The recent sacking of health department science adviser Professor David Nutt for publicly contradicting the government’s position on drug abuse will not stop Toby Salt from being scrupulously independent in his review into the supply of SEN teachers, he said on Monday.
“I am determined that the report will be genuinely independent,” said Toby Salt, the deputy chief executive and strategic director of the National College for Leadership of Schools and Children’s Services, who is leading the review. “I am not going to be silly or reckless – I am well aware of this government’s investments and priorities – but it will be independent.”
The review will investigate whether or not there are enough teachers trained – and being trained – to meet the needs of children with severe learning difficulties and those with profound and multiple learning difficulties. “My perception is that some schools do not have an issue at all [with finding high-quality SEN teachers] and that others find it more challenging,” he said. These difficulties do not seem to run along the usual geographical lines, he added.
One of the biggest challenges facing Salt is the timescale: he is due to report back to the government by the end of February. “So I can tell you already that one of the early findings will be that there needs to be more research in the area,” he said. He is making good progress review existing literature and research, and has received a number of submissions from parents, but is very keen to get input from current head teachers as well.
“The answers will come from within the system itself, which is why I want to hear from people who work in schools now, as well as academics and other experts,” he said.
“What we need is grounded, practical tips and advice. Not just what’s going wrong, but also what’s going right. We want to understand more about where people are working and why they are in the field…[and] whether there really is an issue with supply.” While he believes that there probably is, part of the review will involve testing that assumption with research and then analysing the details.
Salt began his own teaching career in mainstream schools but was quickly drawn towards working with children with special needs. “I have always seen teaching as a vocation and I have always felt that [SEN] is where I was pushed,” he said. Since then he has held leadership positions at virtually all types of state school, including two special schools – one for children with complex needs and one for those with behavioural problem – and says that he has an affinity for the area.
Head teachers who wish to find out more or contribute to the review should visit www.dcsf.gov.uk/saltreview as soon as possible. Salt asks that all responses are related directly to the questions that he asks, as this will help him maintain the focus and efficiency of the review – something that he said will be critical when it comes to having an impact when the report is complete.
“I have to focus on the issue at hand because then we have the possibility of making a real difference. Otherwise [if he goes beyond his official remit] it is just another person commenting on SEN.”
