SENCO and IEP...an unusual query...

[butterflymum]

...not sure if this is best on Education Board or Special Needs Board, but have opted for here.

Does anyone have any experience of SENCO involvement (including talk of an IEP) when a child appears to have been classed as 'High Ability' and is already being given homework/classwork at an advanced level to others in their year?

Everything I have read about SENCO involvement seems to be in situations where the child has a learning difficulty which calls for special educational provision to be made, significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of children of the same age or, a disability that prevents or hinders use of everyday educational facilities.

[homemama]

Where I teach, (and I know others have missed out on this) we have 3 (I think) children on an IEP because they are classed as gifted & talented.

Basically, an IEP is an individual education plan drawn up to help children whose abilities fall outside the usual range. The idea is that they set out ways in which ths school can help these children reach their potential.

The majority are for children who are experiencing difficulties however, they should be used for G&T provision too.

It's not unusual, but judging by the reaction of some MNs last time I mentioned them, they are clearly very underused.

HTH

[Blandmum]

And I have also seen IEPs for children who have difficulties and are very able...there are several children with ASD who fall into this catagory where I work. I feel that IEPs should be used for all children who's educational needs are not being met by 'ordinary' provision. In practice most SENCOs are so stretched they tend to be used for children having specific difficulties rather than being g & T

[butterflymum]

Thaks to both of you for your very interesting replies.

Yes, albeit from my limited knowledge of SEN, I would agree that IEPs should be used for all children who's educational needs are not being met by 'ordinary' provision, therefore including high ability within this scope. The fact that I could not, however, find reference to this within various SEN articles I read, led me to believe that it was not the done thing as the regulations did not extend to this type of coverage.

Can I assume that those schools who do use IEP's and SENCO services for high ability are doing so out of a desire to help the child regardless of them not actually being 'entitiled' to same?

[butterflymum]

Oops, thanks!

[roisin]

Butterflymum - all schools should have a 'gifted and talented co-ordinator' and they are responsible for 'high ability' children. In some schools (not in ours) this may be the same person as the SENCO, but it really is a separate role

Some G&T co-ordinators are developing the use of IEPs for these children; I know of a number of people on mn where this is the case.

Our school currently does not use IEPs for this purpose, but they do have excellent G&T provision.

There are all sorts of overlaps between G&T and SEN, not least because in a mixed ability class it is very difficult to appropriately challenge the top 5% and the bottom 5% of ability.