouble with their child’s primary school place. A number of children seem to have been allocated no school place at all, which has understandably caused a great deal of worry for the parents concerned.

It’s crucially important that these problems are sorted out urgently. Lynne has written to the Chief Executive of Haringey Council expressing her concerns, and you can find a copy of the letter which Lynne has sent below. Lynne will be sure to keep residents updated on the situation.

Letter from Lynne to Haringey Council Chief Executive, Kevin Crompton:

Dear Kevin,

RE:  Primary School Places 2012

I am writing with regards to the recent allocation of primary school places to children who are due to begin their education in the 2012/13 academic year.

I have been contacted by a large number of parents, and have been informed that many children have been offered places which are simply not practical. Of greater concern are the number of children (particularly in the Muswell Hill area) who have not been offered any school place at all. Many of these parents live in very close proximity (in some cases, less than 0.1 miles) to a number of primary schools, such as Muswell Hill Primary, Tetherdown, Rhodes and Coldfall.

I will of course be making enquiries on behalf of individual children and parents through the members’ enquiry system. There are, however, more general concerns and queries which I would like to raise with you.

I am keen to know exactly how many children who applied for a primary school place for the 2012/13 academic year have not been offered a place. I would also like to know how many have been offered a place that wasn’t in their ‘top 6’ choices. On confirmation of these figures, I would be grateful if you could let me know what the Council will do to ensure that these children will be given a place by the time term starts.

I would also be grateful if you could outline the policy used this year when allocating school places. For instance, were the places determined by distance to the school, or other criteria?

I would be most grateful if you could address the specific points that have been raised. Thank you for your kind attention in this regard and I look forward to your response.

Kind regards,

Lynne

Liberal Democrats have called for urgent action to be taken by the Council to make a road in Stroud Green safer after a spate of accidents. Many local residents are increasingly concerned about the safety of Upper Tollington Park following many reports of near misses and a recent crash near Oakfield Road.

Two years ago local councillors launched a campaign to improve the safety of the road which resulted in the Council saying they would consider funding road safety improvements. Now, Liberal Democrats have said that the Council needs to act to ensure that there are not any serious accidents.

Latest figures from Transport for London show that there have been five accidents involving pedestrians in 36 months.

Cllr Richard Wilson (Stroud Green) comments:

“Since we launched our campaign to improve safety there have been a further five accidents on Upper Tollington Park.  This spate of accidents should be a wake-up call to the Council who need to start listening to residents’ concerns about safety.

“Local families are really anxious about the risk to pedestrians – particularly as the crossing is used by children walking to the nearby Stroud Green Primary School.”

Lynne Featherstone MP, adds:

“Following our two-year battle with the Council to make this road safer it has now identified something needs to be done – now is the time for action, not words.”

Lynne Featherstone MP has met coaches and students at a local boxing club, to find out more about their inspirational classes for local young people.

The Hornsey and Wood Green MP met the owner of Wood Green Boxing Club, Sedat Sag, and other coaches to find out how boxing can deliver benefits to the local community. Sedat and his team of coaches provide classes for young people from their early teens, right through to early adulthood. The club also provides a space for older people to spar.

Lynne watched two sparring rounds, and a busy class which was well attended by local youngsters.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments,

“The energy at the club was fantastic. It’s clear that Sedat and the coaches have a real passion for what they do, and want to make a real difference in Wood Green.”

Haringey’s schools are set to receive additional government funding after an announcement today by the Department for Education. The announcement set out the end to a long-standing funding anomaly which saw local schools receiving outer London funding but paying inner-London costs.

Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, launched a campaign for Fairer Funding for Haringey schools in 2007.

Local Liberal Democrats have welcomed the announcement saying that this proof that the campaign led by Lynne Featherstone, which was backed by all parties, is finally providing results. But, Liberal Democrats also say they will continue to fight for the fairest deal for Haringey’s pupils.

Welcoming the victory for her long-standing campaign, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“This was a perverse funding rule that has deprived our schools of vital funding for decades and made it harder for our children to get the fair start they deserve.

“The parents, teachers and thousands of other local residents who have supported the campaign on this issue deserve massive credit. I want to say ‘thank you’ to them for their efforts.”

Councillor Katherine Reece, Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson added:

Crouch End resident Dr Arjun Ghosh was one of a group of researchers who had their work displayed in Parliament last week. Hornsey and Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone met with Dr Ghosh to view the poster and to discuss his work.

Dr Ghosh, is a Cardiologist working at St Mary’s Hospital and a researcher at the International Centre for Circulatory Health at Imperial College and at Medical Research Council for Lifelong Health and Ageing. His research focuses on life course effects on cardiac structure and function as measured through echocardiography.

His work was displayed on a poster on the Terrace of the House of Commons as part of the SET for Britain campaign. The overall aim of SET for Britain is to support Britain’s early-stage and early-career research scientists, engineers and technologists. The competition is divided into three categories: engineering, biological and biomedical science and physical sciences. Dr Ghosh’s work was selected for presentation in the biological and biomedical science category from out of over 140 submissions.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“Britain has a fantastic record for producing world-leading research. I was delighted to have the chance to talk to Dr Ghosh about his work. He, and many others like him, are carrying out vital work that will have a real impact on people’s lives.”

More than ten thousand Haringey school children could be helped to attend summer schools under a new government scheme.

A £50 million Summer Schools Fund was announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg last autumn. The scheme is now open for applications from local schools.

Head teachers will be able to design and run summer schools, targeting pupils who will benefit the most. The funding could be used for activities such as:

·         Transitional activities to help familiarise pupils with their new environment. Activities could include meeting teachers, having a tour of the school or learning more about their new curriculum.

·         Additional intensive support in English and mathematics to enable pupils who need it to make progress in these key areas before they start the secondary curriculum, both as catch up and preparation for the new term.

·         Wider enrichment activities such as arts, music and sports activities, trips to theatres and museums, visits to local higher education institutions and employers etc.

Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, Lynne Featherstone, commented:

“I have written to schools in my constituency urging them to apply for funding through the scheme.

“The Coalition Government is doing the right thing by helping heads and governors to build on their own plans and give children an extra hand.

“The Liberal Democrats’ commitment to the most disadvantaged children doesn’t stop there. As well as this £50m fund, we are making significant extra funding available through the Pupil Premium.

“This will help schools tackle the inequalities that have been a part of our schools system for far too long.”