Reimagining Education

The politics of balancing the books and educational reform is complex, but at its core boils down to what we prioritise at a country.

With government planning changes to SEND support, it is imperative that SEN provision is normal and routine, not something special or exceptional

Here in Norfolk, our council is being instructed to reduce 'alternative provision' by 90%, so that provision previously outsourced will provided in-school, this is intended to save money. The question is will there be the investment required to enable provision to be adequately delivered.

It seem likely that to address the increasing of children with EHCPs, there will be pressure to reduce the number of children with special educational needs or disabilities who have a right to support in school, because currently many of these children don't receive sufficient support.

I would go further and ask if we can really address the SEND crisis in an academised system, that claims to foster competition and choice, but in reality inadvertently lead to an exclusive system with access and quality are unevenly distributed.

It is difficult to know how to influence government decisions. A first step could be to support Rachel Filmer's petition demanding that ministers commit to laws mandating support for pupils with SEND.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/711021

What would your ideal school look like?

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/dec/15/traumatise-children-education-london-academies-schools

We sell white poppies to represent the civilian casualties of war, which is not to detract from the military ones, but to put the emphasis on the never again aspect of remembrance.  White poppies originate from the Womens Social and Political Union, because they felt that the British Legion were glorifying war and thereby making it more likely.

Sunday, November 10th,  Remembrance Sunday.  

Each November this occasion calls us to remember the pity of war and the damage wars have done to humankind and to our planet, and invites us to commit ourselves to peaceful ways of living.    In recent years, Norwich Quakers and other local peace people have gathered at the peace sculpture near the War Memorial at City Hall to lay a wreath of red and white poppies and share hopes for a better world. 
 
This year the Vigil for Peace and Planet will be joined with the Quakers’ wreath laying ceremony.  Join us at the Peace Sculpture at 12.30 on Sunday afternoon, November 10th.  Bring your hopes and visions of peace to share during the half-hour vigil.  Afterward, you are invited back to the Quaker Meeting House nearby in Upper Goat Lane to share in the Second Sunday bring-and-share lunch.  Bring food to share if you can.  But don’t worry – there is always a feast of food at a bring-and-share meal.  Surely, that is a sign of hope for the world!

The government is looking for responses from teachers, academics, parents and others to their Curriculum Review. Please send in your thoughts.

Curriculum and assessment review Review of the existing national curriculum and statutory assessment system in England, to ensure they are fit for purpose and meeting the needs of children and young people.

The Good Childhood Report 2024

I hope the government takes heed of these recommendations

What do you think about these changes?

Ofsted single-word school ratings to be scrapped immediately Labour announces end of high-stakes judgments, to be replaced by report cards that grade schools in four categories

The past 15 years’ reversion to Victorian education is the worst possible development, especially for SEND children

In this new austerity moment, a fight is on: for the rights of children with special educational needs | John Harris Cuts ruin lives and raise costs. This scandal is already playing out in the system, and it should be a warning to Labour, says Guardian columnist John Harris

Hands-on learning works: no wonder science professionals are urging schools to go beyond the Gove curriculum, says Michael Rosen

Miss Pope, my science teacher, would have approved of music and ice lollies in class. Exams aren’t the only way to learn | Michael Rosen Hands-on learning works: no wonder science professionals are urging schools to go beyond the Gove curriculum, says writer Michael Rosen

Finland leading the way on information literacy: “The goal is active, responsible citizens and voters… Thinking critically, factchecking, interpreting and evaluating all the information you receive, wherever it appears, is crucial. We’ve made it a core part of what we teach, across all subjects.”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/28/fact-from-fiction-finlands-new-lessons-in-combating-fake-news