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2011 Suspension Centre Conference Brief history and DEC guidelines

2011 Suspension Centre Conference Brief history and DEC guidelines. Fred Burley Head Teacher Welfare Glenfield Suspension Centre. NSW Department of Education & Training NSW Public Schools – Leading the Way www.det.nsw.edu.au. Suspension Centre’s. Return T o School Centre

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2011 Suspension Centre Conference Brief history and DEC guidelines

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  1. 2011 Suspension Centre Conference Brief history and DEC guidelines Fred Burley Head Teacher Welfare Glenfield Suspension Centre NSW Department of Education & Training NSW Public Schools – Leading the Way www.det.nsw.edu.au

  2. Suspension Centre’s • Return To School Centre • Return To School Program • Supported Return To School Program • Learning Centre • Welfare & Learning Centre • Tutorial Centre

  3. A brief history • “Law and order” need in schools 2005 • Arncliffe program model • Dubbo & Nowra program • 2005 conference in Bridge Street • 2007 roll out of more centres • Devolution of responsibility to Regions in 2008 • 2012??

  4. Constructive reporting

  5. Complimentary reporting

  6. Photo opportunities

  7. Media hype

  8. Media frenzy

  9. Challenges • Public perception • Shared sites • Right staff • Relationships with schools • Some students

  10. Environment • No consequences • Disengaged from school • Track record • Toxic relationships with family • Barriers to re-entry

  11. What's our role?

  12. Original guidelines • 2005 Guidelines for the establishment and operation of Suspension Centres • Purpose The new suspension centres will: • form part of a range of behaviour services for students who are disruptive (school discipline plans, behaviour team support to schools, withdrawal programs) • increase the capacity of schools to deal successfully with disruptive students • assist students to make a successful re-entry to schooling.

  13. Updated Guidelines

  14. Support the procedures

  15. Provide advice

  16. What advice 1. The need to keep a record of disciplinary interviews 2. The need to keep a record of decisions at suspension resolution meetings 3. The need to check the accuracy of correspondence before sending letters to parents/carers 4. The appropriateness of work sent home during a long suspension 5. Parent/carer interviews which can be held via the telephone 6. Where appropriate, the need for a risk management plan for students returning following a long suspension.

  17. Findings NSW Ombudsman Investigation of Implementation of Suspension and Expulsion Procedures (2008)

  18. Operational and administrative practices • Problems with formal disciplinary interviews occurring • Record keeping – Considerable variation in quality

  19. Operational and administrative practices Database and use of template letters – School based system not compatible with state system – Considerable number of errors in using template letters with scant information on some Training in the suspensions policy – Principals receive ongoing training – As deputy principals are largely responsible for implementation of many aspects of the procedures, they should also be included in training.

  20. Operational and administrative practices Support Persons and Observers – Identified as a problem area – Further clarification needed on roles and speed of availability Work sent home – Little reference found in many files to work program – Additional guidance needed on what constitutes appropriate work

  21. Operational and administrative practices Engaging parents or carers – In some cases, schools are managing parent as well as student behaviour – Suspension resolution meetings should be able to be conducted on the telephone – Information on appeal rights and the procedures needs to be provided in a more easily understood form

  22. Operational and administrative practices Suspension Resolution Meetings and Length of suspension – Concern about the number of cases where the resolution meeting is fixed in the letter and occurs on last day of suspension (often on day 20) – Most long suspensions are 20 days, with blocks of 5 and 10 days – in conflict with the Department’s stated aims.

  23. Suspension Police?

  24. Critical friend

  25. Promote best practice

  26. Provide advice

  27. Dark force?

  28. Workforce challenges • Relieving DP’s & Principals • Promoted staff in role without training • Awareness of new policy • Systems resistance

  29. So what do we do then? Support schools, families and students by promoting... • Procedural fairness and natural justice • The right to be heard • Engagement in schooling • Social skills development

  30. Collecting ideas for discussion

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