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The Optimus blog

The blog that inspires leaders in the UK education sector

The Optimus blog

The blog that inspires leaders in the UK education sector

SENCology

Joanna Grace
25 January 2018

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: in need of our understanding

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) may sound obscure, but misdiagnosis or misunderstanding in schools can have a lasting effect on young people who have the condition. It’s likely that your school supports young people with autism. It’s also likely that, if you were to have trouble supporting a...
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Gareth D Morewood
19 January 2018

High quality, low cost: a guide to CPD for SEND

In ensuring SEND takes pride of place on their school's CPD timetable, SENCOs should first turn to the excellent resources we share among ourselves. In the last post, we asked what a good whole-school investment in SEND would look like, and considered how training and professional development...
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Gareth D Morewood
15 January 2018

What makes a good investment in SEND?

A whole-school approach to improving outcomes for pupils with SEND means not only an investment of money, but also training priorities and time. SEND provision is too often directed toward those with more complex needs or EHCPs. This means that young people with SEND who are identified and...
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Charlie Roden
5 January 2018

Days like this: how I became a teaching assistant

Bottle caps can be wheelchair lifts, and students can be tougher interviewers than staff: just some of the things I learned when applying to become a TA. I have been interviewed many times over the years – when applying to the role of support worker, bartender, retail assistant and even university...
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Gareth D Morewood
15 December 2017

Time to take stock of our SEND highlights

Every SENCO have reason to be proud of their work this year. It's important not to let these positive highlights languish in the shadow of ongoing challenges. This is one of the most hectic times of year, and it can be a huge strain on schools and families. Ofsted’s annual report has signalled a...
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Gareth D Morewood
8 December 2017

SENCOs: make the end of term festive, not frantic!

'Tis the season to be jolly, but with very little 'down time' in the run-up to the end of term, SENCOs need to make sure they allow time for self-care. Don't let a long to-do list wear you down in these last few weeks of term You might think that the run-in to the festive break heralds unbounded...
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Gareth D Morewood
1 December 2017

Making transition reviews count

When exploring post-16 pathways, transition reviews are indispensable. Help your Year 11s keep their options open. I have written previously about how important NEETs are as a measure of inclusion. As we near the end of the implementation phase of the 2014 SEND reforms, never has supporting...
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Gareth D Morewood
24 November 2017

Getting value from educational visits

Taking the time to arrange bespoke plans for individual students will mean everyone can make the most of school trips. Conway Centre, Anglesey. Picture credit: conwaycentres.co.uk have previously written about how inclusion means everyone goes , even on the road . After taking 231 Year 7 students...
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Julie Kennelly
17 November 2017

Improving in-class support across the board

Prioritising the time and attention of support staff is a daily challenge in many schools. Here's one simple but effective technique for coordinating cover. We are all too aware of the financial and systemic barriers to provision for SEND that is appropriately resourced and well allocated. As a new...
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Gareth D Morewood
10 November 2017

SEND: the E is not for exclusion

Too many schools are turning away their most vulnerable learners when additional needs are not met. This must stop. A few weeks ago, I argued that excluding pupils should always be a last resort; that schools and parents can find more positive solutions if they work together; and that for pupils...
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