Welcome
It was lovely to meet so many of you at our recent SEND network events held across Devon. It was a great opportunity to hear updates from the sensory and physical team, the education psychology service and meet up with colleagues. It was also useful to have your input to help develop our Ordinarily Available Inclusive Provision offer for Devon schools.
We appreciate that this half term has been busy - if you haven't manage to attend yet, there is a another opportunity, Wednesday 18th October, which is virtual. You can use the following link to book. SEND network meeting | DES (devoneducationservices.co.uk)
For the super organised, you can now also book your place for the Spring term events using the same link.
For secondary colleagues, don't forget to book your place for the Secondary SEND forum taking place on 15th November. This will be an opportunity for Devon secondary schools to come together, in person, to discuss common themes and concerns related to supporting students with SEND and, more importantly, share ideas, solutions and good practice with each other. More information can be found here
Finally, I wish you all a very restful half term.
Best wishes, Hannah (Chamings)
SENDco jobs for October
- Follow up transition successes and areas for development.
- Quality assurance – QFT and interventions (mid-point checks).
- Book and add to diary all annual reviews for the year
- Support CPD for Governors to ensure they are aware of their responsibilities and duties surrounding pupils with SEND.
- Review policy and SEND information report.
- Review provision map in light of interventions running/required.
- Parent/Carer events
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Guidance to help with the jobs
For those of you who attended this year's SEND conference you will be aware of one of our speakers, Gary Aubin from SEND matters and author of The Lone SENDCo.
Gary has recently created some free downloads to support you in your SENDCo role covering:
- Working with parents and carers
- Annual Reviews
- Transition
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The guidance outlines the statutory requirements that schools must follow, what best practice looks like and tips for SENDcos. There are even QR codes for further reading.
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The Education Psychology team has produced a series of useful guides about Joint Assessment Meetings (JAMs) for young children, older children, SENCos, other school staff and professionals and parents and carers. |
ADHD medication shortages
There are supply disruptions affecting various strengths of the following medications which are licensed for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
The supply disruption of these products is caused by a combination of manufacturing issues and an increased global demand.
While there are other ADHD products, all ADHD medicines are now affected as lack of availability of listed products is having a knock on effect to others.
At present, the supply disruptions are expected to resolve at various dates between October and December 2023.
There maybe children and young people who have had to change their medication, may be missing doses as a result of this, or where treatment breaks are planned/ enforced as a result of the current situation which will have an impact on how they are able to manage that is highly likely to impact on how they cope with school.
The ChatHealth team are running a national promotion of the school aged ChatHealth texting services. Click below for more information.
Did you know, if you are aged 11-19 and live in Devon you can contact your school nurse for confidential advice and support via text on 07520631722?
You can also find lots of information about different subjects and health needs and where you can get support if you need it via their website.
Parents/carers can contact the public health nursing team (health visitors and school nurses) for information and advice on 07520631721.
They also have a website that’s split into a kids zone and a parent’s zone with information about a range of health and wellbeing needs and sources of support if you need it.
RNIB Bookshare? This is a free electronic library for CYP with VI, dyslexia, and autism. Books, textbooks, school reading schemes can be uploaded to electronic devices or printed out. There is also an extensive range of clutter free images and diagrams for all key stages. This helps to speed up resource production and helps to support independent learning. Join here
A quick idea to support social inclusion
CYP with VI often find social times tiring and often isolating. Children running around, increased noise and finding friends outside all contribute to visual fatigue - often these children and young people need to have a rest after break!
This is an old technique but a good one. In your class ask each child to write a quick biography of themselves - to include interests, hobbies, favourite foods etc. In an accessible font (or braille!) collate these in a book so that the children can read through and find out information about each other. This helps to support conversations, especially on the buddy bench, and helps to reduce social isolation and supports good mental health.
For additional strategies to support social and emotional health contact your advisory teacher for VI .
There are new courses about speech, language and communication needs available to teachers across Devon schools this term. These courses aim to increase your understanding and awareness of speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) and their impact on learning for primary and secondary age children.
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Fully-funded SLT for Schools online course from Marjon University
- Free tools to help you identify language needs webinars from Devon County Council
- Bookable SLCN training courses from Devon Education Services
The current DfE Guidance on Relationships and Sex Education recognises that ‘some pupils are more vulnerable to exploitation, bullying and other issues due to the nature of their SEND’. This makes it especially important to provide clear examples of healthy (and less healthy) behaviours in relationships to allow all children and young people to recognise when they might need support with their relationships.
What does that mean in practice? How can teachers help young people to recognise unhealthy behaviours in RSE lessons?
A article by was recently published by DLDandme asking Why is math so hard? Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) is a difficulty with understanding and using language. Language is about words and sentences. So why do children with DLD have so much difficulty with maths?
Maths can involve tricky concepts without using very much language but a lot of the time, maths does actually use words which can make activities really difficult for our learners with DLD.
What could help children with DLD?
- Extra time
- Use of manipulatives: Helen Edgington, Primary Maths Advisor, says ‘A multi-representational approach supports all children but even more those with DLD if manipulatives and other mathematical drawings can be used alongside calculations’
- Use of visuals
- Careful exploration of mathematical concepts
Hereford and Worcester NHS SALT Team have a range of visual resources to support maths (see ‘Visual support for maths’ tab)
The full article, I have DLD. Why is math so hard? Is available here
To find out more about DLD why not visit the RADLD YouTube page which includes Teacher Tips for adapting language in maths and other subjects.
Look out for the next edition of the SEND update 6th November 2023
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