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What’s in it for us?
Access to appropriate provision for exceptionally able pupils.
Access to CPD visits for teachers in partner schools.
Access to 30 weeks’ planning a year for able pupils.
Membership of a national network of partnerships.
Access to the NACE/DWS website.
What age group?
DWS is for children in Y3-6 inclusive. In LAs with a middle school system, this can be altered by agreement with DWS.
What if a child is identified in Y3?
DWS is seen as an entitlement for exceptionally able pupils. If they are identified as such in Y3, unless circumstances change, their needs will continue to need to be met, so they will continue to attend DWS until transfer to secondary education.
What happens at KS3?
We are currently working with a secondary school to pilot provision at KS3.
There may be no spare places if younger children fill them and continue to do so.
This is true. We cannot move children out of provision unless there is good reason to do so which is personal to the child. There is no reason why a partnership of schools cannot increase provision by setting up an additional class.
How are the children selected?
Children are selected through DWS selection procedures.
Schools are provided with a layered mathematically based problem solving task for Y3-Y6 children. The tasks have been written especially for the identification of exceptionally able thinkers and trailed with groups of children. From those who successfully work on the task, the partnership of schools nominates 50 children to attend ½ day workshops run by DWS. Children are asked to come along in home clothing with only a name badge, so that we are not influenced in any way in our choice of 20 children to attend DWS. The problem solving task and workshops are presented to the children as part of the normal school provision and children are not aware that the activities are also a method of selection. In that way, no one is disappointed; everyone gains.
DWS then works with the schools to finalise the allocation of places and then informs parents, who are invited to a meeting to hear about the class.
How many from each school?
Children are selected on the basis of those best fit the criteria. Therefore, there is no per school allocation.
Why maths & science?
These are the subjects in which children are most likely to show early giftedness. They are also the subjects which teachers find the most difficult to support exceptional ability due to spread of ability and their own subject knowledge.
Who pays for DWS?
DWS is managed by a partnership of schools, who arrange payment amongst themselves.
Can schools contribute in proportion to size, budget etc.?
Partnerships of schools can make their own arrangements for payments, which can take into account variable factors such as numbers of pupils, size of budget etc.
Can we charge parents?
It is up to individual partnerships of schools to decide on funding arrangements, which could include a charge to parents. However, care must be taken to ensure that this does not exclude pupils who would otherwise qualify for a place.
Do we have to find the teacher?
Yes, though DWS will support the process if requested. Teachers are invited by the group of schools [DWS Partnership can provide a draft advert] to apply for a 1 day secondment/ temporary contract, with a CV, letter of application and a lesson plan for a group of exceptionally able pupils, based on maths or science. Those long listed are invited to teach their lesson to a group of children arranged by the group of schools. Successful candidates are then interviewed. A headteacher from one of the group of schools is asked to work with DWS through this process.
Who trains the teachers?
The initial training package consists of one day training on practicalities, a visit to an existing class if possible, and DWS materials to support planning. DWS Partnership will put teachers in contact with OxfordBrookesUniversity, who run courses at Masters level on teaching able pupils. DWS Partnership can provide termly monitoring and support sessions for teachers, observing lessons and supporting the development of planning and pedagogy. These visits will be followed up with a written record of visit.
Where does DWS take place?
A partner school within the group provides a classroom.
Who is responsible for the children?
The ‘host’ school is responsible for the children who attend their school.
What happens if the teacher is absent?
The group of schools sets up arrangements to cover on a rota basis or they decide that they will inform parents and that the children will attend their home school.
How do the children get to/from DWS?
Transport is the responsibility of parents as with ‘home’ schools. Partnerships are advised not to take responsibility for arranging lifts etc. as this may raise insurance issues.
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