ASSURANCES were sought Wirral Council is taking steps to ensure its placements of children are properly monitored and complaints investigated. This follows heavy criticism of the authority in recent months over its handling of the LIFE Wirral school following a BBC Panorama investigation.

LIFE Wirral, an independent SEND school, based in Victoria Road in Wallasey, made national headlines in June 2024 following an undercover investigation by BBC Panorama. The investigation, titled Cruelty in the Classroom, saw an undercover reporter sent into the school posing as a work experience student.

During a children's and education committee meeting, Cllr Amanda Onwuemene asked given “recent publicity” about the council’s approach if it identifies issues with alternative providers within six months and how it handles complaints at independent schools. This was over a report for Key Stage 4 provision for pupils permanently excluded from education.

Cllr Onwuemene clarified to the LDRS the question was off the back of the Panorama documentary but the enquiry was broader and she wanted the council to look at all settings. She said she intends to raise the question again at a full council meeting on July 29, adding: “Safeguarding is absolutely paramount and we have got to ensure we have got it right.”

Historically Wirral Council’s main source of alternative provision was its own pupil referral unit which later became the Emslie Morgan Academy. However this later closed due to a poor OFSTED inspection.

Since then, the local authority has been developing a new model of alternative provision for pupils from the sixth day of permanent exclusion. However after only one bidder came forward for Key Stage 4, the local authority has had to extend a contract with Progress Schools while the council goes back out for contract tender for another four years with an expected cost of nearly £1.7m every year.

In response to the questions, officers said there were weekly meetings, reports every six weeks, and unannounced visits were carried out at every school every week working closely with headteachers. Officer Chris Lowcock said: “It’s not a case they’re sent there and left there. They’re seen from my point of view as Wirral children.”

As for looking into issues, officers said they worked with the Department for Education as well as OFSTED as well as the council’s own team.

According to a council report, there were risks to the local authority around costs in particular of placements as well as potential increases in demand. The local authority currently pays around £13,000 per place compared to the national average of £18,000 which the report said was the reason so few had applied.

Councillors at the same meeting on July 23 also looked at an autism housing strategy for Cheshire and Merseyside as well as the local authority’s current budget for this financial year which sees an overspend of £7m.  This is linked to an increase in high cost residential placements of 24%.

Currently there are 92 children in children's homes with an average cost of £4,659 a week. However the overall number of children the council is looking after has decreased.