Schooliform

[multitool]

Opinion is divided.

Turns out, in the nearest city to me (my kids don't go to school there) there are some grammar schools, and a whole bunch of high schools.

Nearly all of the non-grammar schools have adopted RTL systems with binary uniform codes (The grammar schools already had them, of course). Results have gone up massively, and what were sink schools are now over-subscribed.

Where, precisely, are the voices that you claim are saying this is a bad thing?

 

[C R]

1984 was fiction, CR.

And it turns out, it never happened.

So you don't think that calling isolation rooms Ready to Learn rooms is at least ironic?

 

[multitool]

So you don't think that calling isolation rooms Ready to Learn rooms is at least ironic?

Which schools call their isolation rooms 'Ready to Learn' rooms?

Or did you just make that up?

EDIT: I think you did. I googled "Ready to Learn Room", and not a single result came up for isolation rooms called this.

I did however find this:

https://www.tes.com/magazine/archiv...ealised-strict-behaviour-strategy-was-working

 

[C R]

Which schools call their isolation rooms 'Ready to Learn' rooms?

Or did you just make that up?

EDIT: I think you did. I googled "Ready to Learn Room", and not a single result came up for isolation rooms called this.

I did however find this:

https://www.tes.com/magazine/archiv...ealised-strict-behaviour-strategy-was-working

You obviously didn't try very hard

Our children's high school also call their isolation room the Ready to Learn Room.

Anyway, I'm tired of pigeon chess. I'm out of this discussion.

 

[The Crofted Crest]

Oh, dear multibunnybobs! When you joined this site you showed true potential to become the community's flat-roofed pub. And how we all jumped with glee. But now you're just sprawled over a park bench, sweet multihoney, shouting, "You think you know better, do you?". Such a waste, my sweet, dear tooliefooliedrooly.

 

[multitool]

You obviously didn't try very hard
View attachment 4637
Our children's high school also call their isolation room the Ready to Learn Room.

Anyway, I'm tired of pigeon chess. I'm out of this discussion.

You'd better pull your children out of that school pretty quickly then.

It's clearly a fascist organisation...or something...because it has a name for its isolation room.

 

[multitool]

Oh, dear multibunnybobs! When you joined this site you showed true potential to become the community's flat-roofed pub. And how we all jumped with glee. But now you're just sprawled over a park bench, sweet multihoney, shouting, "You think you know better, do you?". Such a waste, my sweet, dear tooliefooliedrooly.

Not sure what you are contributing here, except, by your own metaphor, being the toothless yob who passes by and decides to kick a sozzled down-and-out.

 

[icowden]

I've just googled "High school SEN department" and got link after link of high schools talking about their SEN departments.

Well there's part of your problem. You appear to be looking at American schools. Here is

SEN or SEND?​

SEN stands for Special Education Needs, whereas SEND stands for Special Education Needs and/or Disabilities. The term SEND is more inclusive, and it is the term we use here at Engage, as it is a catch-all acronym to include pupils who do not have special learning needs, but do need extra provision due to a physical or sensory disability (for example, pupils who are deaf or need assistive devices such as a wheelchair or crutches to get around).

As I said. SEN is falling out of favour and SEND is now the term of preference.

Maybe you should get in touch with them to tell them they are wrong

Not all schools are good at updating their websites.

Yes, and predominantly helping students with identified needs. They aren't just general classroom assistants who waft about helping random students. Why not? Because school funding doesn't allow it.

Yes, they are just general classroom assistants providing teaching support in whatever capacity the teacher decides that they need support. They assist the teacher. If they are a SEND TA then they have been specifically recruited to work with children who have SEND provision.

Is a SEND Teaching Assistant job a good fit for you?​

If you have an interest in teaching children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, working as a SEND Teaching Assistant is an invaluable opportunity to gain classroom experience.

If you are already a mainstream education TA, moving into a SEND role will enable you to adapt your teaching support skills to suit the specialised needs of children with learning difficulties.

It is important that in a SEND TA role, you gain knowledge of the broad variety of Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) and Additional Learning Needs (ALN) that are used. This experience will help you understand how to help each pupil access and enjoy various learning activities.

Having previous in-school teaching experience is desirable, but if you can demonstrate experience in caring for and supporting children between 5 to 16-years-old, involvement in voluntary excursions and evidence of personal knowledge of SEND and ALN, you may find that schools are supportive of new Teaching Assistants looking to specialise.

Typical duties include:

• helping pupils with their learning, often with a particular focus on maths, reading and writing
• supervising group activities
• setting up equipment for lessons and keeping classrooms safe and tidy
• helping develop programmes of learning activities and adapting appropriate materials
• motivating and encouraging pupils
• monitoring and recording children’s behaviour and progress
• helping with school events, trips and activities.

 

[Bazzer]

Yes, they are just general classroom assistants providing teaching support in whatever capacity the teacher decides that they need support. They assist the teacher. If they are a SEND TA then they have been specifically recruited to work with children who have SEND provision.

FWIW, that was certainly the case when my wife, who is now retired, was the head of special needs in a large high school. It was one of many sources of conflict between her and the head teacher.

 

[BoldonLad]

Yes. Have you met any teenagers, newf? They will take any grey area they can find and exploit it and argue the toss.

