Borough Life Winter 2006: Making the Change
Reasons to be cheerful
1. HOPE School at Marus Bridge has been granted Specialist Special School status by the Department for Education and Skills. The accolade acknowledges “outstanding practice” at the school for children with severe, profound and complex needs.
A recent Ofsted inspection of the school concluded: “Throughout the school, pupils’ achievement is outstanding…
Pupils’ personal development is exceptionally good… behaviour is outstanding… teaching and learning are outstandingly good!”2. Landgate School in Bryn has just received accreditation from the National Autistic Society.
The school caters for up to 24 pupils aged between four and 16 years with autistic spectrum disorders. In order to achieve the accreditation the school had to prove it had a specialised knowledge and understanding of autism.IN 2002 education chiefs in Wigan embarked on a course of action that was never going to be an easy one. When it came to education for children with special educational needs the borough was beginning to fall behind the rest of the country.
Wigan had more ‘special’ schools than the national average and as a result had been classed as one of the 20 most segregated areas in the country. Doing nothing wasn’t an option.
But the alternative – closing some of the borough’s ageing special schools and redirecting the resources into new facilities – was to prove to be one of the most emotive issues the council has ever faced.
With the new arrangements now in place, Borough Life went to one mainstream school to look at inclusion in action and talk to the people who are making the change.
THE Breakfast Club at Hindley Junior & Infants School is a noisy, energetic affair. A bright room full of life and laughter at a time of day when most adults are stuck, sullen-faced, in rush hour’s grid-locked grip.
The toys are out, the telly’s on and right at the heart of the action are a pair of relative newcomers to the Argyle Street school – Ryan Latchford, aged eight and Kurt Watson, nine.
Both boys have cerebral palsy and previously went to the same Wigan special school. They have a range of special needs, all of which are catered for admirably by the state-of-the art new school.
Hindley J&I has existed as a school for nearly 100 years but last year was completely re-built to become one of the borough’s flagships for inclusion.
In her four years at the helm headteacher Chrissie Lawrence has seen a complete transformation. Today the school boasts a hydro-therapy room, medical and various therapy rooms, along with extra-wide corridors tailor-made for wheelchairs.
“When it was decided that we were to become fully inclusive, it was a challenge for the school,” says Chrissie. “But it was one we accepted readily. Apart from the re-build we have taken part in really extensive training to be able to give our pupils who have specials needs the level of support they require.”
Chrissie adds: “Ryan and Kurt have thrown themselves into every aspect of school life and there’s nothing they don’t take part in. Children are children and both boys have been completely accepted and have quickly made a lot of friends, and as far as inclusion in action goes, this is it.”
So far, Ryan and Kurt have taken part in a host of multi-cultural events at the school, of which line dancing and African dancing are just two.
Kurt’s a big fan of football and both boys love playtime. As Ryan sits in the breakfast club with pals Abby, Kirsty and Lisa, it’s clear he’s enjoying every minute at his new school.
A fact borne out by his mum Anthea, who says: “Inclusion has been a good thing for Ryan. I’m already seeing a change in his behaviour both at school and at home. He’s maturing into the little boy I’ve always hoped I’d see one day.”
Kurt on the other hand is a big fan of history and can’t wait to learn to drive. His mum Gail is equally positive about the transition
“I’m really pleased with his progress,” she says. “I feel that the experiences he is having will prepare him for when he’s much older. It also helps the other children to get used to people like Kurt.”
Headteacher Chrissie Lawrence says: “Here we are able to offer the children continuity because we have them right up until they move to secondary school. And the beauty is that Hindley Community High School nearby is also fully inclusive and this is all happening at the centre of the borough. We always knew we could do this and now, thanks to the whole school, we are proving it. We’re looking forward to welcoming many more pupils like Kurt and Ryan in the years to come.”
Ged Rowney, Wigan Council’s Director of Children and Young People’s Services, said the decision to re-organise education for children with special needs wasn’t something entered into lightly – but it was something that had to be done.
He adds: “At its heart lay the same desire that underpins everything we do, namely to provide our children with the education they deserve.
“The re-organisation meant we were able to invest £4.5m in the new special schools and it’s clear that pupils such as Ryan and Kurt and their parents are now beginning to reap the rewards. We are fortunate to have professionals like everyone at Hindley J& I, who are committed to providing the very best standards in education whatever a pupil’s needs may be.”