‘Genuine pupil and parent inclusion’ is one of TCES Group’s proudest community values. For this reason, parents and autistic pupils have been surveyed to gain feedback on the organisation’s new Distance Learning offer, in order to gain valuable insights on how the offer is working and any changes that could be made to better suit pupil and parent needs.
Positive feedback
The initial feedback has been very positive and pleasing to staff, who have worked extremely hard to adapt the Group’s therapeutic education offers into a suitable online-only package. Some of the highlights are as follows:
- 89% of parents were ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with the Distance Learning packages
- 81% of parents thought their child was fully engaged with their personalised programme
- 86% of parents were happy with the level of work and support they are receiving from their child’s teacher
- 92% of pupils found the work they are being provided with interesting and engaging.
The last few weeks have been an incredibly steep learning curve for most industries and sectors, but a story quite often highlighted in the news is how the education sector has had to adapt to the new digital-only climate.
All TCES Group schools and services remain open to support their vulnerable autistic pupils and the children of key workers – and each child or young person has been assessed by the Group’s staff, in consultation with their parents and social workers, to agree on whether they’d be safer in school or at home.
Distance Learning portal
For those who are learning from home, TCES Group staff at every level have had to adapt the entire curriculum in order to maintain the same level of education and support as autistic pupils would normally receive in school. New resources have been created, such as the Group’s new new Distance Learning portal – a central hub where pupils can download work and wellbeing tasks remotely, with guidance from their teachers.
Distance Learning package
The School Support Team has developed a Distance Learning package as a lasting TCES Group education offer, of which more details are available here on the Group’s website.
School Improvement Partner Kevin Parker said: “The vast majority of pupils and their parents/carers are pleased with the content and the support from tutors. Pupils are predominantly engaged in the work. We have learnt from all the feedback and the next phase of distance learning, taking us up to May half-term will be even better, with fun activities, projects, competitions and prizes.”
Deputy School Development Partner Susannah Lewis said: “We must take this opportunity to thank all the tutors who have made the transition so successful, but really the pupils and their parents and carers who have been extraordinarily resilient and resourceful to keep education in their daily routine under these circumstances. We congratulate all of you. Thank you!”
About the TCES Group
Situated in London and Essex, TCES Group schools specialise in providing day-school education for pupils aged 7-19 whose Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs or Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) have made attending mainstream schools difficult. Pupils often have previously undiagnosed learning needs, and Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) often underpin their other barriers to learning.
TCES Group also operates a specialist service, parallel to each of its schools – the Create Service. This is a relationship-based, multi-disciplinary provision for pupils with multiple and complex needs who have been unable to operate safely and successfully in a small class setting.
Contact us: referrals@tces.org.uk or 020 8543 7878