Ch-ch-ch-Changes
Apologies to David Bowie for the abuse of his immortal song ‘Changes’.
I began considering the major areas affecting our work in education and when I did have a hard look it reinforced my belief that we have lots to contend with and constant ch-ch-ch change in national policy creates many challenges. In our field of work, however we have no option but to ‘face the strain’.
Ch-ch-ch changes to SEND policy have caused turmoil in the system and as I ‘turned myself to face me’ (a great lyric) I know my heart is in supporting children with additional needs and SEND. I add ‘additional needs’ as this term refers to many children who have difficulties accessing learning commensurate to their abilities but do not meet the threshold for a life ch–ch- ch changing, magical Education Health and Care Plan.
‘Strange fascinations fascinate me’
1,301,445 was the official number of special educational needs children in England in 2015 declining to 1, 228,785 in 2016. The official line is that the ch-ch-ch change is due to a continuing decline in the number of pupils with special needs without a statement or (EHC) plan. Note that this not the actual number of identified individuals. It was policy not that long ago to reduce the number of statemented needs and the North East apparently had ‘high numbers’. So thresholds for support ch-ch-ch changed yet more children are surviving and thriving with disabilities so schools have to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse number of children without the legal support/funding encapsulated through the Code of Practice within the context of the Children and Families Bill. In England 236,805 children have a statement or EHC plan, which is 2.8% of the pupil population and 99,1980 pupils are on SEN support. This is equal to 11.6% of the total pupil population.
‘Turn and Face the Strange’
So over 14% of the pupil population has, in legal terms, learning difficulties or disabilities that make it harder for them to learn than most children of the same age. However many children will have special/additional needs of some kind at some time during their education. Emotional wellbeing is impacting upon children’s lives everyday, preventing them from accessing learning and fulfilling happy lives. Visiting many schools in my role as Head of Percy Hedley Schools, Teaching School, I encounter brilliant SENcos, teachers and TAs working to manage the many ch-ch-ch changes in their school populations whilst still implementing ch-ch-ch changes to the law in SEND and Ofsted inspections.
The four SEND Teaching Schools across the North East, Dales, Epinay, Percy Hedley and Sunningdale are working in collaboration to listen and support schools. Our first joint conference ‘Every Pupils Progress Counts is being held at Hardwick Hall on the 7th of November 2016.
This is not a profit making enterprise as any surplus funds will be used for future collaborative events in SEND across our region. Andre Imich, SEND adviser at the DfE who was instrumental in working on the Children and Families Bill, Gina White HMI and Dean Beadle an inspiring raconteur will update us at conference on current and future themes and we will have time to consider the impact this may have on our work. We have secured some support from Burnetts solicitors and hope this is the start of a productive partnership. The four Teaching Schools are trying to support the ‘pace we’re going through’ by partnership working within a ch-ch-ch changing self supporting school system to ensure inclusivity whilst meeting the needs of every child.
‘Ohh look out you rock and rollers, time may change me but I can’t trace time’-So sorry but half term and trying to lighten the load!
Please support the conference. Places still available. Email us for more information: h.marshall@percyhedley.org.uk