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SENCO Week

New SENCO resources for a new school year

In our last issue we provided some prompts for end-of-term evaluations. As part of this process, you will be considering the resources you have and putting in orders for some new stock. This can be a therapeutic activity for weary SENCOs but if it’s a chore for you, involve other staff to help out

Planning and auditing for a happy end of term

Just a few weeks to go now until the end of term and a well earned rest! Hopefully, you will still have enough energy, though, to reflect on the year’s work and plan for the autumn term. In this issue we suggest a way of reviewing the past year’s provision and how effective you have been

End of term audit and planning for SENCOs

Just a few weeks to go now until the end of term and a well earned rest! Hopefully, you will still have enough energy, though, to reflect on the year’s work and plan for the autumn term. In this issue we suggest a way of reviewing the past year’s provision and how effective you have been

Organising and chairing multi-agency meetings

In our last issue, we considered some important principles of multi-agency working and how to establish good relationships amongst professionals from a range of different services and backgrounds. This issue, we consider how SENCOs, as key workers, can organise productive and worthwhile meetings with colleagues

Multi-agency working with a focus on SEN

Following on from the last issue where we considered how to build good parent-school relationships, this issue we look at collaborative working with professionals from a range of agencies and how to get the best out of joint working

Reaching SEN parents to raise achievement

Following on from the last issue where we considered how to build good parent –school relationships, we look at ways of offering practical support to families who want to help their children to learn

Building positive parent-school relationships

In the second issue of SENCO Week looking at partnership working, we consider the parent-school relationship and how you can make this as positive and fruitful as possible. In the next issue (151) we will provide some practical ideas for running parent workshop sessions

Your vital role in partnership working

Starting off the term focusing on working in partnership, this issue takes an overview on the skills involved in working collaboratively and provides an overview of new publications and initiatives to be aware of

Taking the lead in professional development to support SEN

All SENCOs must take the lead in their colleague’s professional development in relation to special needs – in this issue we focus on evaluating how well you manage this, and offer a helpsheet to assist in managing the CPD of teaching/support assistants

Getting coordinated – planning and communication

This issue focuses on planning ahead to create the most effective provision for the next academic year through reviewing what’s happened so far this year, using provision maps and communicating effectively with staff

Using evidence about learning, teaching and assessment to inform SEN practice

Do you base your provision planning on analytical evaluation of what has gone before (in your own setting and in other contexts) or do you tend to use ‘gut feeling’ and what is easiest to organise? This issue takes a look at how SENCOs can take a professional approach to evidence-based practice

Identifying barriers to learning and their implications for inclusive teaching

SENCO Week looks at how you can keep an overview of the barriers to learning for SEN students, and how to disseminate the relevant information to the right people

Statutory and regulatory frameworks – what every SENCO needs to know

It is the SENCO’s responsibility to be informed about statutory and regulatory frameworks that may affect children with SEN and disabilities within their school. This issue gives an overview of the essential frameworks to be aware of, providing links to helpful information

National training for new SENCOs: what will it cover?

With the roll-out of national training for new SENCOs under way, SENCO Week updates you on its learning outcomes

End of term review and reflection

Linda Evans discusses useful tasks for SENCos for this time of year

Technology and SEN

Linda Evans discusses the best way to use technology to support children with SEN and disability

Managing behaviour as a SENCO

For the vast majority of teachers good behaviour management is, understandably, their number one priority. Without it, even the best planning and most interesting activities and resources may be totally ineffectual. This issue we consider those pupils whose behaviours present a challenge for mainstream teachers and suggest some strategies for teachers to try out

Including pupils in Christmas performances

SENCO Week discusses the practicalities of involving children with special educational needs and disabilities in Christmas celebrations at school, with some ideas on how this can be achieved.

Study skills for SEN

This issue looks at study skills in terms of helping pupils with SEN to engage with the learning process and take some responsibility themselves for achieving a positive outcome

Reading across the curriculum

This issue discusses some of the strategies SENCos and classroom teachers can share with colleagues to enable them to support the development of reading across the curriculum

Developing speaking skills and language development

Equally important as listening and concentration skills is the development of expressive language, and this issue Linda Evans looks at some strategies for helping children to communicate verbally

Developing attention skills and memory

In this issue of SENCO Week, Linda Evans suggests some ways of helping pupils to concentrate, and also how to develop memory skills, with advice for SENCOs and teachers

Differentiation: output (3)

In her third installment discussing differentiation, Linda Evans looks at how different types of outcome can translate into effective differentiation

Differentiation: support (2)

Linda Evans looks at support for differentiation, namely teaching assistant support

Differentiation: input (1)

