More Choices, More Chances to Achieve Potential

To be a successful learner can be a challenging experience for young people. In todays ever changing society, there are many issues which can affect and influence the development of our children. We would hope our pupils would grow up to be confident individuals ready to move on into the world of Work, Training and Higher or Further Education. Unfortunately this is not always the case.

All pupils are individuals, with their own skills and strengths, on which to build. The recognition of wider achievement, showing how young people contribute to their development in a variety of situations, helps to build confidence and improve self worth. Responsibility and respect for self and others can be developed through recognising pupils successes.

This session will outline some of the ways in which the school, staff and wider partners have worked together to identify barriers and offer a greater choice of experiences. There will be discussion on the use of monitoring and target setting, and how a more flexible or alternative curriculum, tailored to meet the needs of the pupil, was used and developed within the school. The importance of networking within the authority and working with parents to gain their support are key elements to success.

Beverly Paterson is a teacher of Physical Education and has been a Principal Teacher of Pupil Support at Dumbarton Academy for a number of years. The remit for this role is linked to the National Priorities and is involved with removing barriers to pupils learning and achievement. She has had an opportunity to focus on flexibility in the curriculum, beginning with an interest in 'Positive Futures', a Careers Scotland project, and currently as More Choices More Chances Coordinator within the school. In a vertical house system, her responsibility for pupils cuts across all houses. She has attended conferences and presentations, developing a network of partners. She recently presented a workshop at the MCMC National Networking Event.

Pat Montgomery is the More Choices, More Chances Development Officer for West Dunbartonshire Council focusing particularly on the pre 16 at risk group. In this role she works extensively with schools and partner agencies from all sectors. Pat's background in mainstream education was in Modern Studies and Pupil Support. She has extensive experience in alternative provision including a period working for the Social Work Department in this area. In her current post Pat is also the Education Coordinator for Looked After Children. She has presented at a number of seminars and conferences, most recently on West Dunbartonshire Council's work on Early Identifiers in relation to young people not in education, employment or training.