Archived decisions

Headings

Description of what is wanted

1. Name:

Specialist Teacher Advisory Service

2. Purpose:

To provide advice to schools and parents about children with physical disabilities, visual or hearing impairment so that they can make as much progress as possible.

3. Proposed improvements

· Improve staffing levels and utilisation

· Increase equipment budget

· Measure demands on/activities of Special Advisory Teachers (STAs)

· Develop links with resourced schools/SEN service

· Improve use of ICT

· Evaluate professional development

4. Progress on implementing the improvement plan

· Some staffing improvements have been achieved, notably the reinstatement of the Senior STA for physical disability and back-filling of time spent teaching

· Job descriptions being prepared for Senior Specialist STA posts

· Equipment budget increased using School Access initiative and Standards Fund resources

· Plans in hand to measure activities of STAs and further work on analysis of customer data will depend on appointment of a head of service

· Joint training has taken place with resourced schools and better links established with SEN service

· Nearly all the service has accessed New Opportunities Fund (NOF) training for ICT

5. Plans for future implementation

Further progress will be delayed pending the appointment of the Head of Service

6. Conclusion

Significant progress is being made within existing resources but further funding is needed to improve the consistency and quality of the service provided.