The first of three SENCO Weeks to deal with differentiation, which refers to all the processes involved in learning which deal with differences in learners and attempts to motivate and assess positively at all levels of achievement

Whole school approaches to SEN and inclusion

This copy of SENCO Week looks at how to inbed inclusion as a whole school SEN approach

Tips for SENCOs: finishing the school year

This SENCO Week provides pointers to help you finish off the school year in good shape and consider some forward planning for next term

SEN provision maps + Helpsheet 23

Provision maps are a tool used regularly by SENCOs — they enable you to detail the range of support provided for children with SEN in each year group. Linda Evans outlines what you need to remember when preparing them

Updating SEN policies - young carers

Although policy writing and updating is ongoing throughout the year, summer is a key time for this sort of task. This issue we review the school policies that SENCOs and inclusion post-holders need to consider - specifically those regarding young carers and vulnerable groups

Links between SEN and gifted & talented: part 2

SENCO Week looks at how to support those students with DME (dual or multiple exceptionality) and how to help them fulfil their potential

Links between SEN and gifted & talented: part 1

SENCO Week considers the links between SEN and G&T at schools; gifted and talented students are often considered as having specific learning needs and are equally in need of support

SEN assemblies and circle time + Helpsheet 22

Assemblies are an important part of school life. This e-bulletin looks at assemblies with a special needs (SEN) focus and also considers how circle time can be used to support inclusion

Low incidence special educational needs

SENCO Week discusses low incidence special educational needs — those with significant difficulties and/or disablities which affect only a small number of children

Review meetings with SEN students

Important aspects of SEN provision are regular meetings with children and parents to discuss their progress and continuing needs. This e-bulletin considers how careful planning can maximise the usefulness of these reviews and ensure that they are productive for SEN children

Study skills and revision: advice for SEN + Helpsheet 21

This e-bulletin suggests some strategies for teachers and TAs to use in supporting children across the curriculum in their revision and private study

Providing reading and literacy support to older children

SENCO Week discusses the important educational base provided by reading skills, and considers strategies to help older children who are struggling with reading, in order to improve their general literacy

SENCOs providing CPD for colleagues: auditing priorities + Helpsheet 20

What are your colleagues' priorities for CPD in terms of SEN and inclusion? Linda Evans discusses how SENCOs can help them in this area

Supporting slow learners

Slow learners, children who find it difficult to learn and remember things, are a challenge experienced by all teachers at some point in their career. Here we consider this group of pupils and some general strategies for helping them

Supporting children with dyscalculia

How do you help pupils who show symptoms of dyscalculia? This SENCO Week highlights the main issues and gives advice to both SENCOs and classroom teachers

Supporting pupils with asthma and other medical conditions

Support for children with medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy and anaphylaxis are the subject of this SENCO Week, as Linda Evans offers SENCos related advice

Supporting looked-after children

The vulnerable group of looked-after children (LAC) has had particular focus recently, in terms of raising their educational aspirations and achievement

Helping pupils who struggle with spelling + Helpsheet 19

Do your pupils struggle with spelling? Linda Evans offers support for SENCos and classroom teachers when helping them

School transfer and transition for children with SEN

Starting school (or nursery) and moving from one school to another is a major event in children’s lives — for a child with special educational needs it can be particularly worrying. This ebulletin considers how SENCOs can help to ensure that the process is as smooth as possible for all concerned

Speech and communication difficulties: part 2 + Helpsheet 18

Pupils with more significant speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) needs are looked at in the second e-bulletin on the subject from Linda Evans, including how SENCOs can plan effective interventions

Speech and communication difficulties

Speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) are dealt with by over one million children in the UK; most of them in mainstream schools. This ebulletin considers how SENCOs can support colleagues in meeting the needs of these children in the classroom

Engaging with parents of children with SEN

For the families of children with SEN and disabilities, positive relationships between school staff and parents is an especially important issue. This SENCO Week considers how SENCOs can engage with parents and carers

Effective peer support

Mentoring schemes are an approach endorsed by the DCSF, and a number of independent organisations offer direct support to schools. Linda Evans discusses mentoring schemes as well as other forms of peer support

Teaching tips for helping those with BESD + Helpsheet 17

What kind of interventions can you introduce as a SENCO to address pupils’ behaviour difficulties? Linda Evans discusses in her second e-bulletin on BESD (behavioural, emotional and social development)

A new start for those with BESD

New beginnings are especially important for pupils whose behaviour is a cause for concern; this issue we’re thinking about the various elements of effective behaviour management for BESD (behavioural, emotional and social development) – including giving youngsters a chance to start with a clean slate

SENCOs working within the law

What is the definition of special educational needs? What acts should SENCos be up to date on? This issue of SENCO Week serves as a brief but essential legal summary for SENCos

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