Key elements of the programme included development of behaviour and education support teams, use of ‘learning mentors’, appointment of attendance workers, establishing provision for disruptive pupils and developing provision for excluded pupils from day one of the exclusion.
Primary schools have made better overall progress than secondary schools. Small but significant changes have increased or maintained attendance, reduced parentally condoned absence and improved attitudes, motivation and pupil behaviour.
The picture in secondary schools is more disappointing, but their problems are more complex. In a minority of schools where behaviour and attendance deteriorated, a combination of factors came into force, such as ineffective senior management, high staff turnover, weak teaching and inconsistency in implementing behaviour strategies.
This article first appeared in SENCO Update - October 2005
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