Trustees Report

scottish learning association

TRUSTEES REPORT

Click to download a copy Trustee Report

Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the financial period SSLA 2007-2008 (Taken from OSCR Trustees Report for the same period).

Conferences

During the past financial period SSLA have hosted two national conferences; SSLA Autumn Conference in Stirlingshire and SSLA Spring Conference in Dumfries and Galloway where guest speakers presented on a variety of current educational issues relating to Additional Support Needs (ASN) including the following topics, Multidisciplinary Inspections in Children’s Services; a local authority Director of Education’s viewpoint on ASN, Improving Reading in children with ASN, Supporting Language Development of Bilingual Pupils and Ensuring Inclusion in schools across Scotland. Evaluations collected at both conferences, represented very positive feedback.

Publications

SSLA have produced two newsletters and recently published SSLA’s Educational Journal 2008. In addition, SSLA produced a Good Practice handbook celebrating last years Good Practice Award entries.

Good Practice Awards

SSLA’s ‘Good Practice Awards’ held every two years presents an opportunity for SSLA to give public recognition to a varied selection of best practice in educational provision for children with ASN across Scotland. The event culminates in an award ceremony hosted by SSLA (September 2007) where finalists have the opportunity to present their project to a panel of judges. This event is a wonderful occasion showcasing the endeavours and achievements of our young people and is a testimony to the dedication and collaborative efforts shown by teachers and indeed all staff and agencies involved in supporting pupils with ASN. All finalists receive a money prize for the benefit of their school and all pupils involved in the presentation take away a medal. All Good Practice entries are collated and form SSLA’s Good Practice handbook, published in the succeeding year and which aims to raise awareness of and share this good practice Scotland wide.

New initiatives

SSLA introduced an award for the best final thesis relating to educating children with ASN for all graduating teachers across Scotland. The award was valued at £500. The winner of this new award was a student from University of Strathclyde whose thesis was entitled ‘Encouraging Social Play with Children who are Autistic’. All entries are to be published in SSLA’s Education Journal 2009 in addition to other relevant material collated throughout the year.

Networking/ Staff Training

SSLA trustees attend as guests, the Irish Support for Learning Association (ILSA) and Irish Association for Teachers of Special Education (IATSE) conferences held in Dublin earlier this year. This invitation is reciprocal arrangement and colleagues from ILSA and IATSE attend SSLA conferences as guests. This relationship has twin benefits; giving SSLA the opportunity to network and share Scottish good practice initiatives in the field of ASN with our Irish colleagues and gives an opportunity for SSLA to disseminate Irish initiatives with SSLA members by including a report from conferences in SSLA’s annual journal.

SSLA representatives took part in a road show in June 2008 which focused on consultation regarding changes to ASN legislation.

SSLA strive to make links with other relevant organisations within Scotland and are reciprocal members of Dyslexia Scotland and Scottish Network for Able Pupils (SNAP). SSLA trustees regularly attend relevant staff training events hosted by other organisations including Children in Scotland and send a representative to Dyslexia Scotland AGM’s.