Spring 2013 Newsletter

Contact office@asend.co.uk to be added to the mailing list for our termly newsletter.

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

OFSTED Inspections focusing on attainment of SEN pupils

The new OFSTED inspection arrangements have an increased focus on closing the attainment gaps for pupils supported through the pupil premium, disabled pupils and pupils with SEN. 

Inspections will focus on the learning and progress of pupils in these groups – in the context of overall achievement nationally and locally.  Inspectors expect to see all pupils actively engaged in their learning and making good or outstanding progress.

This link gives you some insight into OFSTED’s approach to inspections with regard to SEN pupils:

  

OFSTED News

ASEND Advisors support teaching staff and offer whole school strategies for addressing these issues.  A child’s disability cannot be presented as evidence for a failure to engage or progress.  This will be a significant, and important, challenge for some schools.  But is evidently of benefit to pupils and the achievement of meaningful outcomes.

If you are interesting in support from an ASEND Advisor in preparation for an OFSTED inspection then get in touch.  We can run a “health check” and help to identify areas that may need some attention.  

Contact office@asend.co.uk

Recruiting ASEND Advisors

• Flexible working on assignments that fit with your other commitments
• Competitive daily rates according to experience
• Working in schools and colleges across London and the South East, individually or as part of a multi-agency team
• Regular events for continuing professional development and networking with other Advisors
• Advisor Handbook and DBS (formerly CRB) provided

Closing date for applications – 5pm Friday 12^th April 2013

Interviews – In the week commending 22^nd April 2013

About ASEND

ASEND provides schools and other educational provision with comprehensive and competitive specialist support and advice for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).  We offer training, consultancy, advice, strategic planning and support   for the whole school or advice for an individual pupil or a particular group of children.

We are a team of professionals with many years’ experience across all aspects of SEN and Disability. Our service responds promptly to schools that require specialist services, which may have been affected by current changes in local government and health provision, or find their provision is not as cost effective as it could be. We will find solutions that are specific, innovative and creative and will enable them to meet the Ofsted requirement to demonstrate good progress for all pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Disabilities.

We provide unequalled value for money by bringing together all the services and support available from different agencies, making it easier to co-ordinate children's health, education and social care needs. 

ASEND was established in 2011 by Barbara Ball, and is a company limited by shares registered in England and Wales.  Registration number: 7574863

ASEND Advisors – Specialists needed

We are seeking to increase our team of Advisors and are particularly interested in speaking to people with the following experiences and qualifications:

-       Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators

-       Dyslexia and specific learning difficulties specialists

-       Autism specialists

-    Experience as senior leaders in special or mainstream schools

-    SEN Local Authority caseworkers

You will be flexible and professional in your approach; committed to improving outcomes for disabled children; familiar with the UK education system and upto date with new developments; able to impart your knowledge and share your skills through coaching or modelling best practice; committed to creative and practical solutions.

Contact office@asend.co.uk for a Registration Form or ring 020 8166 8347