nasen responds to ed balls 28.9.09
Nasen’s response to Ed Balls announcement 28.9.09
Nasen welcomes today’s announcement from Ed Balls on providing better support for pupils with special educational needs and disabled children.
The assessment process has for too long been an arduous procedure for schools and parents. The Lamb Inquiry has highlighted the need for a system which is more focused on the outcomes for the children and young people and avoids vague targets with no clearly defined outcome measures.
Parents and schools need to be reassured that the assessment process is clear, swift and transparent. All our most vulnerable young people deserve the opportunity to excel, not just those whose parents or guardians can navigate the system.
Local authorities and schools need to be encouraged to share good practice. The announcement today highlights the need for local authorities to test out their assessment processes further and hopefully by sharing their findings, a new more transparent system can be found to ensure the needs of all children can be met.
Teaching children with special educational needs and disabilities is the most rewarding job in the world but we need to attract high quality graduates, provide an on-going support and identify a clear career path. Nasen welcomed the introduction of specialist SEN units for primary and secondary undergraduates, the Inclusion Development Programme for serving teachers, the National Award for SEN Co-ordination and the training of specialist dyslexia teachers.
Quotes from the CEO
The announcement today to offer support for schools with children with the most complex needs is welcomed. However, with many more of these children in our mainstream schools I feel that this is not just about ensuring that pupils have the highest quality teaching in special schools, we need to ensure that all pupils have the highest quality teaching. I would hope that the work that SSAT have been commissioned to undertake will ensure that special schools can share their excellence in teaching and learning practice to support all children. Lorraine Petersen OBE, CEO nasen.
The sharing of good practice, the investment in a well trained workforce and a transparent and clear assessment process will ensure that all children will receive the support they require to meet their individual needs in the future. Lorraine Petersen OBE, CEO nasen.
For more information contact seans@nasen.org.uk
