The Sausage Factory

When considering the state education system in the UK I can't help thinking of its resemblance to a sausage factory. At the age of 4 our little sausage skins arrive at the factory ready to be filled with sausage meat. This is considerably younger than most other European countries many of which have better results but that is another story.

The sausage meat is made to a very specific recipe called the National Curriculum. This not only sets out all of the ingredients (Subjects) to be included in the recipe but also quantity of meat and the speed at which the skin are to be filled (Key Stages). The schools then try their best to ensure all of the skins are filled in accordance with the recipe and periodically quality control in the form of testing is performed. These quality control tests are published in league table which show the best performing factories in the area. As you know many parents pay lots of attention to these tests to make sure their little skins go to the best factory.

In a real sausage factory you know the sausage skin is of a certain quality and that if the factory is run properly at the end of the day you will have a certain number of perfectly filled sausages of identical size and shape.

However, when it comes to schools, the little sausage skins which arrive at the factory are not identical but the education system still runs along factory lines. The result is that although the factory turns out a fairly large number of identical filled sausages a large number of skins do not make the grade.

Virtually all people who have 22q 11.2 DS have development delays and many have learning difficulties. Whilst learning may be challenging its does not mean they are unable to learn it just means that learning may take longer or may be need to be structured in a different way.

This is where problems arise as our big sausage factory with its standard recipe and timetable to do not provide for bespoke learning programs and if the sausage skins cannot cope they fall by the wayside.

Children with 22q often have difficulties in a number of areas including;

Poor working and short term memory
Numeracy
Reading comprehension
Abstract concepts

At they same time they do have strengths in

Rote memory
Long term memory
Creative writing and spelling
Computer skills and word processing
Musical skills
Willingness to learn and eagerness to please

Many children do get Statements of Special Education needs which provide additional help with education but even with support they can find it difficult to cope in class.

In my view our children are stuck between mainstream schools where they may struggle to keep up with the pace set by the National Curriculum and special needs schools which in our local authority appear to be focused on children with severe disabilities or complex learning needs.

Ideally for the 22q sausage skins we need a traditional artisan sausage maker who knows exactly the right individualised recipe to match the skin.  In schools terms this needs to be an individualised curriculum, small class sizes and the time to repeat lessons to reinforce learning.

Lindsey Stedman, Chair of Trustees of The22Crew has a keen interest in educating children with 22q having spent six years home educating her son Harrison. A significant amount of material providing information on common learning issues and suggestions for parents and teachers is available on The22Crew website http://www.22crew.org/education