Education Working Group
Co-Chairs: Sarah Glendenning & Nicki Harris
NEC Liaison: tbc
The Education Working Group (EWG) comprises a group of interpreters who are currently working in education or have done so in the past. The aim of the group is to support and promote Educational Interpreters who are working in this complex and demanding domain; this could be in primary, secondary, tertiary or higher education. Interpreting in Education brings its own unique challenges, which you do not always experience in other areas of interpreting.
The EWG has had a slightly slow start, however, after the recent NEC weekend in Birmingham, we have identified two specific areas on which to focus:
Guidelines for EI’s supporting in working in exam
Updating the Code of Practice for Educational Interpreters
Nicki Harris and Sarah Glendenning have been actively networking with different regional groups with relation to working guidelines for EI’s interpreting under exam conditions. The only guidelines that appear to be available at present are those produced by exam boards themselves which really do not fully cover the remit of the interpreter.
The Code of Practice for EI’s is in need of updating so the group are busy looking at this with the aim of feeding back to the EWG on 1 November with amendments and revisions so that we can then move on and finalise the document ready for ratification by the NEC.
We would also like to welcome two new members to our group, Judith Collins and Ian Hodgetts. We are sure their input and experience will be invaluable.
If you are an interpreter currently working in education and have any views or issues you would like us to address or would like some advice, please do not hesitate to contact us at educationworkinggroup@asli.org.uk.
Similarly, if you are an educational establishment or responsible for booking interpreters for deaf/deafblind students and would like some guidance please contact us on the same email address.
11/08/2007
Quarterly Report on Activity
Membership: Nicki Harris – Co Chair, Sarah Glendenning – Co Chair, Judith Collins, Yasmeen Gulamani, Karen Henty, Ian Hodgetts, Steve Hudson, Tessa Slaughter
Sarah Glendenning has already reported that we were experiencing some difficulties in commitment from some of the group and, under the guidance of Mark Schofield we have been addressing this.
Our thanks to the two new members of the group, Judith Collins and Ian Hodgetts for joining us and we are sure their input will be invaluable.
Recently, we have circulated the Code of Practice for Educational Interpreters to the EWG for comment with a review to revamping this and tabling it for discussion with both the NEC and subsequently the wider membership, perhaps via a workshop at the conference next year. The replies from the EWG have been sparse and a reminder has been sent to those who did not reply/comment. The Chairs of the group have re-sent the information with a closing date Friday 16th November for final comment. Work will then commence on drafts and these will be shared with Mark.
Preliminary discussions are underway with various external agencies with regard to the issue of supporting students in exams. The Regional Partnerships for Special Educational Needs (SERSEN) are keen to be actively involved in discussions and a member of the EWG makes representation at their quarterly meetings in both her capacity as Head of Service and Co-Chair of the EWG.
A member of the EWG made representation at the recent CHESS meeting, and further contacts will be pursued as a result.
Three members of the EWG are interpreting for the BATOD conference in March 2008 and BATOD’s representative for interpreting in schools will meet with the team for an informal discussion on exam support. Albeit, embryonic, work is underway.