Vulnerable pupils: Parent-school meetings In Headteacher Update this year, Daniel Sobel will be tackling common problems and questions when it comes to supporting vulnerable pupils in school. In his first article, he looks at the challenges and secrets to successful parent-school meetings
Case study: Therapeutic provisions in a special school setting Drawing on their work at a special school in Barnet, Jessie Ellinor and Lola Alvarez-Romano explain the therapeutic provisions on offer, advocating support and wellbeing for children and their families
Inclusion, equality and the law There are a range of statutory requirements that all schools must meet to ensure the inclusion of children and young people with disabilities and SEN. Navin Kikabhai looks at what the law requires and offers best practice advice
Speech, language and communication needs – how does your school measure up? Effective support for children with speech, language and communication needs is essential, but how does your school measure up? Ten years on from the Bercow Review, Mary Hartshorne looks at the situation today and gives primary schools a checklist for best practice
Inattentive ADHD The hyperactive version of ADHD is well-known and often spotted, but students with inattentive ADHD frequently go undiagnosed, as Daniel Sobel knows from his own experience
Attachment theory in schools The implications of attachment theory are becoming more and more relevant to the work of schools. Professor Elizabeth Harlow looks at the research and signposts a range of resources, training and support
SEN: It’s goodbye to P scales They were never flawless, but P scales have become the accepted currency of SEN attainment. Now they are set to go, Suzanne O’Connell looks at what’s replacing them and what schools think about it 1 comment
SEN: Are you listening? Are you listening to your SEN students? Teacher and SEN expert Adele Devine discusses some strategies and resources she has found effective in special schools to help support your students by reducing their anxiety and building good mental health
Inclusion: We learn better together... How can schools provide pupils of all abilities and backgrounds with access to a high-quality education? Laura McPhee discusses how her school has built and maintained an inclusive learning environment
Looked-after children and Attachment Theory Looked-after children continue to struggle in our education system. Inclusion expert Daniel Sobel looks at why this is, including a focus on Attachment Theory and how we might reduce the high number of exclusions for this cohort
Challenging schools: Five recurring themes Every school is different and must tackle its challenges in a way to suit its own circumstances. However, Daniel Sobel has seen some generally recurring themes in schools that could be classed as ‘vulnerable’ or ‘challenging’
Planning a new SEND building Developing new facilities and buildings to cater for pupils with SEN and disabilities can be a challenge for schools. Gareth Barber discusses the requirements, offers expert advice, and looks at a case study of one school’s building project
Recruiting the perfect SENCO for your school Schools are finding it hard to recruit successful SENCOs. Daniel Sobel believes this is down to the changing requirements of this broad and vital position. He looks at the modern SENCO role and advises on recruiting effectively 1 comment
SLCN: Spotting problems and supporting students Speech, language and communication needs can often pass under the radar or be misdiagnosed and early recognition is key to supporting pupils effectively. Kristina Symons looks at how we can spot the signs in key stage 1 and what kind of in-school support and interventions we might offer
Autism: 10 tried and tested strategies Teacher and author Adele Devine offers 10 strategies for supporting children who are on the autism spectrum in the mainstream school setting
Autism: Supporting autistic girls in the primary school setting There are many more autism diagnoses for primary school boys than there are for girls, but this does not mean that girls do not have autism. Emma Lee-Potter speaks to expert Sarah Wild about what more primaries can do to spot and support girls with autism
Autism: Introducing the AP Gang The AP Gang is Riverside Primary’s simple but effective programme to involve older pupils in offering often crucial daily support to learners with autism. Headteacher Kay Robertson explains more about the innovative project
Achieving effective differentiation Differentiation is accepted as part of teaching, but do we really offer true differentiation to all students, including those with SEN? Daniel Sobel says that too often we don’t. He looks here at a more nuanced and investigative approach to differentiation
Approaches to SEN support Award-winning teacher Jacky Wyatt offers some insights into effective approaches to support pupils with SEN during their time at primary school
Strategies to support vulnerable children Faced with a large proportion of both Pupil Premium children and pupils who have SEN and disabilities, Harbour Primary and Nursery School has used a range of strategies – not least parental engagement – to meet these children’s needs.
Preparing for SEN reform As a new SEN and disability Code of Practice awaits publication, Jane Friswell summarises the challenges facing schools as the special needs sector undergoes major reform.
Case study: Supporting social and emotional difficulties via the Pupil Premium Colley Lane Primary School has worked with psychologists to develop interventions for Pupil Premium children, including a Nurture Suite, and to offer training for teachers. Ahead of presenting its work at a free CPD event, Kevin Gallagher explains more
SEN and action research It takes a special kind of insight to meet some pupils’ unique and complex needs. Sarah Fleming reports on one school that has boosted their expertise through action research.
