The Unusual Suspects
by Nic Barnard
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Overview
This short piece from ldr magazine reports on ways in which schools in the United Kingdom are linking to community services to improve the range of support that such services can offer to students. Although this already happens in New Zealand, the article articulates some of the benefits for teachers, students, and principals when the integration of such services works well.
The benefits are well established: heads say better diet and more exercise improve children’s ability to work, while lessons on pupil safety and assertiveness raise self-esteem and make schools calmer and more secure.
(Barnard, 2004)
Another advantage of schools being the hub for a wide range of community services is that many parents feel more comfortable approaching schools for help than going to other community agencies.
The article will be useful for school leaders who are seeking to integrate the resources of school and community in their area. Barnard also alerts principals to some of the difficulties they might face in getting the services in place.
Reflective questions
These reflective questions might guide you in your reading of this article:
- How would the coordination of information to or from other agencies and services assist you in responding to the needs of students in your school?
- Consider an individual case in your school where a student is having significant difficulties coping at school. With a team including the counselling and health team in your school, work out a strategy that would bring together various agencies to assist the student. What would be the costs and issues to resolve in managing this situation?
References
Barnard, N. (2004). The unusual suspects. ldr magazine, 20 August. PDF added with permission from NCSL.
Download the PDF below.
The Unusual Suspects (PDF 3 MB)
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