Mar 8, 2020, Island Echo: SCHOOLS STRUGGLE TO CATER FOR SPECIAL NEEDS SAYS ISLE OF WIGHT HEADTEACHER https://www.islandecho.co.uk/schools-struggle-to-cater-for-special-needs-says-isle-of-wight-headteacher/
A headteacher has spoken of the struggle of catering for the special education needs and disabilities (SEND) of children in mainstream schools. Executive headteacher of Oakfield CE Primary School, Colin Haley, spoke following the school’s latest Ofsted inspection. He said SEND provision across the Island, not just Oakfield, is a ‘challenge’ after inspectors found the school’s curriculum was ‘not consistently well-planned’ for SEND pupils and the ‘pupils did not do as well as they could’. Inspectors also said ‘leaders had not ensured staff have the expertise they need’ and recommended staff be given suitable training. Mr Haley said: “Our mainstream Island schools are having to cope with pupils who, in many instances, would benefit from specialist provision or additional support within their education setting. “The inspectors witnessed us working with a number of high needs pupils and they saw that the mainstream setting, and the associated training levels of staff, does not provide as well as a specialist setting would for these individuals. “Oakfield is a very caring, nurturing school rising to that challenge and doing amazingly well with a number of children with very complex needs. “We are not the only school having to cope with that scenario on the Island and under the circumstances Oakfield is very much a success story….
