The Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review of historic child abuse at Whitefield School in Walthamstow is further delayed, questioning its credibility

Word reaches this blog that the Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review (LCSPR) of historic child abuse at Whitefield School, though already more than a year overdue, is to be delayed yet again, and in fact there is no longer even a target publication date.

In explanation, it is said that the LCSPR panel needs to add further expertise, though why any knowledge deficit wasn’t addressed long ago hardly inspires confidence. 

It’s also rumoured that the panel early on lost the trust of victims and their families, and the reverberations of this early setback are still being felt.

But whatever the truth, this is certainly an unexpected development.

The LCSPR is comprised of three senior professionals, and has been provided at public expense with a secretariate charged with ‘the coordination and organisation of…meetings, information collation, learning events and anything else as required’.

It began work in August 2024, and by law was supposed to report within six months, so by February 2025.

There is provision for extension, as long as the Ministry of Education agrees it is legitimately necessary.

But to take nearly 19 months on a job that should take six, and then request (and be granted) even more time to complete, is remarkable, to say the least.

It’s long been alleged that the full truth about Whitefield has been covered up in order to minimise reputational damage to the presiding authorities.

The failure to produce the LCSPR by now will only increase such apprehensions further.