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

Creating a fairer education system for all

A new report claims the education system reinforces disadvantages and calls for greater equity

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

A quick roundup of the main political parties’ school manifesto points

What do the four main parties (Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Green) have to say about education?

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

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

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