What are the positive / negative implications of these different conceptions of SEN? by Jonathan Vincent https://padlet.com/j_vincent1/l7aq4l9g08xrdza4 Add your comments by clicking on the screen and typing! en-us 2020-09-24 12:15:37 UTC 2020-10-07 14:55:43 UTC hello@padlet.com I find the SEND Children and Families Act one of the most important simply because of the huge emphasis on the input of the child. It's really important that the child or young person has their say and is able to comment on what they think works best for them and what doesn't. I've always invited the students themselves to their Annual EHCP review meetings and this is sometimes met with surprise from parents! I always find it valuable, even if they don't input or add to discussion. Their presence at the meeting shows they are important and that the whole plan is about them and for them. The concept that parents and families have greater powers is both fantastic and also difficult for us as SENDCOs. Parents, carers and families have much more knowledge of SEND and their rights which means parents are now able to be more actively engaged in their child's education and provision. However, coupled with this can be unrealistic expectations and often demands and the misunderstanding that an EHCP automatically means 1:1 tuition, a personal TA, small group sizes and lots and lots of communication home! https://padlet.com/j_vincent1/l7aq4l9g08xrdza4/wish/792258976 2020-09-30 17:19:31 UTC https://padlet.com/j_vincent1/l7aq4l9g08xrdza4/wish/792258976 I think the local offer and the is one of the most important reforms for both parents and children. Finding information for parents, especially those that are new to SEN can be really tricky and the local offer helps to alleviate some of this difficulty. Especially as there are different approaches across the 4 counties in the UK (which was surprising) and is likely to add confusion to parents. Also I think the fact that SEND policies are still used as political debate has such a negative implication on both schools and children but unfortunately this is unlikely to change anytime soon. https://padlet.com/j_vincent1/l7aq4l9g08xrdza4/wish/807291175 2020-10-06 16:02:09 UTC https://padlet.com/j_vincent1/l7aq4l9g08xrdza4/wish/807291175 Through the local offer, parents are now being signposted where and how to access support that they need. Because of this, admittedly only relatively recently, I am now having conversations with parents about what they have already accessed or who they have spoken to. I think this has helped parents with a greater sense of empowerment; they are being listened to, their concerns are recognised and they can be even more proactive in accessing ways of supporting their child - in addition to support from school. A parent once described to me how she felt like she was fighting against closed doors - I would hope now that if I were to speak to her again, she would have a different perception of the situation. https://padlet.com/j_vincent1/l7aq4l9g08xrdza4/wish/808102142 2020-10-06 19:06:21 UTC https://padlet.com/j_vincent1/l7aq4l9g08xrdza4/wish/808102142 https://padlet.com/j_vincent1/l7aq4l9g08xrdza4/wish/809729218 I think that the change from statements to EHCPs was a positive change in terms of the aim now being that all services involved work together instead of being separate. However, I am not sure that in practice this always achieves the aim, as I think the emphasis can still be on schools to provide but the sharing of information in good. I also think the inclusion of the child/YP and the parents in the compiling of the plans can only be a positive thing. As well as the existence of the local offer allowing parents the ability to find out what is available and where.

I would say potential negatives would be the difference in approaches between the 4 countries as this will make things unclear for parents and staff who move between countries but also if you talk to people in a different system. I also think that SEND policies and practice being decided/debated in a political arena negative as I don't see how this can allow for the best outcome for children and families when there is a political agenda and practice being decided by politicians not practitioners who work with the children and the processes on a daily basis.]]> 2020-10-07 09:59:12 UTC https://padlet.com/j_vincent1/l7aq4l9g08xrdza4/wish/809729218 Thanks for adding these interesting insights! https://padlet.com/j_vincent1/l7aq4l9g08xrdza4/wish/810554214 2020-10-07 14:55:32 UTC https://padlet.com/j_vincent1/l7aq4l9g08xrdza4/wish/810554214