The lesson of protecting disabled children needs to be learnt

Ofsted’s latest offering is a timely reminder that in that most complex of worlds – the protection of children – disabled children fare less well than they should. What’s more, they fare less well than the law says they should.

In its report Protecting Disabled Children: Thematic Inspection. Ofsted sets out its findings, which can but reinforce the view that if you are a disabled child you will face multiple disadvantage. In this instance, the reduced effectiveness of the services meant to protect you from harm.

The Ofsted report is measured, providing a useful range of case examples of both failure and success. But it lacks, to a remarkable degree, any real analysis, hinting that, for example, if safeguarding boards were more vigilant and interested, Ofsted’s findings might be less stark. There is just one passing comment about the role that ‘empathy’ may play in causing the abuse or neglect of disabled children.