SENCO

Activities for developing skills

This series of classroom activities will be useful for SENCOs, teachers, assistants and mentors. Each page focuses on a different skill set – from spatial awareness to visual discrimination to semantic knowledge

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

Solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT): helping students solve their own emotional problems

In this third e-bulletin, Tina Rae considers the use of solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT), which encouragestudents to consider how positive change can be brought about via the principles of 'solution building' as opposed to 'problem solving'

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

Does your school’s professional learning help to enhance its SEN provision?

Offers info on the legal requirements for CPD for SENCOs and advice on using CPD to improve SEN provision practised by other members of staff

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

Are the Disability Discrimination Act obligations too burdensome for schools?

The recent Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) decision by the High Court in the case X Endowed Primary School v Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (2009) could impact significantly on schools. Westley Laird reviews the case and discusses how this decision could affect your school

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

Learning from home with ICT

Learning from home and using online education can provide a safe haven for children who are bullied at school. Special Children talked to one mother about the solutions she found for her autistic son

Good SEN practice: Golden Rules for adults

Lots of schools have rules for children's behaviour, but Grangewood Special School in Hillingdon has rules for adults too, and is a great example of good SEN practice. Michael Jones paid a visit

Audit commission: SEN budgets

The Audit Commission wants schools, including SENCOs, to show that they are getting value for money from their SEN and AEN budgets, and has produced the tools they need

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

Working cooperatively: educational professionals in the classroom

School classrooms no longer host one adult and a group of pupils - there are often a team of educational professionals working together, which can have detrimental affects on behaviour. This article offers practical advice and strategies to help all adults working in the classroom to be more effective in their management of behaviour

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

The 21st century SENCo

How has the role of SENCo evolved in education? Gareth Morewood argues the importance of having a clear philosophy and acting as an advocate for students with special educational needs (SEN)

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

Transport for pupils with SEN

The provision of transport for pupils with SEN, specifically the responsibility of local authorities (LAs) in this area is discussed here by Michael Segal

Multisensory maths for teaching SEN

It is important to allow multisensory maths to be taught to children with special educational needs (SEN) for as long as they need, argues Jane Kendall. Here she offers some practical suggestions for how

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

Improved play provision for SEN

The government plans to spend £235m on improving playground provision, but what can be done to make sure all children enjoy the new facilities? Crispin Andrews invesigates

Support for augmentative and alternative communication

Children with little or no speech (augmentative and alternative communication) can now be supported by a wide range of communication aids, but much still depends on funding

ADHD: diagnosis and management in schools

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has published a guideline on the diagnosis and management of ADHD in children, young people and adults. But what are its implications for schools?

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

Examining the links between professional development and behaviour: part 2

Elizabeth Holmes looks further into the links between professional development and behaviour, focusing specifically on children with special educational needs and/or disabilities

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

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