Meeting with Ruth Baston SENCo
Staffing: The SENCo and Assistant SENCo are both new in post – Ruth is very enthusiastic and has lots of plans to meet the needs of the children and their parents who need support.
Communication: It has been important to ensure that all staff complete and use the ‘hand-over’ document so that time is not wasted reassessing and understanding the support needed for each child. Ruth believes that, with the new role of the Support Assistants and TAs in the department, this document should be used more by staff to inform future planning and support.
New code of Practice: Still early days, but she believes that all will be understood and sorted by September when it is in place. (With pupils being withdrawn less and more support being offered during normal class lessons, progress is less dependent on Ruth’s direct contribution as other staff will be responsible for implementing interventions. Ruth is worried that this will impact on her performance management???)
Student Attainment: Went through data. Approximately 8% of students in the school are on the SEN register, compared to UK average of 20% of all students.
Confidentiality: There was a big plea to do some work on the office and learning area:-
- as it is used by pupils with learning difficulties, who also have issues with concentrating it would help their learning to a quiet area or small cubicles/recesses
- Meetings are held with parents and there is nowhere to discuss confidential matters
- Feedback/discussions from TAs/staff cannot be held either
- General noise from the neighbouring classroom makes meetings/discussions very difficult too
Mentoring: The lowest achievers in Year 10 (2 groups of 6) are being mentored for three intensive weeks – first impressions are that this is having a big impact on their engagement and self esteem.
Plans for the future:
- Organisation: for many of the students that come to the Learning Centre is a major issue and a check list system to help them ensure that they have the equipment needed for lessons, Ruth is hoping to ‘give’ them a plastic wallet containing a basic
- Ruth is hoping to set up a social/games club at lunchtime – if many of these young people had something to keep them occupied they are more likely to be ready to learn and out of trouble.
- Parent Partnership: hoping to further break down barriers with parents by setting up a Parent Partnership in September.
Clover Parker, Acting Head of Art, and I are playing email ping-pong, but are hoping to set up a meeting soon.
Mrs L Campbell
Local Authority Governor