Vulnerable groups

Working in partnership to support vulnerable teenagers

scameron — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 09:54:29 +0000

In Norfolk, we wanted to develop an all-inclusive project to integrate marginalised young people into the mainstream by bring together communities of vulnerable students from Norfolk pupil referral units and special schools to work with peers from a mainstream school and personnel from the University of East Anglia.

Can education overcome disadvantage?

scameron — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:01:55 +0100

Since the invention of Ofsted in 1992, governments have claimed that poverty has no impact on learning and should not be offered as an ‘excuse' by coasting, failing or otherwise unsatisfactory schools. These governments and their agencies argue that inadequate teaching is responsible for low achievement levels and believe the answer lies in adopting officially recommended effectiveness recipes.

A day in the life of a youth intervention officer

scameron — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:11:04 +0100

Background to my role
Eighteen years, several stone and no grey hairs ago, I joined the Avon and Somerset Constabulary. A young, impressionable and enthusiastic police constable about to set forth into the big, bad world to right wrongs, administer justice and change the planet! It seems like yesterday but time has moved on and things have changed.

Keeping traveller children safe online

scameron — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:09:12 +0000

Today’s digital generation has a wealth of opportunities to exploit through the application of ICT, both within the school environment and at home. However, although technology opens countless doors for children and young people, there are also aspects that prove a significant risk. The potential dangers should not be overlooked and range from students accessing inappropriate internet sites to the threat of cyberbullying, and in its most extreme form, predator grooming.

Supporting looked-after children

scameron — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 14:35:01 +0000

With the introduction of the Children and Young Person’s Act in November 2008, all schools are legally required to have a designated teacher for looked-after pupils and, as a SENCO, you probably also have responsibility for these vulnerable children. This issue, we provide an overview of your responsibilities in this respect.

Supporting children of prisoners within school

scameron — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 12:11:30 +0000

The prison population has increased to record levels and there are now estimated to be over 150,000 children with an imprisoned parent. Given these numbers, almost all school rolls will include prisoners’ children. Currently there is no designated adult within the school community to coordinate their support. Consequently it is likely that this task will fall within the brief of the SENCO.

Mobile families: points to remember

scameron — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:28:42 +0000

A family (some of whose details have been changed to protect anonymity) appeared at my school shortly after a holiday break. The mother had no birth certificates for the children and struggled to spell their names, although she was white English. She spoke with an out-of-area accent; her tone was insistent, as if she was in need of help and well used to demanding it. The two boys who accompanied her were docile. Each smiled, but neither spoke.