Breakfast briefing - Workforce development and deployment Alf Brown (TDA) and Angela Ryan, Headteacher

Alf Brown from the TDA and Angela Ryan, Headteacher of Campsbourne School and Children's Centre, Haringey, led a breakfast seminar on the topic of workforce development and deployment.

Alf began with a review of the recent history of workforce remodelling.

The government's view is that increased partnership working and the incorporation of new roles are essential to developing a more effective workforce for our children.

The workforce in schools now includes a vast array of different roles, for example different kinds of support staff. The TDA supports the development and training needs of all these groups.

Alf reminded us that remodelling does not take place in a vacuum - it has to operate in the context of the emotional and organisational constraints of each organisation. Best practice is where a remodelling change team has been formed which has effectively co-ordinated and managed the workforce change, building on consultation and collaboration with all the stakeholders.

Angela Ryan spoke passionately about her own role and the ways in which she as led remodelling. She described a group of families which was isolated within the community because of language. They had a variety of first languages and found integrating into the life of the school community difficult. They were invited to take part in family learning sessions, run by specialist staff employed by the school . The experience of sharing small successes with their children had a transformation effect on the parents.

Parents flourish with a bit of help

The school have also invested in HLTAs who deliver Modern Foreign Languages. A knock-on effect has been seen, for example, with boys and behavioural issues.

The provision of breakfast clubs has meant that pupils who used to have difficulties are now ready to learn when school starts.

This has all been achieved by looking at existing budgets creatively - for example, the school has employed an Educational Psychologist!

When opened to the floor, colleagues discussed the difficulties of using support staff creatively when the pay and job description structures do not encourage flexibility. The TDA are working on national frameworks and advice which should be available next year.