[senit] Who is providing you with support in the field of ICT and Inclusion?

Our LA are pretty good at providing the necessary support (Essex), even 
to the extent of hosting 'mini BETT' and a special needs conference. 
Our ICT advisors are great. However, perhaps its because my school have 
invested in the services of an ICT Techie (namely me!), plus were CAP 
advisors and have maintained a strong communications team even with the 
demise of CAP that we were never really reliant on BECTA. 

Mandy

----Original Message----
From: lesley.rahamin at btinternet.com
Date: 15/01/2007 09:46
To: <senit at lists.becta.org.uk>
Subj: [senit] Who is providing you with support in the field of ICT 
and	Inclusion?

Hello everyone

As many of you will know, Becta organised a meeting last Friday to 
report on the effects of the changes made to their Inclusion Support 
Team. 

I was one of the people invited and one particular thing at the 
meeting disturbed me greatly - the disappearance of support for those 
working in the field of ICT and SEN.  The penny has finally dropped for 
me.  However much we protest about what is happening inside Becta, it 
will not make much difference to the basic situation.  The role of 
Becta has changed since the DfES has decreed that Becta's role is 
strategic. If I understand the situation correctly, that means Becta 
will look at what is going on in the ICT and report 'upwards' to the 
DfES, advising them on what to do.  They are no longer charged with the 
responsibility of delivering training and support 'downwards' to people 
working in the field.  So whatever the effects of the dispersed 
Inclusion team, they are no longer able to deliver the support that 
they did in the past e.g. conferences, publications, meetings.  But 
what has the government put in its place?   

My question to you all is this - who is providing you with support in 
the field of ICT and Inclusion?

It is important for us to get as wide a picture as possible of the 
current situation so I would appreciate as many responses as we can 
get.  I know that some of you might be nervous about replying to the 
list if you have never done so but this would be a good time to start 
because it is your own personal situation as a professional working in 
the field of ICT and Inclusion that matters.  If you would prefer to 
answer me off the list my email address is lesley.rahamin at btinternet.
com.  

Lesley Rahamin
Education Consultant
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Mandy Griffin
Senior ICT Technician
Southview School
T: 01376 503505
F: 01376 503460

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