HI

Just wondering is anyone else considering (or already done!) getting rid of the rather official looking LEA IEP's

We currently have two children on Early Years Action and 2 on Early Years Action Plus. They each have an IEP, the design of which is nothing to do with us but is issued by our LEA. It is very formal looking complete with LEA logo. I have never really liked the layout but that's perhaps just me, the other thing that concerns me is that I do not think it is particularly inclusive to have these 'seperate forms' and yes OK they could be added to a child's learning journey before someone suggests that We follow Area Senco advice quite closely, have a great relationship with her and we have an SEN folder with IEP's and relevant correspondence. However, last week the Area Senco said the LEA are thinking of scrapping the current IEP format - what they intend to replace it with if anything is not clear. The suggestion is that we come up with our own form called something like 'additional support.' and this would form a part of the child's learning journey. The form would need to show the level of support the child is receiving and would obviously need to contain the information about strategies, etc etc etc. In fact in terms of information it would be the same as the IEP.

I quite like the idea of this change, the current form is not aesthetically pleasing and I think this makes a difference when parents are signing forms. Just wondering what your thoughts are but sorry if I haven't explained it very well (finally got my 'variables' in the right place and the assignment done but it has left me with brain fade!)

I use Gillian Shottons pupil friendly IEPs

should add we are moving away from IEPs to Provision Mapping and Pupil Profiles

Love it Marion! I'm sure it works really well when children are able to be actively involved in the whole process.

Maz

There are a choice of pictures to suit most interests ... dinosaurs cartoons football etc all come on a CD in colour or black and white

Here's mine - which I have to say is just a copy of the one our LA inclusion people use. Thanks for this prompt, Geraldine - I realised it was a bit out of date - with references to FS Curriculum and SENCO. So I've been able to change it for the next time we need to use one!

Maz

This is the IEP we use at school only I've taken any school data off but left the examples in, just deleting the child's name!

WOW! what a lovely lot you are (of course I already knew that!)

THank you so much for all the samples you so kindly shared I REALLY appreciate it and when my brain cells return (they seem to have gone on holiday ) I will have a proper look


THanks again

ooooh when/if you have time I would love to hear more

Dare I ask why 'SENCO' is out of date? It's a term we still use and we got picked up ages ago for not naming the SENCO in our SEN policy.
I am sure there is an obvious answer to this and I will probably realise what it is as soon as I post this message

Yes I wondered about that too - I'm sure our Area SENCO still calls herself that and certainly my policies and procedures still refer to 'SENCO'.

Sunnyday

We also still use the term SENCO as well - oh well never mind.

Here's our IEP format - similar to Marion's I think.
Click to view attachment

Are they not all INCO now? Inclusion Co-ordinators

Oh - perhaps Kent is 'behind the times' - have just 'dug out' letter from LA Specialist Teaching Service inviting me to an Early Years SENCO meeting! Should have said letter dated 18th May '09.

I'm SENCO and INCO two different roles

Is SENCO the setting based person and INCO what was the Area SENCO?

Or can you have a setting based INCO? I only ask because our local team of area SENCOs have told us they are INCOs and we are still SENCOs

Schools have both SENCOs and INCOs.

Not heard of INCO and I work in a special school! Nor did I hear anything about this at union meetings or conference, and there was lots of talk about SENCOs as they are going to have to be qualified if they are new to the job soon.

There is also a suggestion that SENCOs will be required to be qualified in SEN to masters level. I think Birmingham is offering one of the pilot courses???

We have moved away from thinking about 'special educational needs' as a label and so we have Inclusion Co-ordinators. We no longer have an SEN policy but an Inclusion policy, so it makes sense for us.

It also means the Inclusion co-ordinator's remit is sightly wider in that it looks at how the setting includes all children whether they have an additional need or just that they (or their family) require extra support for whatever reason - might be because they have English as a second language or they have housing issues etc.

INCo is a term that we don't use in our area as such - but it is a useful title: Inclusion Named Co-ordinator.

As I think I said elsewhere today in some other context: I don't think the title itself is as important as the work that is being done - but in this case I think Inclusion Co-ordinator does indicate the wider role of including all children.

Maz

I'm in a school so it may be different but we are expected to have both a SEN and Inclusion policy for the SEF

That's interesting Marion: no doubt there will now follow a flood of posts telling me the same applies to pre-school so I should add another thing to my 'to do' list!

Maz

Can I add some confusion into the mix too?
We've moved away from IEPs and now use ICPs.

What are ICPs? We can have an inclusion plan and/or an IEP. The inclusion plans focus on the adjustments we make in order to include the child rather than the IEPs that focus on what the child needs to do/achieve.

I looked up EYFS requirements. It's seems a bit confusing as is says an Equality of opportunity policy which will include hoe we support SEN children. We debated what to do recently, decided to put Equal Opps, Inclusion and SEN into one policy would make it so long nobody would read it. We opted for an Equal Opps policy and a separate inclusion policy that has a specific section on SEN. It is interesting to hear what you are all doing.

Gruffalo2

What does that stand for?

Maz

Individual Child plan as its not always about education...

Just my thoughts regarding policies whether to incorporate SEN, Inclusion, Equal opps etc is to consider which are enthrined in law and which are good practice. I personally think that Inclusion is a part of Equal opportunities so can go together enthrined in E.Ops law and SEN seperate with regard to educational law. Tell me if I'm wrong (or more to the point uninformed) if there are laws specifically made with regard to Inclusion

Does that make sense??

Peggy

ooh just another point can all you kind people who have shared your IEP (or alternatives) please ensure that you are not contravening copyright. If you think you are then please let me know by PM and I will need to delete from the posts or Steve may find himself in a spot of bother. Thanks.

Peggy

Quite right - makes perfect sense!

Maz

The law re inclusion is the Disability Discrimination Act and the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act. Inclusion is also part of an international agreement, but I'm too tired tonight to think exactly which one!

Sam2368 - now I understand ICPs, makes sense to me too

Gruffalo2

We used ILPs a few years ago for all children not just for SEN or AEN now we are being asked to produce Pupil Profiles for every child

It's not a Masters Qualification but it is going to be a specific qualification for SENCOs that I'm pretty sure you can put towards credits for a masters. They are going to make teaching a Master's Profession though for new entrants. The plan will be that you have to do your Masters in Teaching and Learning (or A N Other Masters course) within 5 years of qualifying as a teacher. This will not apply to teachers already in post.

hi gruffolo 2 did you mean the salamanca agreement

ooh intrigued now, haven't heard of that. I'll have to google.

I considered Conventions of Childrens Rights when devising my preschools Aims and policies.

Peggy

I've just unearthed my policy list
Inclusion
SEN
Disability
EAL
Behaviour
G&T
Racial Equality

personally think these could all be included in one policy but....

We have the same apart from G&T (currently a work in progress!) and Racial Equality which I think comes in our Equality and Diversity.

I agree they could all be in one policy
but don't we have a specific obligation to have a policy for SEN under the terms of Code Of Practice. A while back when we had OFSTED we were picked up for not having correct terminology in our policy - we amended it to include 'specific phrases' such as Graduated Approach, Early Years Action/Plus and had to include the name of our SENCO.

I have never liked the term 'special educational needs' I think it is quite discriminatory but better than some of the terms they used years ago! If we have truly inclusive settings that offer truly inclusive provision then every child surely receives whatever support they need regardless of 'anything' that is part of who they are

Unfortunately we seem to need these labels in order to access funding for these children, and until that changes we have to comply with the terminology. We are thinking of calling our IEPs 'Enabling Plans' to encompass what they actually do. As Sam2368 says, it's not just about education.