I'm not sure why you think that is a good use of teachers' time and energy when they should spend it teaching.

And it won't do to say 'well, just abolish uniform then', because eventually somebody will rock up in a thong. What then?


We conform in all sorts of ways for all sorts of reasons. Or are you going to reveal that you don't obey laws because its 'conformity'?



I doubt they are. But, I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that the teachers who have been in failing schools with a breakdown of control (yes...control) that have subsequently been 'turned around', will be. Which is, of course, why it happens.



As I said. You know better, and the senior leadership who institute these systems in the full knowledge that they will get enormous pushback from students and parents, until they adapt, are idiots.

Hadn't realised this forum was reserved for teenagers, no wonder I don't fit

 

[multitool]

Well there's part of your problem. You appear to be looking at American schools.

No, I wasn't

As I said. SEN is falling out of favour and SEND is now the term of preference.

Same job.

Not all schools are good at updating their websites.

They dont need to.

Yes, they are just general classroom assistants providing teaching support in whatever capacity the teacher decides that they need support. They assist the teacher. If they are a SEND TA then they have been specifically recruited to work with children who have SEND provision.

Do they have classroom assistants in grammar schools?

Thought not.

School budgets are pared to the bone. They don't fund staff unless absolutely essential.

 

[icowden]

No, I wasn't

In the UK we have Primary Schools and Secondary Schools or Senior Schools.

Same job.

Yes. But the description has changed to be inclusive. I thought you were a big fan of inclusivity?

They dont need to.

I think the Government and DfOE will disagree with you. They should be updating their websites regularly to keep pace with regulatory changes and to ensure that their policies and procedures are up to date.

Do they have classroom assistants in grammar schools?

Yes. All schools make use of Teaching Assistants. To assist the teacher.

School budgets are pared to the bone. They don't fund staff unless absolutely essential.

Yes, and Teaching Assistants are absolutely essential.

 

[multitool]

In the UK we have Primary Schools and Secondary Schools or Senior Schools.

Your idiocy knows no bounds. There are literally 5 schools within a 15 mile radius of me that are called "high school".

I do not live in the USA.

Yes. But the description has changed to be inclusive. I thought you were a big fan of inclusivity?

I am. But its irrelevant.

I think the Government and DfOE will disagree with you. They should be updating their websites regularly to keep pace with regulatory changes and to ensure that their policies and procedures are up to date.

I doubt it.

Yes. All schools make use of Teaching Assistants. To assist the teacher.

The first people to get laid off in schools are classroom assistants. There are few of them in relation to teachers and they are tasked almost exclusively with helping kids with needs. A student doesn't need to have an EHCP in order to have a need. The classification used to be K, or Statemented. Only statemented kids attracted extra funding, but that funding wasn't tied to them exclusively. However, the support staff funded will be attached to kids failing within the SEN remit.

You absolutely will not, for example, find a TA in a top set class....unless there is a specific student in there with SEN needs (usually ASD).

 

[icowden]

Your idiocy knows no bounds. There are literally 5 schools within a 15 mile radius of me that are called "high school".

Yes, but if you search for high schools you will get American schools, not British ones.

There are few of them in relation to teachers and they are tasked almost exclusively with helping kids with needs. A student doesn't need to have an EHCP in order to have a need.

Of course not. But that isn't what they do. They assist the teacher. It's down to the teacher to decide how their TA should be used. The ratio of Teachers to TAs is usually 1:2 with more in Primary than secondary. Private schools ratio is much lower 1:8 but they don't need as many thanks to the employment of pastoral staff, dedicated SENDCOs, counsellors and much smaller class sizes.

The classification used to be K, or Statemented. Only statemented kids attracted extra funding, but that funding wasn't tied to them exclusively. However, the support staff funded will be attached to kids failing within the SEN remit.

Yes. That's SEND Support staff such as SEND TAs. Not the regular TAs. They are paid for out of the main school budget and assist the teacher based on what the teacher asks them to do. It may be to work with pupils that are finding something difficult or it might be to work with the rest of the class while the teacher works with a small group. They might deal with behaviour. If a pupil needs additional support then a support worker or support TA might be recruited using the budget from the EHCP. Usually this is put in place before the EHCP has gone through though due to the time it takes.

You absolutely will not, for example, find a TA in a top set class....unless there is a specific student in there with SEN needs (usually ASD).

You don't have top sets until you get into secondary schools (unless you are at a private school where they may stream some subjects).

 

[multitool]

Yes, but if you search for high schools you will get American schools, not British ones.

No, you will get both. And it is very easy to check to see which is which.

A moment ago you were trying to say there were no high schools in UK.

Of course not. But that isn't what they do. They assist the teacher. It's down to the teacher to decide how their TA should be used. The ratio of Teachers to TAs is usually 1:2 with more in Primary than secondary. Private schools ratio is much lower 1:8 but they don't need as many thanks to the employment of pastoral staff, dedicated SENDCOs, counsellors and much smaller class sizes.

So a school with 100 subject teachers will have 50 TAs....

dream on.

Yes. That's SEND Support staff such as SEND TAs. Not the regular TAs. They are paid for out of the main school budget and assist the teacher based on what the teacher asks them to do.

I don't think you understand how school finance works
Budgets are not hypothecated. The clearest example of this is extra funding through Pupil Premium.