Back To School
February 23rd, 2008Things are happening thick and fast, and I have several deadlines to meet with work and articles, so please forgive the delay in posting. On Friday 15th February, I spent a full day at the school where I am a Governor, The Ridgeway School in Wroughton. I was recently appointed as the Special Educational Needs Link Governor, which meant that I spent my day with the Special Educational Needs Co-Ordinator (SENCo) and her team. The school contains a unit for deaf children and children with hearing difficulties that serves the entire borough. We are very lucky to have a dedicated and experienced team in school that is doing its very best to help those children who at times find the experience of secondary education extremely difficult.
Apart from the obvious and worsening funding issues, which are placing real pressure on SEN provision, the questions of the lack of proper statementing and the placing of children with significant special needs in mainstream education raised their heads often during the day. I am convinced that many of the problems of discipline that can lead to temporary or permanent exclusion stem from the “inclusion agenda”. In schools all over the country, far too many of our children are feeling left out because of their learning difficulties, leading to boredom and disruptive behaviour.
At the other end of the spectrum, there are far too many children who are vulnerable and unable to cope with the pressures of everyday school life. For them, the SENCo and her team provide a refuge at break and lunch times, where they feel safe and supported.
My visit to the school coincided with the end of the first of two criminal trials that arose from the shocking and extremely serious attack on Henry Webster in the school grounds in January 2007, which I have posted about previously. The Judge at Bristol Crown Court imposed an order under the Contempt of Court Act 1981 preventing publication of the verdicts. The second trial is due to begin next week. I hope that the verdicts bring justice for Henry and his family.
