ESA and Special Schools Gavin Boyd Chief Executive Designate Education

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ESA and Special SchoolsGavin BoydChief
Executive (Designate)Education Skills
Authority (ESA)23 April 2009
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Creation of ESA

• On 1 January 2010
• ESA will be established
• 9 Legacy organisations will be dissolved
• Frontline services of NICIE and CnaG will
  transfer to ESA
• Operational services currently in the Department
  of Education will transfer to ESA

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A Shared Vision

• Recognition of diversity, promotion of equality,
  and the achievement of high standards
• Supporting every school to be a good school,
  supporting every learner to achieve his or her
  full potential
• Valuing every governor, principal, and member of
  staff for what they do, and empowering and
  supporting them to do it
• Encouraging leadership and innovation,
  celebrating success, challenging underperformance

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Why Change?

• Better educational and personal development
  outcomes
• Equality of access to educational services
• Re-purposing of resources
• Clearer accountability

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Designing ESA The Process
Vision, aims and objectives for service area
Service delivery model
People, skills, resources
Organisational structure and location
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The Truth is Out There

• .. if were listening. School leaders are
  helping shape ESA services -
• Formal feedback via focus groups
• Ongoing meetings with Principals groups in all
  sectors
• Regular meetings with teacher representatives
• Professionals advising on key working groups

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Childrens and Young Peoples Services Working
Group

• Set up by Minister in January this year
• Chaired by Uel McCrea
• Membership - cross section of current providers
  of education services and practitioners 
• Remit - to assist in shaping and structuring
  these services under ESA
• Final meeting next week due to report back
  thereafter
• Issues arising so far

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Your Issues

• Funding of special schools
• Bureaucratic burden on Principals
• More joined up working with Health
• Access to Education Psychologists
• Access to Speech Therapists
• Consistency of services across the region

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How ESA will Support You

• Support leadership development at all levels
• Disseminate best practice
• Provide benchmarking information
• Provide access to appropriate training and
  professional qualifications
• Critical friend for school leaders i.e. give
  clear direction, listen and respond
• Celebrate and reward success identify and
  address underachievement
• Provide easy, local access to support services

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Managing the Transition to ESA

• Transition Board working with existing
  organisations
• Service continuity no change to service until
  something is there to replace it
• When changes to service planned communicated
  well in advance
• Your ongoing input to the shape and quality of
  future services vital

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Questions/Comments

• gavin.boyd_at_deni.gov.uk
• www.esani.org.uk