Comments for Independent Schools Council http://blog.isc.co.uk Thoughts, views and opinion on the independent school sector Thu, 21 Apr 2011 08:13:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on Teaching under-fives lawful in schools again, says shock report by Sarah McKimm http://blog.isc.co.uk/2011/03/31/teaching-underfives-lawful-schools-shock-report/comment-page-1/#comment-5386 Sarah McKimm Thu, 21 Apr 2011 08:13:23 +0000 http://blog.isc.co.uk/?p=482#comment-5386 Thank you for your message. We share your concerns about balance and over-inspection of early years , (long story - Ofsted/ISI are the real inspectors but LAs also "inspect" as a condition of funding and also moderate the Profile). But would it not be better for the revised framework to leave scope for professional judgement rather than being explicit? Otherwise, won't it just replace one framework with another at a time when we are pressing the new administration to de-regulate? Also, the right balance between play and teaching must presumably vary from one class, and indeed one child, to another, which is where there skill of the teacher comes in. And on top of that in our sector, we have one eye to what the parents are paying for in terms of play/teaching. So schools also need to be clear about their own ethos and approach when promoting their early years. I am not sure, therefore, that it would be feasible for a written framework to be very explicit on this while still catering for every child. Interested to hear your view. Thank you for your message. We share your concerns about balance and over-inspection of early years , (long story – Ofsted/ISI are the real inspectors but LAs also “inspect” as a condition of funding and also moderate the Profile). But would it not be better for the revised framework to leave scope for professional judgement rather than being explicit? Otherwise, won’t it just replace one framework with another at a time when we are pressing the new administration to de-regulate? Also, the right balance between play and teaching must presumably vary from one class, and indeed one child, to another, which is where there skill of the teacher comes in. And on top of that in our sector, we have one eye to what the parents are paying for in terms of play/teaching. So schools also need to be clear about their own ethos and approach when promoting their early years. I am not sure, therefore, that it would be feasible for a written framework to be very explicit on this while still catering for every child. Interested to hear your view.

]]> Comment on Teaching under-fives lawful in schools again, says shock report by RachelHurn http://blog.isc.co.uk/2011/03/31/teaching-underfives-lawful-schools-shock-report/comment-page-1/#comment-5382 RachelHurn Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:56:52 +0000 http://blog.isc.co.uk/?p=482#comment-5382 Dear supportive husband, Is your wife an NQT already, or is she about to begin her NQT year? All NQTs are entitled by law to receive an extra 10% non-contact time (compared to non NQTs) which should be used to help them establish themselves in their teaching career. NQTs also benefit from having a mentor, with whom they should be able to discuss any concerns including time-management and requests for further support. If you have further concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us. Kind regards, Rachel Hurn Induction Support Officer ISC Teacher Induction Panel Dear supportive husband,

Is your wife an NQT already, or is she about to begin her NQT year? All NQTs are entitled by law to receive an extra 10% non-contact time (compared to non NQTs) which should be used to help them establish themselves in their teaching career. NQTs also benefit from having a mentor, with whom they should be able to discuss any concerns including time-management and requests for further support.

If you have further concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Kind regards,

Rachel Hurn
Induction Support Officer
ISC Teacher Induction Panel

]]> Comment on Teaching under-fives lawful in schools again, says shock report by Liz Wynne-Jones-Tucker http://blog.isc.co.uk/2011/03/31/teaching-underfives-lawful-schools-shock-report/comment-page-1/#comment-5376 Liz Wynne-Jones-Tucker Sun, 17 Apr 2011 11:58:49 +0000 http://blog.isc.co.uk/?p=482#comment-5376 I like the informative, clear, no nonesense approach in your article. It strikes me that balance is what is missing from EYFS education - I know it is in the framework but teachers and practitioners find it incredibly difficult to strike it. The revised framework will have to be very explicit about expectations around playful learning and teaching - the profession always falters when it is over inspected as it leads to a loss of confidence. I like the informative, clear, no nonesense approach in your article. It strikes me that balance is what is missing from EYFS education – I know it is in the framework but teachers and practitioners find it incredibly difficult to strike it. The revised framework will have to be very explicit about expectations around playful learning and teaching – the profession always falters when it is over inspected as it leads to a loss of confidence.

]]> Comment on Teaching under-fives lawful in schools again, says shock report by insure4all.co.uk http://blog.isc.co.uk/2011/03/31/teaching-underfives-lawful-schools-shock-report/comment-page-1/#comment-5334 insure4all.co.uk Wed, 06 Apr 2011 20:18:11 +0000 http://blog.isc.co.uk/?p=482#comment-5334 My wife is going to be an NQT this year. She is struggling with the workload that she is subjected to. Are there any hints & tips to help her progress her career. My wife is going to be an NQT this year. She is struggling with the workload that she is subjected to. Are there any hints & tips to help her progress her career.

]]> Comment on SEN pupil gets support needed at independent school by louise http://blog.isc.co.uk/2008/04/11/sen-pupil-gets-support-needed-with-help-from-the-isc/comment-page-1/#comment-4897 louise Mon, 21 Feb 2011 18:09:28 +0000 http://blog.isc.co.uk/2008/04/11/sen-pupil-gets-support-needed-with-help-from-the-isc/#comment-4897 My son has been diagnosed with dyslexia and ASD. He is 9 and in an independant school where we placed him at 5, unaware of his problems. At his diagnosis we were told he would be referred to the local ASD team, but then told they would not help him as he was not in a state school. I have recently applied for a statuatory assessment and thought that i would have to move him into a state school in order to access the necessary support when he moves into his secondary school. Your article has made me question whether this is in fact the case and whether he should currently be recieving top up support at his prep school. My son has been diagnosed with dyslexia and ASD. He is 9 and in an independant school where we placed him at 5, unaware of his problems. At his diagnosis we were told he would be referred to the local ASD team, but then told they would not help him as he was not in a state school. I have recently applied for a statuatory assessment and thought that i would have to move him into a state school in order to access the necessary support when he moves into his secondary school. Your article has made me question whether this is in fact the case and whether he should currently be recieving top up support at his prep school.

