Autism & Neurodiversity Workshop = "What next after Visual timetables?"

Annie Etherington, the renowned senior advisory teacher, lecturer and author will be presenting a workshop for ASEND Advisors called "What next after visual timetables?"

This half day course will explore strategies based on an understanding of the issues, to enable access to learning for children and young people on the Autism Spectrum in the mainstream setting.

This is a Saturday course from 10.00-13.00  on 18 May 2013 - at our offices at the North London Business Park. Oakleigh Road South, London N11 1NP. Drinks and light refreshments will be provided.

It will be an inspirational and practical workshop not to be missed by anyone with an interest in autism and neurodiversity in schools. The excellent rates are just £20.00 for ASEND Advisors and £30.00 for guests.

Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Payment should be made at the time of booking by cheque made out to ASEND Ltd or by direct transfer (bank details given on request).

Personalised Learning Plus

Barbara Ball, Director and Founder of ASEND, will be speaking at the Teaching Leaders National Conference.  Click here for the weblink

Here is an extract from her talk:

As the poet and writer Maya Angelou said, “in diversity there is beauty and there is strength”. SEN and behaviour difficulties are not issues for the SENCo alone, they are challenges for every teacher to meet. A key role of school leaders is supporting teachers to meet the diversity of needs in their classrooms and create an environment in which every student’s natural talents can flourish.

An understanding of individuals’ different ways of thinking and learning enables teachers to engage every student, enhancing their experience and raising standards and achievement throughout the school.

This workshop will use discussion and case studies to help leaders explore the attitudes and skills needed to develop a culture of personalised teaching and learning in their schools: emotional intelligence, flexibility, willingness to take risks - and understanding how to mitigate them - and the confidence to review results and change course.

We will explore strategies leaders can develop to:

                  ·  Help teachers to find solutions to challenges

                  ·  Support teachers to take risks and provide backup to ensure safety

                  ·  Model a flexible approach to problem solving

                  ·  Ensure that teachers reflect on their learning and regularly review outcomes

If you are attending this conference then do go along and say hallo to Barbara.  She is an experienced and engaging speaker with lots of practical examples to illustrate her points.  You are guaranteed to leave her workshop with a clear set of actions that you can implement straight away in your school – to the benefit of pupils and staff.

Contact office@asend.co.uk for workshops and conference speakers covering a variety of SEND topics.

ASEND Article in Special Children Magazine

We are delighted that ASEND is featured in Issue 211 (February 2013) of Special Children magazine.

Barbara Ball and Linda Fishers’ article -  Early Support: Key working with young people and their families - demonstrates how working in partnership improves outcomes for children with SEND and their families.

It is based on many years of practical experience across a range of schools.

If you subscribe to Special Children magazine, then you can find the article here:

Link to Barbara and Lindas' article

SEN and Disability Green Paper - An Update

It is interesting to see how the proposals are evolving and changing over time.  Which is why we touch on the Green Paper regularly through the ASEND Advisor networking meetings.

Here is a brief checklist of the changes proposed:

• o   Local authorities will be jointly commissioning across Education, Health and Social Care to provide more holistic responses to needs.
• o   Each local authority will publish a local offer of services for SEN and disabled pupils.
• o   The assessment process will be streamlined and more actively involve young people and families.
• o   Statements will be replaced by a new 0-25 years Education, Health and Care Plan.
• o   Families and young people with a plan may get a Personal Budget.
• o   There will be statutory protection for young people aged 16-25 years who are in Further Education.
• o   Academies, Free Schools, FE and Sixth Form Colleges will have the same SEN duties as maintained schools.

The plan is to implement the changes in September 2014, and we are in the midst of the legislative process now. 

ASEND Advisors can help schools to review current practices and identify areas for development.  It is helpful for all staff to know the key points in the Green Paper – developed to address weaknesses in the current arrangements for SEN pupils. 

If you would like a speaker on the Green Paper to come along to an INSET day or Staff Meeting, then contact office@asend.co.uk