🧵 Thread

•

Anon Post: As a relatively new headteacher, I'm reaching out for advice on transforming our school's culture regarding how children and parents are perceived by our staff. Unfortunately, we've been facing some concerning comments lately:

Beliefs that children with autism only need discipline. Suggestions that children with special needs should be separated from mainstream classrooms. Blaming parents for their children's behavior and expecting them to make their kids conform.

We've invested in training, conducted one-on-one meetings, and even developed plans and scripts to support our staff. However, they refuse to acknowledge the research and insist that the children are simply "naughty" and should be moved elsewhere.

What's worse is that parents are now reporting that our staff members have told them the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) only wants the "naughty" and "difficult" children and doesn't care about the "normal" ones.

Some parents have even been told that their child is negatively impacting staff well-being and should consider other options.

The challenge lies in the "he said, she said" nature of these complaints, as staff members deny any wrongdoing when confronted. I understand that changing the culture takes time, and a couple of terms might not be sufficient to embed lasting change, but it's incredibly draining!

Any insights, experiences, or suggestions to foster a positive, inclusive culture would be greatly appreciated! Let's continue working together to create a nurturing environment for all our students.