NEWS FOCUS
www.sec-ed.com
OCTOBER’S announcement
SecEd: On Your Side
from the Department for Children,
Schools and Families on wide-
ranging changes to careers guidance
made a very specific reference
We must support
regarding students with SEN.
Amid talk of careers guidance
in primary schools, better online
our fellow teachers
careers advice, and more business
mentors for young people, the
proposals also stipulated “more
help for disabled young people in
TEACHER Rolindo Vera,
Pete
accessing work experience”.
a member of the Guarani
People with SEN can be at a
disadvantage when attempting to
Kaiowa indigenous group
Henshaw
find work experience or even paid
in Brazil, went missing on Editor,
employment.
October 30 after a violent
SecEd
Lorraine Petersen, chief of
eviction carried out by armed
special needs organisation nasen,
men in the Mato Grosso do Sul state near the Paraguayan
explained: “The difficulties that
SEN learners face when it comes
border.
to employment are often due to the
Another teacher, Genivaldo Vera, also went missing
perception of their abilities. Schools SEN pupils in
during the eviction. His body was later found nearby.
can address this by providing
Rolindo Vera’s life is now in grave danger.
guidance, training and opportunities
The day before, 25 members of the Guarani Kaiowa
to showcase their skills, not just
within the schools, but also by
group, who live in the village of Pirajui, re-occupied
involving the local community.”
farmland they claim as ancestral near the town of Paranhos. An example of the extent of the the workplace
The following day, as the group began erecting shelters,
problem comes from the National
dozens of armed men arrived in a truck and began firing
Autistic Society (NAS), whose
rubber bullets. They took Genivaldo away and his cousin
research shows that only 15 per cent
of people suffering from autism are She added: “We had one
Rolindo fled into the forest.
in paid work.
Last month, schools secretary Ed
Asperger’s child, and the employer
On November 7, Genivaldo’s body was found in a While details are still to emerge supported him. He only worked
nearby stream. Photos of the body released by the police to
of how the government plans to
Balls launched a new government
him in the mornings when he was
the family suggest he had been bound and tortured.
help and support children with SEN
strategy aimed at improving careers
most settled.”
in this area, SecEd has spoken to Elsewhere, St Christopher’s
Rolindo’s whereabouts remain unknown, and the
charities and schools to investigate School, a special school in
community fear he may have been abducted and taken into
guidance. It included a particular
the secrets to success in offering Wrexham, has been recognised
Paraguay. They are calling on the federal police, who have good quality work placements to
focus on providing SEN children with good
for its success in providing work
suspended the search, to begin looking again.
SEN students. experience for students. In this
Rolindo and Genivaldo, both aged in their 20s, were
Rebecca Rennison, policy officer work experience. Charles Gubert investigates year’s Teaching Awards, head
at the NAS – which is involved in Maxine Pittaway picked up the UK
teaching literacy skills in Pirajui – an extremely poor,
providing work experience – said Award for Enterprise.
3,000-strong indigenous community.
the key is to offer SEN children the now have to have ramps so it is The charity has found, however, The school boasts a wealth of
The ancestral lands that the community re-occupied
right support. She told us: “Kids easier for them. Also, with blind or that the credit crunch has made it work experience resources on site,
should have already been surveyed by government
with autism need support, and deaf children, there are many jobs harder for companies to take on including a hairdressing and beauty
anthropologists to enable them to identify lands to be returned
people need to show them how they can do and this is pretty well SEN students, especially if they are salon, a café and a retail shop, all
to plan their future. When we’re organised. However, for children cutting back staff. giving students real-life experiences
to the community, as outlined in an agreement signed by the
preparing kids for work experience, with behavioural difficulties, it is To combat this, the charity puts of a working environment.
Ministry of Justice and indigenous groups in 2007. we work with the child about what harder to find work. Most employers as many support staff in companies The facilities are also
However, farmers in the area have repeatedly blocked
they will expect. We work closely don’t know or understand the as is needed. complemented by work experience
attempts to carry out the surveys necessary for identifying
with the employers too, but this link difficulties.” In companies where staff outside of school.
the land to be returned. The agreement was vehemently
is not always present in schools. Another example Mr Mann gave numbers are low, it also reduces the Ms Pittaway told SecEd: “We
“There needs to be more was of an elective mute female. He hours students spend there. have no problems with our kids
opposed by the state’s government and the farming lobby.
CPD – people with autism need explained: “(She) was fine in her More good practice can be found getting jobs or going to college.
Because of the ongoing failure to resolve outstanding preparation, they need someone placement at a hairdressing salon at South Dartmoor Community We encourage them to finish their
land claims, several Guarani Kaiowa communities have
with the appropriate skills and until the staff heard her speak to College in Devon, which secures education. You have to mentor the
ended up re-occupying the lands, which has led to a series
awareness of the barriers faced by her sister – the only person with work experience for a wide range children and think outside the box
autistic students in the workplace.” whom she communicated orally of SEN students each year. with the more complex children.
of violent evictions, often involving armed men.
