• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Teaching Expertise

  • Home
  • Classroom Ideas
  • Technology
  • Teacher’s Life
  • Deals & Shopping
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Home
  • Classroom Ideas
  • Technology
  • Teacher’s Life
  • Deals & Shopping
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

Late night SENDIST calls and early morning meetings | Teaching Expertise

June 20, 2008 //  by Admin

Another hectic day. Who ever said that after year 11 leave, we have more time? 

I was feeling really tired this morning, after supporting the parent of a friend on the phone last night with her SENDIST* appeal.

The first consultation usually lasts for 25 mins or so. I rang and left message at half eight. They called back shortly after half nine! A touch late for my liking, but we wouldn’t be in the job if we weren’t passionate about equality, inclusion and a more level playing field (if you pardon the sporting analogy).

I completed the ‘summary of advice’ sheet about half ten, then spent a few minutes catching a particularly offensive episode of Family Guy, before bed…not the best ‘chill down’ ever, so no wonder I am tired!

Meetings
This morning I had a meeting with a parent at 8am. I always put the more difficult parents/carers** early in the morning – something I learned early on in my SENCo-ship. Early morning encounters often cut to the chase and limit potentially lengthy diatribes and rants…a tip for all new SENCos out there.

The meeting went without a hitch – one thing I am really good at is dealing face-to-face with parents/carers and addressing the ‘hard issues’. In the end the parent mainly required reassurance and explanation.

Mid-morning I met the school architects with the business manager and one of the deputies. I need to ensure my new build, additional ramps, accessible modifications and smaller jobs from a DDA survey are all going to be done. It’s up to me as SENCo to drive this forward..and I always love to share my views!

*Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal

**Difficult defined in the sense of more work needed to explain things and their expectations being slightly unrealistic.

Category: articles

Previous Post: « rescue – Teaching On Ice | Teaching Expertise
Next Post: Learning to Learn | Teaching Expertise »

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Why Today’s Graduates Aren’t Ready for College (and How We Can Fix It)
  • Why Students Struggle in Calculus: It All Comes Down to the Basics
  • Why Elf on the Shelf Doesn’t Belong in the Classroom (and What to Do Instead)
  • 6 Forgotten Subjects Teachers Desperately Want Back in Schools
  • OPINION: Holiday Decorations in Classrooms Are More Harmful Than You Think!
  • 20 Phrases Teachers Say 100 Times a Year (And Still Mean It)