Teacher’s Letter Praises Boy with Autism for Qualities not Tested in Sats By James Meikle

https://twitter.com/gailtwist/status/751702914998104064

The mother of a boy with autism has publicly shared a letter from a teacher praising her son for qualities that the teacher said school tests could not measure.

The inspirational letter from Ruth Clarkson to 11-year-old Ben Twist, who failed the Sats he took this year, listed all the talents and abilities that Clarkson told Ben “make you the special person you are”.

Ben’s mother, Gail, from St Helens, Merseyside, tweeted that she was in tears as she read the words: “These tests only measure a little bit of you.”

Clarkson, an assistant headteacher at Lansbury Bridge school and sports college, congratulated Ben on his “attitude and success” in completing the Sats.

“A very important piece of information I want you to understand is that these tests only measure a little bit of you and your abilities. They are important and you have done so well but Ben Twist is made up of many other skills and talents that we at Lansbury Bridge see and measure in other ways,” she wrote.

The examples listed included his artistic talents, ability to work in a team, growing independence and kindness.

Clarkson continued: “We are so pleased that all of these different talents and abilities make you the special person you are and these are all of the things we measure to reassure us that you are always making progress and continuing to develop as a lovely bright young man. Well done Ben, we are very proud of you.”

The post by his mother has been retweeted more than 2,000 times. She told the Liverpool Echo: “Ben worked so hard and sitting the tests was a massive achievement. We knew the results were coming but to get a letter like that – I got part-way through it and I burst into tears.”

Ben, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of five, switched last year from a mainstream school to Lansbury Bridge, whose pupils include children with autistic spectrum disorders, physical disabilities, medical difficulties and speech, language and communication difficulties.

Gail Twist said: “Ben was in a mainstream school all the way through and he had one-to-one support. It was a really good school but the gap between him and his peers just grew and grew. As they were maturing, he wasn’t maturing at the same rate.

“Lansbury Bridge school is a lovely environment where people really do have each individual’s best interests at heart. Ben is sensitive and he does worry about things, and I wish more schools did things like this.

“He is all of the things they wrote about him – he is an amazing person. I think their words will stay with him if we keep reminding him what they said about him. When I told him he said: ‘Wow, do they really think all those things about me?’ It’s just a beautiful thing to do.”

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NCY3 teaching vacancy in Bexley, required for January 2016

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NCY4 Teaching Vacancy available starting the beginning of November 2015 in Greenwich, south east London!

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Hold a recognised teaching qualification

Have teaching experience

Be committed to the full duration of this role

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Pay to scale

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TimePlan Education working in partnership with a Beckenham, Kent primary school is looking for a full time teacher for a NCY1 class from the start of next term. This school welcomes applicants from colleagues at any stage of their teaching career. Overseas trained teachers are welcome to apply. This teaching job represents an excellent opportunity for career advancement for the right teacher.

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• Well behaved and enthusiastic children.

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• Pay to scale!
• Professional classroom support from our team of Headteacher consultants throughout the length of your contract.
• A dedicated key contact at the South East office.
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Primary School Job of the Day!!

TimePlan Education are recruiting for a Key Stage 2 teaching vacancy on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent. Required for a January 2016 start. This position will be a permanent position and is for a NCY4 class. Our client school is a two form entry primary school. It is heavily over subscribed with lovely children and a talented teaching team. Their last Ofsted, December 2012, graded them as good overall. A large and oversubscribed two form entry primary school located in Minster on the Isle of Sheppey. The school is currently Ofsted Good and are working to gain Outstanding status.

The school is committed to a partnership with parents, a vibrant and rich learning environment, delivering high standards of education and motivating children to behave well and become fully involved in school life.

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* Has experience of teaching at Key Stage 2

* Delivering good and outstanding teaching practices as the norm

* A willingness to form part of a successful and enthusiastic team

* Creating an enriching, supportive and high performing learning environment

* Supporting the school ethos at all times during your working days.

* You will be an imaginative and forward thinking classroom practitioner.

* You will possess excellent teaching skills and an ability to lead classes with pace and sufficient challenge.

* It is essential that you understand the school's academic standing and have a sincere commitment to sharing long-term aims.

In return we offer:

* Pay to scale

* Professional classroom support from our team of Headteacher consultants throughout the length of your contract

* A dedicated key contact at the south east office

*TimePlan South East teacher socials where you can meet professional teachers from all over the planet who are teaching at schools in your placement area

* Opportunities to aid your professional development.

If you are interested in applying for this Year 4 teaching job in Isle of Sheppey, Kent please apply online today or call Paul Chuter on 01732 373340 at TimePlan, the number one teaching agency for Key Stage 2 teaching jobs in Kent.

TimePlan Education Group Limited is an Equal Opportunities Employer. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff to share this commitment. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) and is subject to a successful Enhanced Disclosure, Barring Service (DBS) check and two professional references.