If training is the answer, why don't we do it for children with CP? Tell ...

From his Speech to Reform ?Value for Money? event, 27th-Sep-2012
David Weston, Chief Executive, Teacher Development Trust

"In 2007, a team of researchers in New Zealand reported on a school intervention that led to pupils making two and a half years of progress in their writing skills compared to the single year of progress made by their peers in the control group, while the least able 20% ? those disadvantaged pupils who had struggled most in school ? made even more staggering progress, equivalent to six years of schooling when compared to peers outside the study. This intervention was inexpensive, welcomed by teachers and their unions, reduced inequality, and easily replicable in any school in the world."

"This same intervention has been reliably proven to result in greater achievement gains in schools than introducing performance pay for teachers, reducing class sizes, introducing ability setting, hiring more teaching assistants, facilitating parental choice .... and setting regular homework."

The magic intervention? Training.

OK David Weston is CEO of the Teacher Development Trust, so he would say that wouldn't he? But what if, what if, he is correct?? What if 'training' - initial training, continuous professional development - is the key?

What should we in conductive education be saying to David Weston and to the Teacher Development Trust about the training of teachers of children with cerebral palsy in the UK?? That their training should include learning something about cerebral palsy? Should include training in disability-specific pedagogies?? What more?

We would have to tell him that in the UK such training is not currently possible. We would have to tell him that in the UK, as things stand, it is possible to step for the first time into a classroom where there are children with cerebral palsy, possibly with statements of special educational needs, and not have the slightest clue about what to do next or first or why.

However, let's be more positive. What shall we tell David Weston that initial training and continuous professional development should be like for those who would teach children with cerebral palsy, especially those with statements?

What would you include? What would you tell him? What would you say to him about the training of conductors?

Tell me - and I'll write to him and the TDA.

Source: http://paces.typepad.com/paces/2012/09/from-his-speech-to-reform-value-for-money-event-27th-sep-2012-david-weston-chief-executive-teacher-development-tru.html

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