All schools have a legal – and then spent the next few days Julia Barker, head of careers, “We support them through work
Irregular security companies, many of whom are
requirement to produce a transition trying to coax her to speak instead told us: “For SEN students, our experience, and even if they fail, it
effectively acting as illegal militias in the service of plan for SEN students with of giving her the work experience Connexions personal advisor tells just shows it wasn’t the right job for
landowners or agro-industry, have been involved in many
statements when they reach the age she needed.” them what to expect and they them,” she added.
human rights abuses in rural Brazil and remain a serious
of 14 for post-school life, as outlined The Newham Education are taken on a pre-placement Sutton Council is an example
in the SEN code of practice. Business Partnership, a charity familiarisation visit. The advisor will of an organisation that has been
threat to both indigenous peoples and rural workers fighting
However, one school SENCO in east London, helps to provide visit the student when they are on willing to take on SEN students.
for their right to land.
said that it is often employers that 3,500 SEN students with work work experience and afterwards. We Janette Garlick, head of
The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,
are the barrier to providing work experience every year. Marion also make sure the health and safety customer services, said: “The work
which Brazil endorsed in 2007, enshrine Indigenous
experience for SEN children. Faust, chief executive, told SecEd: sheet shows the child’s needs.” experience benefits their social skills
People’s rights to their ancestral lands and call on states
Peter Mann, SENCO at Forest “We talk to the students and ask Ms Barker said that despite many and increases their confidence. It
Gate Community School in east them what they want to do. Equally, companies in the south west being gives them an understanding of
to establish mechanisms whereby these rights can be
London, said: “Some disabilities we talk to students and often raise reasonably small, her SEN students what the council is all about. They
adjudicated and recognised. The Brazilian constitution also are more difficult to deal with. their aspirations. Sometimes that had secured work experience, and are an asset to our organisation and
affirms Brazilian Indigenous People’s rights to their lands.
Those with physical difficulties involves talking to their parents, the companies catered to their able-bodied staff also gain greater
I make no apologies for this editorial.
tend to be okay because companies who may be protective.” personal needs. understanding.” SecEd
While teaching in this country is tough and incredibly
stressful at times, we do not fear for our lives in the course IN RESPONSE…
of our work to educate young people. Many teachers
around the world do. They fight every day against the
The Queen delivered her means for schools to deliver on all currently trying, with government are falling behind, and education
oppression of education, and work under the threat of
speech to parliament last week, these items. encouragement, to create more and training for all 16 and 17-
outlining the government’s Raising so many aspects productive relationships with year-olds. This is not telling
violence and death.
plans for the coming year. of education to the status of a parents. schools to reinvent the wheel
While this case is not solely related to the fact Rolindo
Cynics claimed it was simply guarantee will have the effect of The guarantees are based on – they should already be offering
and Genivaldo are teachers, there are many cases of teachers an exercise in political point- making everything quasi-statutory. the assumption that parents want parents and pupils these things. It
who are persecuted for the simple fact that they are trying to
scoring, particularly since a It will take statute into realms it has the best for all pupils in the school is about setting out in law what
educate. I strongly believe that teachers around the world
general election is looming. never previously covered. Instead and that all children want to learn, pupils and parents should expect
However, one section of the of the increasingly diverse system which is regrettably not always from their schools and making
have a duty to support one another in whatever way they
plans – the pupil-parent that the government has often said the case. Parents rightly want the sure that happens wherever they
can, however simple. Amnesty International is urging UK
guarantees – sparked debate that it wants to encourage, England best for their own child, but that are in the country.
teachers to write asking for the search for Rolindo to be
between ministers and a will have one of the most centrally may be sometimes at the expense This simply will not lead a
resumed and for an investigation to be launched into the
headteachers’ union prescriptive systems in the world. of others. School leaders have to to flood of court cases against
eviction and the subsequent death of Genivaldo.
Researchers have stated that make decisions based on what is schools. There will be a clear
Dr John Dunford, general English heads are among the most best for the majority of students. In process so teachers, heads,
In cases like this, it is often the simple act of letting the
secretary, Association of School autonomous; these guarantees tell a a time when funding is becoming governing bodies and local
authorities know that the eyes of the world are on them that and College Leaders: very different story. tighter, they will have to prioritise authorities can deal with any
makes the crucial difference and saves the lives of fellow
“It is easy for the government School leaders are extremely and will not be able to give equal complaint – as they already do
teachers around the globe. Please get involved.
to ‘guarantee’ specific rights concerned that these guarantees weight to every aspect of the with the vast majority of issues.
For more, contact 020 7033 1572 or email iar@amnesty.
for pupils and parents when will turn into a whingers’ charter guarantee.” If they do not, we’ve now
ministers aren’t the ones who for the more litigious parents to given the Local Government
org.uk. The exact webpage detailing the case can be found
have to deliver. It is school complain, first to the head, then to A Department for Children, Ombudsman powers to hear
by following this shortened link: http://bit.ly/vcMaz leaders and staff whose jobs will the governors, then to the Local Schools and Families spokesman: parents’ complaints and
be on the line if they don’t meet Government Ombudsman service, “It’s absolutely right that parents recommend that schools take
• Pete Henshaw is editor of SecEd and Delivering
the guarantees. which has just been created by last are given concrete guarantees of remedial action. If they still will
If government is going to week’s new Education Act. This strong discipline policies, close not, the secretary of state will
Diplomas. Email him at editor@sec-ed.co.uk or visit
make a guarantee on behalf will create an immense amount of contact with teachers, intensive be able to intervene and direct
www.sec-ed.co.uk and www.deliveringdiplomas.com
of schools, it must provide the work for school leaders, who are catch-up classes if their children schools to act.”
6 SecEd • November 26 2009
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