]]> Comment on SEN pupil gets support needed at independent school by Maria Candal http://blog.isc.co.uk/2008/04/11/sen-pupil-gets-support-needed-with-help-from-the-isc/comment-page-1/#comment-4833 Maria Candal Fri, 18 Feb 2011 00:50:10 +0000 http://blog.isc.co.uk/2008/04/11/sen-pupil-gets-support-needed-with-help-from-the-isc/#comment-4833 Our daughter who has Cerebral Palsy is currently on the nursery department of the same independent school than our son, with 15 hours/week SEN package. We are currently going through the statementing process and we have been told many times that if we want to keep her in this school from Reception onwards( where she has integrated brilliantly) we are opting out to having SEN 1-1 support. What can we do to keep her there and get the support?? Thank you. Our daughter who has Cerebral Palsy is currently on the nursery department of the same independent school than our son, with 15 hours/week SEN package. We are currently going through the statementing process and we have been told many times that if we want to keep her in this school from Reception onwards( where she has integrated brilliantly) we are opting out to having SEN 1-1 support. What can we do to keep her there and get the support?? Thank you.

]]> Comment on Vetting and Barring Scheme abolished by Julie Robinson http://blog.isc.co.uk/2011/02/15/vetting-barring-scheme-abolished/comment-page-1/#comment-4781 Julie Robinson Tue, 15 Feb 2011 17:39:48 +0000 http://blog.isc.co.uk/?p=445#comment-4781 Great news! It seems that the 'one stop shop' is going to be helpful and the relaxing of overly burdensome rulings on CRB checks will be welcomed by all. Great news! It seems that the ‘one stop shop’ is going to be helpful and the relaxing of overly burdensome rulings on CRB checks will be welcomed by all.

]]> Comment on LittleGossip – “Facebook’s bitchy little sister” by LittleGossip | andykemp.org.uk http://blog.isc.co.uk/2010/12/22/littlegossip-facebooks-bitchy-sister/comment-page-1/#comment-4311 LittleGossip | andykemp.org.uk Sun, 02 Jan 2011 20:04:17 +0000 http://blog.isc.co.uk/?p=409#comment-4311 [...] Taking this down however isn’t going to solve the problem that the internet allows anyone to say almost anything in an anonymous way (if they really want to!). In the end like most technological problems in schools this isn’t a technical issue but one of education. Students must be taught to understand the responsibilities that come with the freedom provided by the internet… Amplify’d from blog.isc.co.uk [...] [...] Taking this down however isn’t going to solve the problem that the internet allows anyone to say almost anything in an anonymous way (if they really want to!). In the end like most technological problems in schools this isn’t a technical issue but one of education. Students must be taught to understand the responsibilities that come with the freedom provided by the internet… Amplify’d from blog.isc.co.uk [...]

]]> Comment on LittleGossip – “Facebook’s bitchy little sister” by Jill Berry http://blog.isc.co.uk/2010/12/22/littlegossip-facebooks-bitchy-sister/comment-page-1/#comment-4140 Jill Berry Wed, 22 Dec 2010 17:11:30 +0000 http://blog.isc.co.uk/?p=409#comment-4140 Schools are in such a difficult position here. They are committed to tackling cyberbullying, but if they ban certain sites that will inevitably have the effect of publicising those sites and driving traffic to them - everyone wants to see what has been said. It's a blessing that this site has been withdrawn - many thanks for helping to make that happen. Bullying, unkind comments are never acceptable, and young people have to see that the defence 'But it's true...' or 'It's only a joke...' doesn't MAKE it acceptable Schools are in such a difficult position here. They are committed to tackling cyberbullying, but if they ban certain sites that will inevitably have the effect of publicising those sites and driving traffic to them – everyone wants to see what has been said. It’s a blessing that this site has been withdrawn – many thanks for helping to make that happen. Bullying, unkind comments are never acceptable, and young people have to see that the defence ‘But it’s true…’ or ‘It’s only a joke…’ doesn’t MAKE it acceptable

]]> Comment on SEN pupil gets support needed at independent school by Matt Hardy http://blog.isc.co.uk/2008/04/11/sen-pupil-gets-support-needed-with-help-from-the-isc/comment-page-1/#comment-3514 Matt Hardy Tue, 23 Nov 2010 12:12:28 +0000 http://blog.isc.co.uk/2008/04/11/sen-pupil-gets-support-needed-with-help-from-the-isc/#comment-3514 That is brilliant that SEN is being taken as a priority by independent schools as the mainstream schools are still finding it difficult. As schools get more and more over subscribed some kids get withdrawn because they are not loud enough so get lost in the system. According to the Government, around 229,100 children, 2.8% of all pupils have SEN. It is generally accepted that education should come under the provision of national governments. That is brilliant that SEN is being taken as a priority by independent schools as the mainstream schools are still finding it difficult. As schools get more and more over subscribed some kids get withdrawn because they are not loud enough so get lost in the system. According to the Government, around 229,100 children, 2.8% of all pupils have SEN. It is generally accepted that education should come under the provision of national governments.

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