Judith
I think the problem will not lie with the institution providing the
training, but with the schools. They can simply say that they will not
take any students, if they think the individual is going to cause them
a lot of trouble. The relationship between teacher-training
institutions and schools is not one where the institution can simply
tell the schools what to do; instead, they are heavily dependent on the
goodwill of those providing placements. Students themselves are
unlikely to have a particularly rewarding experience if their mentor
regards them as an unwanted burden.
Again, I recall the DRC explaining 18 months or so ago that the
institution would have discharged its responsibility if it wrote to the
placement provider explaining what needed to be done; actual
responsibility for seeing that it was in place would (it was thought)
lie with the provider. Even if this were not so, it hardly seems
desirable to make a university the policeman of the DDA, nor is that
likely to encourage good working relationships with local schools.
Once more, I urge establishing a working consensus about what needs to
be done in individual cases between university, placement schools and
students rather than each repeating differing interpretations of legal
obligation. The purpose of the legislation is to enable students to
complete their courses, not to emerge victorious from court after a
protracted argument.
Regards, Bernard
On Tue, 29 Apr 2003 08:34:00 +0100 Judith Mole
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> The DfES says the following about placements:
>
> In the spirit of SENDA legislation, work placements are defined by the DfES
> as: "a planned period of work-based learning or experience, where the
> learning outcomes are part of a course or programme of study. This is
> usually provided outside the institution at which the student is enrolled.
> Work placements may be part of a sandwich course, a short placement, a work
> taster, temporary work or a period of supported employment as part of
> vocational training. Placements may also take place abroad. Students may
> arrange their own placement, or they may be set up by the institution or a
> third party. In all cases the duties on the institution are the same."
>
> The institution has the obligation to ensure no barriers during the
> placement, the employer has a legal obligation under DDA Part III if it is
> a paid placement.
>
> "The institution has a legal responsibility towards the student to ensure
> that discrimination does not take place and reasonable adjustments are made
> during the work placement. It may be helpful to have a written agreement
> with the
> placement provider, which outlines the responsibilities of the placement
> provider, the institution and students. Such an agreement might cover:
>
> § physical access to the workplace
> § responsibility for assessing the individual needs of disabled learners
> § who will pay (the institution or the placement provider) for any
> adjustments that need to be made for disabled learners
> § responsibilities for health and safety in the workplace
> § procedures for risk assessment of activities associated with the
> work placement
> § procedures for responding to any difficulties, including complaints
> and health emergencies
> § procedures for providing feedback to the institution and the
> disabled student on the student’s progress."
>
> (Providing Work Placements for Disabled Students, DfES.
> [http://www.lifelonglearning.co.uk/placements/placeme1.pdf])
>
> It's worth getting a copy of this document which outlines the duties on
> both the University and placement provider and should give you some
> indication about the proposed admissions procedure. However, I don't think
> you could claim a material and substantial reason for not admitting the
> student as they can do their placement elsewhere in the country and the
> reasonable adjustment will be for your placement supervisers to travel or
> to have a well developed communication system with your student.
>
> HtH,
>
> Judith
>
> At 00:06 29/04/2003 +0100, Automatic digest processor said:
> >Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2003 11:03:49 +0100
> >From: Kirsty Mackenzie <[log in to unmask]>
> >Subject: Wheelchair-users and teaching practice
> >
> >How (legally) might a university stand in turning down an application (for
> >2003) from a wheelchair-using QTS applicant, on the basis that they cannot
> >guarantee accessible schools for the teaching practice? Just wondering how
> >the SENDA obligation to ensure disabled students are not discriminated
> >against on placement, and the 2005 deadline for the accessibility of the
> >built environment would interrelate in this case...
>
>
> Judith Mole
> Direct Learn Services Ltd.
> Deafness/disability consultancy, online services to education, project
> management and evaluation.
> http://www.directlearn.co.uk/ - last updated 31.1.03
> Tel. +44 (0)1629 540386; Mobile/Text: 07808 921402
>
----------------------
Bernard Doherty
Student Adviser
ACCESS Centre
Anglia Polytechnic University
Tel: 01223 363271 x2534
Fax: 01223 417730
Minicom: 01223 576155
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