Posted By Site Administrator at 09/03/2010 09:25:47
The Salt Review: Independent Review of Teacher Supply for Pupils with Severe, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (SLD and MLD) waslaunched by Ed Balls on Friday 5th March. The recommendations are grouped under these headings:
Recruitment and Retention:
Raising the profile of teaching SLD / PMLD
Improving the supply pipeline and workforce
Initial Teacher Training Improved clarity of QTS standards + focus on early childhood development:
Increasing special school / setting placements
Strengthening SLD / PMLD knowledge
A focus on SLD / PMLD in induction
Removing barriers to qualification
CPD and Progression:
Outreach work
Extending existing school clusters
The full publication can be downloaded from www.teachernet.gov.uk/publications
Reference DCSF-00195-2010.
Meanwhile the CLDD Project (Complex Learning Difficulties and Disabilities), directed by Professor Barry Carpenter, has been working with 12 special schools. The next phase will be to work with 50 more UK schools, plus 10 International schools, to trial some of the materials that are being developed. Further details are available on the website of the SSAT (Specialist Schools and Academies Trust), where there is a CLLD research project page with the latest information.
NAHT’s SEND Committee met on Thursday 4th March. We are still hoping to finalise the Association’s updated Policy on SEND in time for Annual Conference in Liverpool in May. Although Jan Myles was much missed as she was absent through illness, Lesley Gannon from HQ, who spends her days in the Westminster Village, was able to update us on the many Bills going through Parliament, including the latest one on education, masquerading as the Children, Schools and Families Bill, the Children’s Rights Bill, the Equalities Bill and the School Admissions Bill. Paul Williams, Chair, was able to report on the ongoing discussions with Ofsted on proportionality and special schools, and how to arrive at nationally accepted data. Ofsted has now agreed to form a working party to consider these issues with NAHT. If all goes well, Paul will not have to propose his Motion: Conference instructs Council to continue its debate with Ofsted to ensure ALL schools are inspected within a five year cycle, as outlined in the original 2009 Inspection Framework.
When Jan and I met recently with Mary Daly of the National Strategies, she was able to update us on the work of the Regional Hubs and on the IDP (Inclusion Development Programme), the 3rd year of which is on BESD. Although the DVD is not out yet, the materials have been completed and can be found on the National Strategies website.
NAHT continues to have termly meetings with the other Unions about SEND issues. After being instigated by NAHT, the last one was held at the NUT’s HQ, handily placed near Kings X and Euston and next term’s meeting in June will be at ASCL’s HQ in Leicester.
