[senco-forum] Specialist teacher

Cheers Sheridan
Stuart

-----Original Message-----
From: Sheridan [mailto:sheridan.sharp1 at btinternet.com] 
Sent: 04 October 2007 22:16
To: 'Sharon Fawcitt'; Stuart Lucas; senco-forum at lists.becta.org.uk
Subject: RE: [senco-forum] Specialist teacher - roles/responsibilities

I have a post graduate diploma in SEN (SpLD) which sounds very similar
to
Barbara's but done in a different Welsh Uni. I had to apply for it
because
my Uni received their accreditation after I qualified.  I didn't have to
do
anything extra to get the AMBDA status other than prove to the BDA that
the
institution where I got my diploma had been accredited with the BDA. 

I applied for it because it seemed to be what I needed to be able to
assess
for exam dispensation. The benefits I got are the same as Barbara in
that it
looks good on reports and when assessing for exams. It didn't do
anything to
change the way I teach. 

There are many other specialist dyslexia qualifications from other Uni's
/
institutions that do not have AMBDA accreditation but are just as good
as
the one I did. Does that mean they should not be considered to be
specialists in dyslexia? 

As with everything, there isn't always a black and white solution to
things.
I'm sure there are many people with long strings of qualifications who
have
better academic than teaching skills. Equally there are many people with
excellent teaching skills who don't have dyslexia AMBDA qualification.

The issue of employing TAs as replacements for specialist is also
controversial- I have to say I'm torn about this. Having gone through
all
the training I feel replacing specialist teachers with TA.s would
devalue my
position and qualifications. However, I work with a colleague who is a
TA.
She doesn't have any dyslexia qualifications. She has been on numerous
courses and learned on the job with the specialists dyslexia teachers.
She
has a wealth of knowledge and experience (nearly 20+ years) supporting /
tutoring children with dyslexia. She is excellent at her job. She would
out
perform many people with AMBDA/dyslexia qualifications. What should be
done
with her skills and experience? Should they be disguarded or devalued
"just
because she's a TA?" 

Regarding time allowed for assessing etc. I'm slightly different to many
in
the forum because I'm part of one of the few LEA SpLD Services left in
the
country. I'm officially peripatetic, but have been visiting one of my
schools for over 10 years and spend most of my time there.  Any
assessments
for exams etc is done during lesson times when I see the pupils or
during my
PPA time. 
Cheers

Sheridan

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