My name is Donna Ward and I teach in one of the Interactive Bases at New Bridge School. I have worked in special education for 24 years and love my job. I have recently become one of the pdnet champions in the North West.
On 29th March 2019 Miss Hall and I were invited to a pdnet induction day for pdnet champions at the Marriott Hotel in Birmingham. We spent the day meeting lots of enthusiastic and friendly professionals who had some really positive stories about the work that pdnet do. We also listened to a very inspiring lady called Aideen Blackborough who explained how she had had to fight all through her education to get to where she is today due to the barriers that some professionals in her school and colleges put up just because she had a disability.
The day was extremely useful and I decided there and then that I would love to be a pdnet champion and help to share their website and resources with other schools and professionals.
pdnet is a network for supporting learners with physical disabilities. pdnet is a national organisation that provides support in promoting positive outcomes for children and young people with physical disabilities to professionals in education.
pdnet want children and young people with disabilities to be fully included in their schools, to actively take part in high quality learning with their peers and to thrive and enjoy learning. Their website is very informative and you can access their pdnet standards to ensure your establishment is meeting your children and young people’s needs from early years through to post 16.
As part of my role as pdnet Champion, my aim is to support and provide information to other professionals in meeting these standards. Firstly, I will be starting to look at the pdnet standards within our school site then moving on to the other sites within our MAT. I aim to raise awareness of the resources developed by pdnet which include their pdnet standards for schools and settings, Level 1 training and materials within the pdnet effective practice hub.
Please look at their website here and become a member for free today.
** February 2020 update **
please click here for the latest news on Donna’s pdnet Champion work
