Name: Martin Baxter. Position: special needs co-ordinator, All Saints primary school, Cockermouth, Cumbria.
Q If you had David Blunkett’s budget what would your priority be?
A I would spend a great deal of money ensuring that the policy of integrating children with special needs worked. It needs to be child centred and not to be determined by how much money is available.
Q If you had a blank cheque for your own school what would you buy?
A A return to the days when teachers’ salaries were guaranteed - in other wrds when schools did not have to worry about the cost of hiring experienced staff.
Q What treat would you buy yourself?
A I was saddened a few years ago when my request for study leave was rejected. It’s too late now, but my retrospective treat would be to spend time - maybe a term, maybe a year - at a university researching autism, reading and talking about the condition.
Martin Baxter was talking to Stephanie Northen. If you’d like to publish a shopping list for education, please e-mail friday@tes.co.uk
