To think the issue of poor white boys failing at school is overlooked?

[hibbledibble]

They have the worst outcome of any group.

I highly recommend watching H is for Harry, documentary film which is available currently on Netflix, and highlights this issue.

It's about a boy with SEN, including illiteracy, and his experience in a mainstream school over two years.

It brought tears to my eyes. It was great to see how much progress he made in small group teaching, but sad that his difficulties in class meant him eventually being excluded from the school, and there was not much information given as to what happened to him following this.

It's heartbreaking that this boy could have done really well with ongoing intense intervention, but that the barrier to this is funding. It seemed at the end that the school gave up on him, as he just spent time in the nursery.

I would be curious to hear others views.

It did.

SEN is not well catered for at primary due to funding cuts.

SENCO used to get training time, and be dedicated members of staff rather than full time teachers with other responsibilities. LeA provision has been slashed.

Specifically, it’s more that they are lumped in a class with 30 others and one teacher, and that any specific interventions are run by underpaid TAs now. Teachers are supposed to look over them, but don’t. Nor are they philanthropic angels who care at all about individuals falling behind in a winner-takes-all culture, as long as those individuals aren’t causing hassle for them. It has always been the case that schools cater to the ideal, well-supported academic middle class kids, and I can’t see a way round that easily without a lot more flexibility in a draconian system built on steady smooth progress, judged only by year-age from toddler onwards: eg serious class size changes, more focus on relevant vocational education in secondary. And a lifelong alternative learning culture outside schools, with fewer barriers attached.