Binoh, Norwood’s specialist education and therapy service, held an event on 25 April 2007 at the Somers Children & Family Centre with The Learning Trust in Hackney to celebrate their partnership. Over many years, Binoh has supported statemented children with special educational needs within Independent Orthodox Jewish Schools and Chadorim and more recently has worked to provide training opportunities for the schools to develop their infrastructure and enhance the support they provide to their pupils. This work has received continuing support from The Learning Trust, which is responsible for education in Hackney.
Representatives from Norwood and The Learning Trust attended the celebration, as well as representatives from the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations, including Rabbi Frand, (President), Rabbi A. Pinter, who is also the Principal of Yesodei Hatorah School and Rabbi Y. Pinter. For many years they have acted as independent advocates for Jewish children with additional needs in the community. Their links with the orthodox community in Hackney have proved crucial to the continuing success of the partnership. Many head teachers and SENCOs also attended the event in appreciation of the support they have received.
A major feature of this partnership was the formation of the Roving Special Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) Project. One of the fundamental tasks of the project was to ensure that all school staff recognised the importance of encouraging the full participation and learning of all their pupils, regardless of ability. A key success of this project was the specialist training given to SENCOs and school staff, enabling them to effectively support those pupils who needed it most. At the end of December 2006, Norwood and The Learning Trust announced a new partnership programme, the Partnership for Inclusion in the Community (PIC). This programme is continuing and developing the work of the Roving SENCO Project, whilst extending the support to children from birth up to the age of five, both at home and in their pre-school setting, with the emphasis on early intervention.
Speaking at the event, Gerald Lebrett, Head of Binoh, said: “The Roving SENCO project was started to address the need of schools in the community. Each year we were able to build up the number of schools, and now 16 schools and nurseries have benefited from intense support. We hope this will continue to grow within the new PIC programme.”
Ashvin Bhabuta, an Adviser at The Learning Trust, was full of praise for the partnership. He said: “This partnership has evolved over time and has had a direct impact on 465 children and 460 teachers. The schools appointed SENCOs who have now received additional training to help develop their skills. This has led to raised pupil expectation and attainment and teachers who are far more knowledgeable about learning disabilities.”
Rabbi A Pinter thanked Norwood for all the work it has put into the partnership. He said: ”Through the work of Binoh, Norwood has put special needs on the map”. He also thanked The Learning Trust, and in particular Penny Dixie, Assistant Director, Support for Children and Young People, for supporting the educational needs of the orthodox community. However, he stressed that there was a lot more work to be done.
Parents who would like a free, confidential discussion with a professional who will give them advice regarding their child’s educational needs, can call Binoh’s 24-hour Parent Advisory Telephone Helpline (PATH), on
020 8457 4490.
