Getting Stuck: How the School Environment can Prevent Pupils Transition Autism can create barriers to inclusive education, we as teachers can also unwittingly create barriers to including pupils and making their education as effective as possible. We must take a moment to consider our actions and decisions in terms of how they may create issues … Read more
Ideas and Values for Developing a Wellbeing Focussed Curriculum. Links to the original Wellbeing Curriculum posts: Part 1 Part 2: Teaching the wellbeing curriculum It is our job as teachers to remove barriers to learning, in online safety it is often the curriculum that forms a barrier to meaningful learning. The fact that online safety … Read more
Three essential components to SEND education. Special education is a fantastic career option. I am always urging NQTs to consider SEND education as an option for their careers. It is different from mainstream education in a number of key ways. However, that intrinsic desire to provide the best outcomes for the children you teach is … Read more
Teaching The Teacher Teaching and learning is the root of education. The two words go very well together. However, we often employ the phrase to suggest that we as teachers are doing the teaching and that it is only the students who are doing the learning. I dread to suggest it but I can imagine … Read more
Key Skills for Effective Special Education Teaching Teaching students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) requires a robust set of competencies. While these skills benefit all teachers, they are especially critical for those in specialised settings. Here is an expanded version of the article with a passionate tone about supporting students in special education: Special Education … Read more
In Real Life: Devaluing Online Identity. This idea formed part of my presentation for the Wellbeing curriculum at the BETT show. I am going to say that the phrase “In Real Life”. Often used to distinguish between online activity and activity in our tangible immediate physical surroundings. Should be retired. The audio version below. Please … Read more
What Teachers Can Learn from New Girl’s Jessica Day Just a quick lighthearted blog post with lessons teachers can learn from the TV show New Girl: The quirky TV show New Girl stars a plucky, optimistic teacher named Jessica Day, played by Zooey Deschanel. While the sitcom often veers into zany antics, teachers can actually … Read more
Effective Behaviour Training I am a principal instructor for a behaviour support training network. This gives me the opportunity to visit and train in a lot of special schools. The best part of our network is that it is not a hierarchy. It is truly a collaborative team approach to delivering behaviour training. There are … Read more
There’s nothing better for your wellbeing than laughter! So enjoy some Puns!
Why Discuss Inclusion? This article is an account of a professional discussion on inclusion between teachers, SLT, parents and carers. It is essential that inclusion is a subject that we discuss regularly. Inclusive education is an issue has an impact on every school and every classroom. It is an area close to many people’s hearts … Read more
Writing a Blog: Sharing your thoughts Writing a blog that has evolved into this website over the last few years came out of a leadership course. Our leadership mentor encouraged us to write a blog for my NPQML and after a few weeks of…. no visitors, I linked my twitter account. I then began following … Read more
Digital Inclusion. Digital inclusion refers to ensuring all people can participate and connect in today’s digital society. This includes: Access to technology and connectivity:Having access to digital devices like computers and smartphones, as well as reliable internet connections through broadband, WiFi and mobile networks. Infrastructure and connectivity are fundamental prerequisites for digital inclusion. Digital skills:Having … Read more
Implementing The Teach Like a Pirate Philosophy In Your Classroom One of my first discoveries of an education book that I could get behind and implement was Dave Burgess’s book Teach Like A Pirate, or #tlap as it’s known. Now I am a fan of pirates and need little encouragement to embrace Pirate culture. Now … Read more
Autism and the barriers to friendship This is a situation that occurred a while ago and now both students are a couple of years into their new placements I feel it can be written and anonymity maintained. The names are made up, ‘Jack’ is what one of my current students calls me despite my trying … Read more
This handy little guide aims to equip you to deal with any challenging situation. But can we apply it to the challenges of school leadership?
Autism Education Infographic (UK) I work in a specialist school for children. It is my job to educate young people with a range of diagnoses to the best of my ability. Now those children have to have an EHCP to access our provision. They are all referred to us by the local authority having had … Read more
SEN Education Infographic Data While the statistics I am about to present are specific to the month of January 2015, it is essential to understand that they represent the most current and recent data accessible at the time. The following SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) education infographic has been meticulously crafted based on the … Read more
Well January has passed, it seems like the longest month. So many successes and achievements as well as set-backs and challenges. It seems like a good time to reflect on the teacher wellbeing pledges I made to #teacher5aday in this blog. #Connect – Aha achieved this one by presenting at #bett2016 however did feel I … Read more
Technology and SEN Children with additional needs do not have the same access to technology as their peers. Specialist equipment is very expensive. The school may have excellent provision, is this the same at home? In their residential provision? Will the same assistive technology or better be available to them in their future placements? I … Read more
Using iPads and Tablet Technology in Sensory Rooms There are many ways to make a sensory room and learning space more engaging, one of the quickest and most versatile is… the teacher. Running a close second is by using technology. In terms of interactivity specialist sensory room equipment cannot be beaten, it is hard-wearing and well-designed. However, … Read more
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