A-Z of Special Needs 2nd Edition

A-Z of Special Needs is our most popular and easy-to-use resource. It offers you an A-Z dictionary of special needs conditions, as well as a who's who of specialists. It is an essential text for anyone who is teaching children or young people with educational special needs, and can be especially helpful when tackling specific special needs conditions

Written by Jacquie Buttriss and Ann Callander

From the writers of the best-selling The A-Z of Special Needs − for every teacher, we are proud to announce that the new and improved The A-Z of Special Needs 2nd edition will be available later this month.

As one of our most popular and easy-to-use resources, The A-Z of Special Needs, which was first published in 2003, quickly sold out. Since then we have been inundated with requests for the book to be reprinted and I am now pleased to announce that not only are we providing you with this newly updated reference tool for special needs but have also has added extra features.

The A-Z of Special Needs 2nd edition provides a comprehensive reference resource for anyone involved in working with pupils with learning difficulties or disabilities. It is designed primarily to help busy Special Needs Coordinators provide support for pupils, parents, class teachers and teaching assistants across all key stages in order to deal with issues related to most aspects of SEN.

This book includes:

• A comprehensive glossary of definitions, terms and acronyms used by practitioners working with pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities.
• A clear guide to the 'barriers to learning' likely to be encountered by mainstream class teachers or tutors. Each condition or syndrome is given a general description, followed by a listing of its main characteristics and an extensive range of practical support strategies to suit pupils of all ages.
• Who's Who? − detailed descriptions of the roles of professionals working within multi-agency settings.
• Proformas − these are designed to support the work of the SENCO as well as the class teacher in a variety of ways in order to simplify the challenge of recording individual needs and progress.
• Support groups − an A-Z of the contact details of support groups for all 'barriers to learning' listed.
• Special Needs Resources − an A-Z of publishers and resources, software publishers and equipment suppliers.
• An A-Z of useful websites.

The A-Z of Special Needs 2nd edition is an invaluable, quick and comprehensive guide to SEN that has been brought right up to date, with substantial new additions in each section and some completely new sections. It is fully cross-referenced to be an indispensable guide to learning difficulties and disabilities across all age-groups.

The principles of inclusion require schools to provide effective learning opportunities, for all pupils, within the framework of the National Curriculum. SENCOs need to ensure that:

• personalised learning targets are set and reviewed regularly.
• appropriate learning environments are provided.
• individual learning styles are catered for.
• differentiated activities are both stimulating and motivating.
• appropriate material and resources are available to support pupils' physical, cognitive and emotional needs.
• class teachers and teaching assistants are given appropriate training and guidance when working with children with learning difficulties and disabilities.

Within this framework for inclusion the busy Special Needs Coordinator has to try to be all things to all people. This book recognises just how challenging and demanding the role of SENCO can be and how much expertise it requires.

The book can be used in a number of ways. It can be used as a handy reference resource (look-up guide) for SENCos, teachers and other professionals. Some parts can be used to provide INSET for both teachers and teaching assistants. SENCos may also find it useful to give a copy of some of the suggested teaching strategies to teachers and teaching assistants in order to help them support pupils within an inclusive environment. The proformas can be used as an aid to developing personalised learning through recording provision, planning, target-setting and assessment

This new edition of The A-Z of Special Needs 2nd edition is an indispensable, teacher-friendly resource that aims to provide readers with a dip-in guide to the many issues relating to the education of pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities. This book is by no means the complete answer to everything but we hope it will help you ask questions and search for answers by using the appropriate sources.

Proformas included in The A-Z of Special Needs 2nd edition:

• School Improvement Plan
• SEN Development Plan
• Individual Education Plan
• Class learning difficulties grid
• Lesson planning sheets for teaching assistants
• Group observation and recording sheet for teaching assistants
• Individual observation and recording sheet for teaching assistants
• Handy Hints for TAs
• Provision map
• Skills target sheet
• Personal profile sheet

All proformas will have a completed example and a clear explanation about their use.

About the authors
Ann Callander is an educational writer who is experienced in working with children, classteachers, teaching assistants and other professionals. She has taught in both the primary and secondary sectors and has worked in the area of SEN for over 20 years. Her roles as SENCO, Teacher in charge of a Speech and Language base and as a Support and Advisory teacher (SEN) on the Somerset County Support team have led her to become involved in developing new and innovative materials for both children and teachers.

Ann has been co-editor of SEN Coordinator's File and has written a wide range of articles relating to SEN in a number of national journals. Previous publications include:

• Spell Bound – the primary spelling file
• Handbook for Special Needs Coordinators
• The Assessment Handbook
• Think About It! (Thinking skills activities for Years 3 and 4)
• Gifted and Talented from A-Z
• A wide range of resources and reading material for children.

Jacquie Buttriss taught for nearly 30 years across all ages from Reception to sixth form, as well as in further and higher education. During this time, one of her roles was as a primary SENCO. She was a primary headteacher for seven years and also had a number of other roles in educational training and support. She is currently an Ofsted Lead Inspector, as well as an accredited School Improvement Partner, a freelance adviser/consultant and the SEN governor and chair of the curriculum committee at her local primary school.

Jacquie has always taken a particular interest in pupils' special needs and barriers to their learning and has been joint series editor with her co-author, Ann Callander, of SEN Coordinator's File for three years. She was also series editor of Primary Digest for two years. She and Ann have written several other educational books and a great many educational articles in a variety of national journals.