GFTU BGCM 2019 Minutes

He said: Good morning, conference, President. Chris Wilson, President of

Voice, the union for education professionals moving Motion 15, mental health

in education. Conference, education is about liberation, freeing individuals

from bonds of poverty and of prejudice, allowing each and all to be nurtured, to

develop, becoming fulfilled and competent adults. Every day educators in all

parts of the profession strive to make that goal a reality. Every day members of

my union (Voice) from early years to adult education are doing all that they can

to encourage learning and growth and, President, as I know the GFTU

recognises, education is key to all social progress, but here is the truth. Our

ability, indeed the ability of all education professionals to do their job, in

whatever sector, has been made infinitely more difficult by austerity and far too

often when budgets are squeezed, it is targeted support which goes first.

Conference, for the individual to flourish individual needs must be met. One

size does not fit all and this is no more the case than for those with SEND

(special educational needs or disability). When cuts come they, the most

vulnerable, are often the first to feel the blade and there have been cuts.

According to the Institute of Fiscal Studies, school funding has been cut in real

terms by 8% since 2010. Some have fared even worse. Sixth form colleges

have seen funding cuts in real terms of 21% in the same period, another

shocking figure, and the Guardian has stated clearly the consequences.

Children with special education needs are hardest hit when those cuts happen

as schools facing deficits struggle to fund additional discrete support. Some

schools are closing, including 15 closing early, including 15 Birmingham

primaries. Others are simply now closing. Conference, behind the public

drama private lives are damaged. One special education needs co-ordinator in

the south west with 200 SEND pupils reported that half of her teaching

assistants had been made redundant, half, and none of the 20 teachers who

had left the school would be replaced. Staff are suffering.

According to the Education Support Partnership, 19% of education staff have

now suffered from panic attacks, 56% insomnia, 41% recorded having difficulty

concentrating and half simply wanted out. Children are suffering. The Mental

Health Foundation says 26% of children were worried about parents not having

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