SEND: An education for life beyond school
f teaching is a vocation then working in the field of special needs is a calling.
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Tag: teaching
Top Tips for NQTs going into SEN
It is that time of year when trainee teachers are finishing their placements and looking for a school to begin their teaching career in. I hope some of you consider moving into the SEN sector. It is a great opportunity to build so many essential skills. It is also a great way to get to know the child behind the label, behind the stereotypes and textbook generalisations.
NPQSL: Final Project
I want to share my project. Examples online are few and far between. I have had to redact some parts and evidence for obvious reasons and being an SEN provision my focus is unlikely to be the same but I hope the content and style should give you some pointers. All I ask is that you take the time to share Inclusiveteach.com with your colleagues.
Essential Sensory Resources
Many “Sensory” resources can be created from free or existing material, bubble wrap, packaging foam, a little dot of oil on a radiator. Food is easy and usually cheap, rainbow rice or spaghetti. I am a fan of getting outside, feel the breeze, listen to the waves (my school is just above the beach). Sometimes you want something a bit different. These can be used in a sensory room or individually to encourage calming or even concentration. I would love to hear your ideas as well.
Inclusive teacher: Engaging the failed Autistic Learner.
this post is specifically focused on strategies that may be effective for autistic children. This post draws heavily on the work of Damian Milton from who’s writing I have learnt so much from over the last year or two. This booklet has particularly shaped my approach to teaching. Most of these strategies are really just aimed at reducing stressors throughout the day. I would like to stress these are interpreted through by teaching experience and context is very important.
Why is Inclusive Education Essential?
Inclusive education is at the heart of education thinking in the UK but seems constantly challenged by policies such as Zero Tolerance behaviour and spending cuts that remove the support so important for our children to thrive in school.
Inclusive teacher: Engaging the failed child.
I am aware this blog is quite niche to special education settings but I hope teachers from all settings will be able to find use for these suggestions.
6 Awesome ways to engage reluctant learners.
In this post I am classing reluctant learners as those who often do not finish tasks, they may do the minimum to get by or even flat out refuse to take part. As inclusive teachers we constantly have to be mindful of the drivers of the child’s behaviour. The key to creating engaged learners is to know the child and the barriers they face. Some issues may go deeper and require additional specialist support. A class teacher dedicated to engaging their students can have a huge impact on the students experience of education and their outcome in life. Engaging learners is as much about emotional confidence as intellectual propensity so make that bond and enable all to achieve
Making your classroom better for all learners: Approach
This is part two of our post on making sure your classroom is accessible to all learners. Part one is
Making your classroom better for all learners: Environment
Every student has a dream classroom, this Utopia will be different for every child. Some learners may need wide ranging
Stranger Things quotes for teachers.
Sometimes things in the world get a little too much. Time for another quote based post This time from Stranger Things.
13 Questions to ask to ensure you are an inclusive setting.
This is primarily SEN focused but can any truly inclusive setting should be able to use this as a checklist.
Essential Star Wars Toys for Inclusive Teachers
Seeing as my most popular post is Star Wars quotes I thought why not tap into the force and write a post on Using star wars toys, games and lightsabers in the classroom. All these have links to the products but my favourite way to gather resources is to ask fellow Jedi teachers/friends to remember my little rebel alliance when having a pre-Christmas clear out.
Inclusive Teacher: My Little Worry Book
I needed something quick and simple to support a young student through a difficult time. She was very reliant on staff to support her with very little idea ways she could help herself without getting overwhelmed. Her actions suggested she needed some prompts to think of ways to ask for help.
Inclusive Teacher: People that help us Printable Resources.
Free Printable SEN teaching resources focusing on firefighters and people who help us.
Remembrance Day: Free SEN resources
These are the resources I have made to use with my class to support learning about Remembrance Day this November. Poppy themed with a UK focus all use similar images and symbols . I hope they are of some use with your children.
Essential Books for Inclusive Teachers: Behaviour.
These books are only those I have read and can recommend. They all follow an inclusive and positive support ethos. They all also focus on the only part of behaviour support we can control – ourselves. If your school has a zero tolerance behaviour policy read these and make it your mission to get that rewritten.I will get around to doing a second post but I need to get reading first!
The Ultimate Guide to Transitions.
A Guide to supporting transitions and changes with Autistic students within school.
Transition is a challenge that our students face on a daily basis. These transitions take place on a range of scales. From the micro transition of switching thoughts between tasks to major physical transitions between environments. The number of individual transitions an individual will undertake throughout the day is huge. Each one may well be a source of stress and anxiety for each student. The level of this anxiety and how it is communicated to us will vary dramatically. As with all the actions of our students this stress may not be easy for us to interpret. The quotes are from Autistic people I asked but are anonymised. I know I do not include enough Autistic voice, I will strive to expand this in future posts (I would welcome your comments.)
Case Study: Heat and Behaviour
This seemed apt to post now as the country simmers slowly beneath the summer sun. This post is based on
Does Behaviour Really come “Out of the Blue?”
Looking beyond “No apparent reason”. Does Behaviour Really come “Out of the Blue?” This article is based on my experiences
