DYT Week Ahead: Calling for SEND priority in NPQs
5/2/2019
Read DYT’s education policy round up with a literacy and SEND focus.
5th February 2019
In this edition:
There were no snow days at DYT last week! Highlights included auditing literacy provision in a Buckinghamshire MAT; delivering whole school training on working memory and cognitive load; running a dyslexia awareness session at a London primary and beginning a new curriculum development project at a PRU alongside the ICan speech and language charity. On the policy front, Chris Rossiter wrote for Ed Exec about school budgets and Karen Wespieser shared DYT’s thoughts on the latest DfE policies in the TES.
This week, look out for two education documentaries on TV, some interesting education questions in Parliament and Ofsted visiting the Education Select Committee.
Coming up this week:
This week is Children’s Mental Health Week. The 2019 campaign is all about how to be healthy, inside and out. You can find lots more information and some great resources here.
Monday:
The week kicks off with Education Questions at 2:30pm. Education ministers face off against their Labour counterparts and MPs; the recently announced Early Career Framework is likely to be on the agenda (DYT’s view here) and question 23, from Will Quince MP, asks about the effectiveness of teaching early literacy through phonics.
Later on, the Public Accounts Committee looks into the government’s plans to transform children’s services by questioning the DfE’s Chief Civil Servant, Jonathon Slater. DYT is among an influential group of over 120 children’s charities, teaching unions and other organisations that have called on the Government to put more resources into children’s services.
Monday night will also see not one but two education documentaries on Channel 4. At 9pm ‘Teachers Training to Kill’ looks at the debate about how best to protect pupils in America, with schools preparing for gun attacks and school boards seriously consider arming their teachers. At 10pm Dispatches investigates the number of children leaving mainstream education in favour of home education and the impact it is having on the young people.
Tuesday:
Tuesday is Safer Internet Day 2019. The day will be celebrated globally with the theme ‘together for a better internet’. For more information and resources, including education packs click here.
The Education Committee hears from Amanda Spielman, Ofsted Chief Inspector, in their latest accountability hearings. She will be joined by the Inspectorate’s National Director for Education, Sean Harford to discuss the new draft education inspection framework, Ofsted’s annual report and safeguarding arrangements in schools.
Thursday:
On Thursday The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) will provide an update on 2019 student applications. We look forward with interest to seeing the extent to which this will include learners with literacy difficulties.
On Thursday evening, DYT will be running training on the SEND Governor Review Guide in Bracknell. A limited number of places are still available for governors in the region but get in touch with Elinor if you would like to bring the training to your area in the future.
If you missed it:
DYT call for SEND focus in Early Career Framework
Commenting on the new recruitment and retention strategy and early career framework, Karen Wespieser, told TES that the government should develop qualifications specifically focused on teaching children with SEND. DYT are calling for a National Professional Qualification in SEND to be one of the first developed, as this will srengthen teacher capacity to support learners within school. Read the full piece.
DYT advise on how to spend well and spend wisely
Writing for Ed Exec, Chris Rossiter considered how schools with constrained budgets can afford the specialist support services, interventions and consultancy which have real impact for young people. His top five tips if you want to hire a consultant can be found here.
Growth & success in DYT’s 2017/18 Impact Report
We have published our annual Impact Report for 2017-18. We report on progress in making SEND into a pressing issue in Westminster, and indications of positive actions for change over the last academic year.
Expert panel meets to discuss early language and literacy
Children and Families Minister Nadhim Zahawi hosted an advisory panel to discuss the home learning environment and how language and literacy skills can be boosted by parents.
The new Ofsted framework is “great for AP”
Debra Rutley, Executive headteacher at Aspire AP (a DYT partner) wrote for Schools Week to praise Ofsted’s draft inspection framework welcoming that alternative provision providers can finally “tell their story.”
Get in touch:
Dan Baynes
Policy Executive
daniel.baynes@driveryouthtrust.com