Idea For Senco's In Private And Voluntary Settings

[Guest]

We are currently planning and putting together a display for loan to settings. It will include information around the Code of Practice, explain Early Years Action and Action plus, IEPs and their purpose, Early identification and its importance....

it will be supported by

leaflets (parent partnership, specialist support groups, toy library, Children information service)

Books (specialised subjects/conditions etc)

Web sites/addresses

Parent comments (from those who have accessed the service)

other professionals when available (Health Visitor, Speech therapist, Parent partnership rep

 

We will offer the display for a period of time and/or for the Area SENCO to be available in the setting at home time on occasion to answer questions or just to raise awareness with parents

We hope that it will make approaching parents with concerns less stressful for settings and their SENCO.

Some parents who have been approached have had many concerns about the Area SENCO team being involved, some thought we were social services and some are just scared of facing their own concerns.

[Guest]

Hi Lesley

This is a great idea. The hardest thing for most settings is approaching parents to let them know you have concerns. Parents reactions can be so varied, some who are relieved because you have put into words the concerns they have had but others who pull the blinds down and don't want to know. As soon as you say SENCO or special needs it sends some parents, and understandably so, into a panic. If settings could be given more information and guidance then it would make life a lot easier for everybody.

Just out of interest, here in Stockport we don't seem to have any area SENCOS in place, if we have we haven't been told about them. We have SENCO cluster group meetings but in the past 18 months there have only been 2. Is this common elsewhere?

Linda

[Guest]

Hi linda

the Area SENCO team is a gov initiative to support early identification of SEN - all areas should have area SENCOs in private and voluntary settings - they should each support 20 settings. the support on offer is varied with some teams offereing training, our team offers practical support in many ways

attending or arranging IEP meetings

seeking out support through volunteers

financial grants through the early years team

training for settings/senco's

advice and guidance re - children with SEN

observing/assessing a child they are concerned about

 

lesley lewis

[Guest]

Hi Lesley

Thanks for that. I know we are supposed to have area SENCOS but we don't seem to have any at the moment!!! I think I am going to have investigate this and find out what is happening here.

Linda