WHSS Prospectus May 2024 - Flipbook - Page 31
Diploma
All Residential Social Care Staff have attained or are working towards a Diploma for Caring for Children and
Young People and the Social Learning Leaders have attained, or are working towards Levels 4 and 5. The
Diploma model has been adopted by the Learning Support Assistants, all of whom have qualified or are
working towards Level 3 of the standards.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
In addition to training staff in the skills and knowledge needed to carry out their roles we encourage staff to
develop their own chosen routes of study. It is of enormous benefit to our development as a school that we
have staff who want to explore the wider field of our specialised work.
Colleagues are supported to become qualified teachers and the school has also given support to a number of
staff to study for First and Masters Degrees. The knowledge brought back to the school from such studies has a
direct impact on the strategic development of practices and keeps us in line with modern thought and
legislation.
National involvement
Similarly, we encourage selected staff to be involved with relevant national organisations to learn and
share thoughts and practices.
Sue Ackroyd sits on the committee for ENGAGE (formerly the National Association of BESD Schools NAES)
and has involvement in the development of FLSE (Federation of Leaders in Special Education).
Brendan Loughnane sits on the national council for SEBDA (Social, Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties
Association).
We have active involvement with NASS (National Association of Special Schools); NASEN (National
Association of Special Educational Needs); BILD (British Institution for Learning Difficulties); SCA (Social
Care Association); NCTL (National College for Teaching and Leadership); SSAT (the Schools, Students and
Teachers Network).
