Special but not so different

Consultancy in Bath continues. This is coordinated through The Link Special School. The project has entailed work for the school itself and some Inset delivery to the network of schools that The Link serves. This includes both special and mainstream schools.

The teachers at The Link have particular challenges given the behavioural and emotional difficulties shown by the pupils and I have had my eyes opened by some of the incidents witnessed. However, the heartening thing is that the elements of good practice that underpin teaching in mainstream are just as required here. If anything they need to be further emphasised. I have led staff training and some teachers are implementing strategies covered.

In addition, I have been able to support individual staff through a coaching process, helping identify elements and issues to work on. Once again they are the very same focuses that I have addressed with mainstream teachers.

Moving forwards, the school is looking to manage their curriculum planning through the South West Grid for Learning website which allows them to upload ongoing planning documents for sharing of practice and to enhance future planning. I am supporting this process whilst also monitoring the quality of documentation. The aim is to move on to more hands on work with teachers in terms of improving the quality of learning.

The project continues for at least this summer term. It would be great to extend this into the coming academic year and also to other schools in the area.

New Blog

This is a new blog site for my observations on education, teaching, and schools. I currently mix education consultancy with part-time supply teaching which gives an interesting perspective on things. One day I may be offering some support to an individual teacher or delivering a whole school Inset event, the next delivering 'fill-in' tasks to an inner city group of challenging Year 10s.

Having been in education for over 30 years one thing strikes me very strongly. In spite of all the developoments in technology, good teachers are doing very much what they did back in the day. They plan well; they deliver interesting and appropriate activites; they give useful feedback; and, most of all, develop positive relationships with their students.

A lot is discussed about the new dawn of technology. However, whilst an additional resource it is no substitute for the basics.