WWYD?

[Paradoes]

A year and a half ago I started a new job. I am a teacher and taught in an SEN specialist school. It got very tough. Atmosphere was toxic amongst staff.

I have now moved to a mainstream school with an SEN Dept. Four of us in a team and new class opened students with more challenging needs. The head of dept is not friendly and spends most of the day doing anything but work (not my business) but I get along as I have to. The other two SEN teachers don’t work in the class (one has medical reasons the other it quite flappy though nice - I don’t know why she’s not working in it)

There is little provision for the students in mainstream but they are expected to go to all mainstream lessons (the mainstream teachers do not adapt in any way and look exacerbated). It’s quite a negative space. The students have lots of needs and I do my best when we are in the base class. One of the TAs is very negative (lovely lady but it’s understandable- she’s finding it tough)

next year we have two students starting who are non verbal and one a severe flight risk. I asked management what provision would there be - they said they will have to see in September once they meet the students. The mainstream teachers refuse to differentiate.

would I be crazy to leave? I have two decade experience and Masters in SEN. I live rurally but could get a job. But I’m fifty in three years. My own kids are able to walk home from school in the next few months ? I’m very unhappy

job is very near home - I love the headteacher but the whole thing is a mess ? WWYD???

I don't understand why the teachers refuse to differentiate. Standard 5 of our Teacher Standards is adapting teaching to respond to all needs- surely your school policies should reflect this, as it's the Head's role to promote high quality teaching amongst staff? Also, this will be picked up by OFSTED during inspection and can lead to a fail.
I know you love the headteacher, but it sounds like they need to make a change to whole school policy and culture; affirm to staff that everyone is a teacher of SEND (again this is in the teacher standards), that everyone has a responsibility to provide high quality education and that all children have needs to which we adapt teaching. This needs to then be strengthened with internal training and possibly a visit from the Education Support team at the LEA (who can provide more information for all teaching/non-teaching staff about how to embed the training.) Is it worth speaking with the head about your concerns? Also, what is your recent OFSTED report like?

I have spoken to the head and the deputy about my concerns. I think there is so much going on in the school that they are swamped and then I am burdening them. No one really knows how to handle the students and they don’t want to either. After Christmas I’m going to teach them for some core subjects myself and take them out of mainstream (they cannot write a sentence yet have been given textbooks for each subjects). Nothing is written in the textbooks and myself and TA write in the exercise books (not in UK but inspection is due and I do think we will fail)

from my end of things I have myself covered for an inspection I think and a bit of me would like (not to see the school fail) but things to be flagged. I would like to work in a more collaborative school than just be left to my own devices and it’s all quite negative- we are a burden.

The mainstream teachers need to differentiate.
I produced an entire individual curriculum for a child one year, linked pre key stage objectives but completely based on his interests.
It was a killer but it’s part of the job.

They do but they won’t. I have gently suggested things like planning together (I’m not subject specialist) and they say ‘oh I know I don’t differentiate but I can’t be everything to everyone’

in practical subject they say ‘oh she’s doing fantastic (about Sen student) when it’s the TA doing the task as the child cannot

Would I be wrong to go part time (there is a teacher shortage). But I feel I could regain control as I wouldn’t be there everyday and when things change and improve I co I’lld go back full time. I do like the school and the head. But I feel at the moment everyone is ignoring the fact there is a special needs class and I feel I’m involved in a ‘cover up’ of sorts.