Select a region
An organisation dedicated to improving the country's support for those with special educational needs has been enlisted to review Guernsey's current facilities and provisions.
NASEN has been commissioned by Education, Sport and Culture to review the island's provision for children and young people with Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) to help highlight areas that need improving, and guide its evolution.
That evolution and development is ongoing across the education sector in the Bailiwick at the moment, but the review will act as an independent and objective evaluation of what we have right now, and what we will have in the future.
Pictured: NASEN (https://nasen.org.uk/) are a high quality provider of SEND support and development with vast experience at both a national and jurisdictional level.
Guernsey will be evaluated on how effective it is in three different areas:
identifying children and young people with SEND
meeting the needs of children and young people with SEND
securing good outcomes for children and young people who have SEND
When the review is done, a report will be produced which will be returned to the States early in the next term of government. Deputy Matt Fallaize, ESC's President, said he was delighted this had all got off the ground before the end of the term.
"This is an incredibly important piece of work and we’re delighted that it is being progressed before the end of this States term. While it will be for the next Committee to consider the findings, the review is likely to be key in shaping the on- going development of an educationally inclusive culture across the Bailiwick."
When the report itself is done, it will assist ESC and the Bailiwick in general in the following areas:
All the work will take place in partnership with people employed within education, across the States, in related agencies and third sector groups, and with the parents of young people with SEND.
Pictured: The report will be given back to the new ESC Committee next term.
"We are looking forward to working alongside nasen who have a wealth of experience in supporting and developing quality SEND provision," Nick Hynes, Head of Inclusion Services, said.
"Central to a successful review is the close liaison that is planned with a range of key stakeholders, including schools, parents/carers and young people. As part of the review a series of engagement and focus group sessions will be held so that key stakeholders can share their views about perceived strengths and areas of development for SEND in the Bailiwick. The expertise these partners bring to the table will add real depth and benefit to the process."
Professor Adam Boddison, Chief Executive Officer at Nasen, added: "I am delighted that nasen has been appointed to undertake an independent review of SEND provision for the States of Guernsey. The commissioning of such a review demonstrates a commitment from the Committee for Education, Sport and Culture in relation to ensuring that learners with SEND achieve the best possible outcomes. Our review will be broad and will provide an opportunity for all key stakeholders to share their experiences, including learners with SEND and their families."
Pictured top: Inset, Nick Hynes.
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.