The ‘My Way!’ campaign will:
- Raise awareness of learning differences among children, teachers, schools, and parents. Around one in five school aged children need additional help in school of some form. Needing help with learning is not unusual and many children receive some additional support during their time at school.
- Improve attitudes towards children with learning differences among children who do not have special educational needs. Many children with special learning needs can feel different and become isolated at school and socially – bullying is a particular issue.
- Encourage and allow pupils to share their experiences of learning, to talk about how they like to learn, what they like about their school, and the differences and similarities that they notice.
- Inspire young people with SEN. Many successful people, both those who have become famous and those in everyday lives have experienced learning difficulties at school. ‘My Way!’ will share their experiences and those of successful schools, education professionals, parents and pupils.
Ed Balls said today:
“This is a great campaign, focused on raising awareness of the different ways children learn and giving all children the self esteem to achieve their potential. We have already done a great deal to support children with special educational needs, helping them and their families access the extra help they need to succeed at school.
“Through highlighting positive role models and sharing good examples of teaching and learning this campaign will promote inclusion in the classroom and inspire young people to go on and achieve.”
Henry Winkler, author, actor and campaign ambassador for ‘My Way!’, said:
“Every child has greatness inside them. We need to help them to dig it out and give it to the world. I cannot wait to see who they become.”
The launch of My Way! was inspired by two school tours undertaken by First News with Henry in 2008 and 2009. The response from pupils, teachers and parents was outstanding. Many contacted First News to tell of how this had encouraged them to face their own difficulties with learning with a positive attitude.
Nicky Cox MBE, Editor of First News, said:
“Self esteem is the beginning and end of everything. Children feel they are failing at such a young age simply because they learn in a different way to most people in their class. Through My Way we have to help them to see that they are not stupid and that it is OK for them to learn in their own way. They need to know that how they learn has nothing to do with how smart they are. And we need their friends, teachers and parents to understand that too.”
The campaign will feature in First News from 22nd January 2010 in a special edition sent to all schools throughout the UK, and run throughout this academic year concluding with a schools tour in June with Henry Winkler and First News editor Nicky Cox.
The campaign is funded jointly by First News, the Department for Children Schools and Families, and Pritt (Henkel UK), together with Walker Books, and supported by The Teaching Awards.
Simon Duggan-Hill, Managing Director Henkel UK, said:
“We are delighted to be involved in such an inspiring and important campaign. Learning through creativity is at the heart of the Pritt brand. For 40 years we have been working closely with schools and parents to help children find their own way to learn and express themselves through arts, craft and creative play. Through the My Way! campaign we hope to reaffirm the message that everyone learns differently, and help children find their own way.”
This campaign follows extensive government action on SEN including accepting Brian Lamb’s recommendations to improve parental confidence in SEN provision;
£31m to support the Achievement for All project to identify and develop ways of improving outcomes for children and young people with SEN; and more personalised support through early identification and intervention when children are falling behind.
Caroline Evans, Chief Executive of the Teaching Awards, said:
“The My Way! campaign gives children a voice and reminds us that there are many different ways in which to look at the world and many different approaches to learning. At the Teaching Awards we celebrate teachers’ commitment to helping children find their own ways of learning so we are thrilled to be a part of this wonderful campaign. In 2010 we have the Henry Winkler Teaching Award for Special Needs which will reveal brilliant examples of good practice for schools and teachers to share.”
