A network for teachers wishing to share good practice

Established in 2013, Point 5 is a growing network of educators dedicated to supporting students with Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD), Multiple Sensory Impairments (MSI), and complex needs. Our core mission is to provide practical, class-based Continuing Professional Development opportunities for our teachers. These initiatives are rooted in current educational practices, specifically tailored to enhance the learning experiences of this unique and complex group of students.

Format

The Point 5 network has two strands.

The leadership strand who meet termly to review the impact and agree the focus for the following term.

The practitioner strand who meet in smaller focus groups visiting each school over the course of a term. (approximately three schools)

The practitioner strand is made up of lead practitioners and teacher participants. Schools typically have 1 lead practitioner and 1 teacher participant.

Lead practitioners: teachers with more than four years’ experience of working with students with the most complex needs and are consistently good and outstanding in their practice. Lead practitioners are chosen by members of the lead school to ensure consistency of standards. Part of the lead practitioner’s role is sharing their best practice with visiting teachers. Therefore, they must be willing to welcome other lead practitioners and teacher participants into a lesson.

Participants: Teachers new to working with pupils with the most complex needs or who would benefit from working with teachers with lead practitioners. Participants must be willing to be self-reflective and able to take on friendly advice when it is appropriate for their setting.

Participating school obligations

This is a free network and participating schools are welcome to send one or more teachers to the network.

Each school will host a half day visit over the course of each term.

The visit should include a short tour of the school sharing context, an opportunity to visit the lead practitioner’s lesson.

A short meeting to discuss, reflect and agree any next steps.

As these meetings are planned specifically for teachers, school leaders will not need to join these school visits, however they are invited to attend Point 5 practitioner meetings when they are the host school.

Participating schools:

• Stephen Hawking - https://www.stephenhawking.towerhamlets.sch.uk/
• Beatrice Tate - http://www.beatricetate.towerhamlets.sch.uk/
• Richard Cloudesley School - https://www.cloudesley.islington.sch.uk/
• Waverley School - https://www.waverley-school.com/
• Cherry Garden - https://www.cherrygardenschool.co.uk/
• Willowdene - https://www.willowdene.compassps.uk/
• John F Kennedy - https://www.jfkspecialschool.lihtrust.uk/
• Riverside - https://www.riverside.haringey.sch.uk/
• Newbridge - https://newbridgeschool.schooljotter2.com/
• The Vale - https://www.vale.haringey.sch.uk/
• Oakleigh - https://www.oakleighschool.co.uk/
• Mapledown