8 December (Part 2) - Beware. Profiteers operate in this area
Ever
since the dubious
business practices of South Eastern Attendance Advisory Service (SEAAS) were
featured here back in July there have been almost daily site visits by people Googling their name and a steady trickle of emails from concerned parents
pursued by this unsavoury outfit of ex-Bexley council
employees. At one time it seemed likely that SEAAS would feature in the national
press but that came to nothing because Bexley council absolutely refused to
comment on the issue. To be fair, I doubt they liked the situation any more
than parents did. Probably no one likes it apart from the company owners and
those schools who see signing up to SEAAS as a nice little earner.
When I first heard about SEAAS, headmistress Mrs. Jacqui Keelan of Barrington Road
Primary School had been roped into the scheme but more have joined since. I am
informed that schools operated by The Woodlands Academy Trust (Northumberland Heath
Primary School, Peareswood Primary School and Willow Bank Primary School) have hit
upon a nice little scam by announcing that their “policy” is to prosecute both parents
separately so as to double all fines and their income. I have grave doubts that this
can be legal but I have not the time to find out. However what I can offer is a copy
of Bexley council’s guidelines (link below) to private companies such as SEAAS which may enable
their would-be victims to check their modus-operandi
very carefully and perhaps retaliate with some awkward questions.
141KB PDF file available here.