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Welcome back to the second half of the Spring term – it'll soon be warmer and sunnier (hopefully!) for all of us after a long and rather chilly few months!
We are excited to announce that the keynote speaker for our annual SEND conference has been confirmed! We will be welcoming Mark Finnis, who is known for building relational culture by design and not default, using a fantastic restorative and relational based approach.
To support Devon’s SEND transformation programme, and our collective commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND in Devon, we are offering reduced price tickets for all attendees in 2025.
We hope this supports you to prioritise both your leaders of SEND and SENDCos to attend, enabling wider collaboration, sharing of best practice and development of knowledge from our expert keynote speakers, workshop hosts and additional contributors.
Book now for just £70pp on Devon Education Services website.
Any schools who have already booked the SEND Conference at the initial price will receive a refund of the price difference.
New Neurodiversity resource website: a one-stop shop for key information about neurodiversity
This website has been developed to support parents, carers, children and young people, and those working with children and young people with Neurodiversity, in Devon, Torbay and Plymouth.
The website includes a range of resources, videos and information about what is available in our local area, and nationally, for children, young people and families.
Educational Psychologists undertake assessments for Education, Health, and Care Needs Assessments (EHCNAs) using a Joint Assessment Meeting (JAM).
We’ve had feedback that parents and carers do not always have good notice of JAM meetings and are not sure what to expect at these meetings.
Starting in February, parents and carers will receive an email from the Educational Psychology Service inviting them to attend the JAM meeting. The email will tell parents and carers what they can expect from the meeting and how they might like to prepare.
There is lots of information on Devon County Council's website to explain what a JAM is. There is also a video explaining what an educational psychologist does. You might like to share these resources with parents and carers.
Making Sense of SEND training aims to help parent carers understand some of the most important information and the most useful skills to develop when supporting a child with SEND. It explains the basics about special educational needs, SEN support and how the SEND system works and helps parents to feel more confident about speaking up for their child and working with professionals.
Online sessions via Teams:
• Part one: About SEND and school - Wednesday 12 March 2025, 1pm-2.30pm
• Part two: How to take part and share what you know - Wednesday 19th March 2025, 10am-11.30am
In-person session:
2nd April 2025, 9.15am for a 9.30am start – 12.45pm.
Cullompton Community Centre, Pye Corner, Cullompton, Devon, EX15 1JX.
As of Friday 14th February, the Education Key Worker Team will no longer be able to accept referrals for current Year 11 pupils.
Pupils who have already been referred to the team will still be considered for intervention and any pupils who have been accepted but are awaiting intervention will hear from the team shortly, in relation to the work and intervention that can be offered at this point in the school year for these pupils.
If you have any queries, please contact the EKW team: educationkeyworker@devon.gov.uk
As part of Devon’s SEND Local Offer, we’re excited to provide a series of information sessions to help pupils prepare for life after school. Topics include career opportunities, independent living, managing money, and mental health.
Training and Employment Opportunities
📅Tuesday 18 March 2025, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Independent Living and Housing Options
📅Tuesday 15 April 2025, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Money Management
📅Wednesday 7 July 2025, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Good Mental Health and Resilience
📅Tuesday 16 September 2025, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
These sessions are open to young people and their supporters, with live Q&A opportunities. Recordings will also be available for PSHE lessons.
For full details and future dates, please visit our website. We’d love your help in spreading the word - thanks for your support, and we look forward to seeing your students there!
Initial introduction to safe handling practices for schools and settings working with settings working with children and young people who have physical difficulties.
Initial Course – new date added:
2nd July Exeter 9am-3.30pm
Special Offer Book 2 places (SENCO plus 1) & receive 15% discount
Refresher Course – new dates:
11th March Exeter 9am-12pm
3rd July Exeter 9am -12pm
April is World Autism Acceptance Month. You can register now for a free educators' pack from the AET on Autism Education Trust website 👈
Neurodiversity celebration week. Remember ‘Speak up for DLD’!
For further information in how your school can participate please visit Neurodiversity Celebration Week website 👈
Further information about DLD:
DLD - Speech and Language UK: Changing young lives
Developmental Language Disorder - Raising Awareness
DLD - The most common childhood condition you've never heard of (The Guardian)
The National Autistic Society – free resources!
The Know Yourself series is a set of free resources which includes videos and downloadable guides aiming to support autistic teenagers to understand what being autistic means.
Don’t forget to check in with our own Communication and interaction One Minute Guides. These are regularly updated and include themes like Autism and Girls, Managing and Preventing Burnout and Demand Avoidance.
Drop In Sessions
These sessions intend to provide SENCOs and HLTAs with support and advice on issues related to those pupils experiencing severe and persistent difficulties with literacy. You can ‘drop in’ on the session or stay for the whole session. If you would like to secure a slot on these sessions, please contact the below staff to register your interest.
Primary Drop Ins
Please contact Rebecca Hughes at rebecca.hughes@qe.devon.sch.uk
- Tuesday 1st April 2025, 12.15 – 2.00
- Tuesday 10th June 2025, 12.15 – 2.00
Secondary Drop Ins
Please contact Deborah Lynch at deborah.lynch@qe.devon.sch.uk
- Tuesday 1st April 2025, 12.15 – 2.00
- Tuesday 17th June 2025, 12.15 – 2.00
Every Devon school has an allocated SEND Advisory Teacher, who offer free support to develop strategic SEND systems and provision in schools. Our offer includes mentoring SENDCos, auditing your learning environment, whole-school SEN Reviews, development of your Ordinarily Available Inclusive Provision, use of the soon-to-be-available Ordinarily Available Targeted Support Framework, to name a few. Please contact your local SEND Advisory Teacher if you would like to discuss how we can support you:
Melissa New at melissa.new@devon.gov.uk– North
Hannah Jones at hannah.jones@devon.gov.uk – East
James Crompton at james.crompton@devon.gov.uk – Tiverton, Exeter and Teignmouth
Hannah Downing at hannah.downing@devon.gov.uk – South Hams, West and Crediton
These continue to be very well attended by schools and feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. To enable everyone to understand the purpose of the SSCs/Drop-ins, we have collated some of the FAQs and their answers in one easy-to-find place.
If you are a North Devon School, you can book a Drop-in here 👈
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