Education Scotland has given East Dunbartonshire’s Secondary Wellbeing Service a glowing report following a visit by a team of inspectors earlier this year.
The Secondary Wellbeing Service was developed as part of the Strategic Review of Additional Support Needs and replaced the Social Emotional and Behavioural Needs unit at Woodhead in Kirkintilloch in 2015. The service provides support to young people who require support as they have a variety of additional support needs.
During the visit the inspectors talked to parents/carers and young people and worked closely with the team leader and employees. The inspection team found the following strengths:
- Warm, nurturing relations leading to a climate of care and welfare across the service.
- Confident, articulate young people who are supported to achieve. They are well behaved, polite, enthusiastic to learn and are a credit to the service.
- Staff’s success in re-engaging young people with their education and ensuring they are able and confident to return to mainstream education or move on into further education, training or employment.
- Leadership at all levels led by the dynamic and energetic team leader who has a clear vision for what the service can achieve.
The report also identified the following areas for improvement:
- The service needs to increase the length of the school week and work with partners, notably mainstream schools and local colleges to provide a broader curriculum which ensures young people receive their full entitlements.
- Ensure approaches to self-evaluation are more robust and rigorous and lead to improved outcomes for young people.
Depute Chief Executive, Education, People & Business, Ann Davie, welcomed the outcome of the evaluation, she said, “We are very pleased that the strengths of the service have been recognised, reflecting the commitment and hard work of the Manager and her team. The report also praises the conduct of the young people who are not only a credit to the service but to themselves and their families. Everyone within the service should be very proud of the contribution they have made to such positive report.”
The report showed the following evaluations:
| Evaluation Criteria | |
|---|---|
| Leadership of Change | Good |
| Learning, teaching and assessment | Good |
| Raising attainment and achievement | Good |
| Ensuring wellbeing equality and inclusion | Satisfactory |
Ann Davie, continued, “The Secondary Wellbeing Service is a very valuable resource within East Dunbartonshire’s Education Service. This report highlights its success in addressing disadvantage and raising the attainment of young people by supporting them to return to full time education either in mainstream schools or further education establishments. I look forward to seeing the service grow from strength to strength providing support and opportunity for young people in East Dunbartonshire.”
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