Teaching on Purpose DfE White paper Special with Sarah Armitage

The podcast series explores pertinent educational issues, with a focus on early years education. The first episode features Sarah Armitage, a head teacher with a passion for early years education. Sarah shares her journey from studying early childhood studies to becoming a head teacher, emphasizing the importance of early years principles and inclusive practice. The conversation explores the tension between early identification of developmental needs in children and the labeling of children with special educational needs (SEND). It delves into the importance of high expectations and inclusion, as well as the preservation of agency and resilience in education. The discussion also highlights the need to extend the characteristics of effective learning beyond early years.

Takeaways

• Early years education is a critical foundation for children's development.
• Inclusive practice in early years education is essential and should be integrated into the classroom culture. Early identification of developmental needs is essential, but labeling children with SEND should be approached with caution.
• True inclusion demands high expectations and a commitment to preserving agency and resilience in all children.
• Extending the characteristics of effective learning beyond early years is crucial for fostering autonomy and flexibility in learning.

Chapters

• 00:00 Balancing Early Identification of SEND
• 47:03 Extending Characteristics of Effective Learning