SEN & lack of training for teachers / prospective teachers etc - Should they consider volunteering as a means to access support and training?

[LifeIsFreeStyle]

Hi, It really is my first ever AIBU, so please go easy on me. Not intending the thread as inflammatory - just a genuine question.

There has been lots of debate recently about attitudes and capabilities of schools / school staff towards SEN kids and statements. One aspect of this seems to be a frustration from both parents and teachers at the lack of teacher training available on SEN and disabilities, ASC in particular.

So my question is really, AIBU to suggest that a period of voluntary work with disability organisations might provide the insight and training that will help everyone in the long-run? And by everyone, yes, I do mean everyone including classmates and support staff.

My ASD son is in mainstream school and is in year 1. Before he started there the school SENCO asked if I would prepare some information booklet about him and come and do a presentation to the school. I arrived thinking it would just be the SENCO and his class teachers and maybe the head, but it turned out most of the teachers, TAs and even lunch ladies were there. It was great I had an hour to give a presentation on my son and handed out relevant reading material about him. They asked all their questions and I answered as honestly as I could. He gets on really well there and I feel I have an open, honest relationship with the school. If every parent of a SEN child got this opportnity I think a lot of problems would be solved, most of it revolves around effective communication between parents and school.

Oh god tethers.

Indeed starball. We moved to a small school from a big city school and while the city school had a lot of other challenges, they were much much more on the ball than the village primary. However we're playing the long game because the inner-city secondary DS would have gone to would have been a terrible fit, whereas the small town secondary seems much better.

There is one SN youth club once a month - but tbh, DS loves tearing about with his pals, having a little flap if he gets excited, talking at his friends without the expectation that anyone will listen - so why should his one 'safe space' be used for training teachers? He'd hate it!

well my three yr old almost definatley is autistic they are struggling to cope at nursery and I was advised by his therapist to suggest snuffs [don't no if it is local to my area] they are basically volunteers who mainly have children with sen so loads of experience and are CRB checked so can come in and help out at nursery but the head teacher said they had used this service before and found problems as often the volunteers did not turn up!

Most teachers these days have to have school experience as a teaching assistant working with SEN pupils before they are considered for teacher training

Yes, I did a PGCE in 1991 and there was hardly any training on SEN.
Other areas were lacking too I felt, but this was the worst thing we were (un)prepared for. I've worked in nursing too which has been a help, and now have many years experience of working with children and families, though not all in a teaching role. But mainly you learn through experience on the job working with different children. There should be more initial and on-going training really to be fair to the children, their families, and the teachers and TA's themselves too.

Most teachers these days have to have school experience as a teaching assistant working with SEN pupils before they are considered for teacher training

News to me!!

Wilson - thank you, you articulated it much better than I did.

inclusionist yep general"complex needs". Some move into mainstream, some to special school and some to the ebd school. Most cope with mainstream primary but then go to the special school for secondary. TBH I wish we could specialise more. But it's not going to happen! And yes we are seen by some staff (not anyone who works in them!) As a "holding pen" rather than a valued resource.

'Holding Pen' - what a horrible term. I bloody hope that isn't how my sons class / teachers etc are viewed. It certainly isn't the feeling I get.

At primary level wouldn't it be an easier start to ensure all SENCO / Inclusion managers were properly trained? When DS2 was diagnosed with dyspraxia, both OT and Paediatrician looked at which school he was at, smiled reassuringly, and told us we'd be getting great support because of the SENCO.

She is amazing - but every school should have one. She is shared with another school btw which obviously helps with cost.

Most teachers these days have to have school experience as a teaching assistant working with SEN pupils before they are considered for teacher training

That is simply not true.

I know NQTs now and this is not true of any of them.

I did my PGCE in 2007 and it was not true of me then.

I really want to be a TA for sn/sen dc so I am volunteering for a local charity for sn, I have applied to work in a children's home for sn and behavioural problems and I keep applying for caters jobs for sn and autistic children but as I can't drive slight problem.

I want to make sure I'm 100% the right person for the job before I go to college.

Any other suggestions as to how I can educate myself/ get experience would be greatly appreciated

I was the one that suggested a team of specialists and I know they already exist at a LA level. The problem is schools only access them rarely and when there is a crisis. But schools don't know what they don't know and I am suggesting something much more regular and routine with these specialists visiting say twice every half term and having a caseload so the child sees the same person every time. They are not visiting for crisis intervention but to monitor progress and suggest adaptions to work and how to improve pupil performance. My experience is that if the SEN pupil is chugging along and not disruptive the school pays very little attention. Specialist intervention at this stage would improve long term outcomes and ultimately lead to money savings in terms if long term care.

Wannabe - many LA have a befriending service were you can give respite to a family with a child with SEN. Try and find if you have a children with disabilities team in your LA. good luck

Thank you googlenut I will get on to them

I was once not shortlisted for a deputy post (after being a deputy/ senco for some time) as I focused too much on inclusion:
'inclusion is not one of the focuses of this position, it is a deputy headteacher post, not a senco'
The school had a large cognitive and communication based attached which was run by the school, not outreach. The post involved being responsible for learning across the school and data. I still don't think it was me who missed the point.... (btw I did talk of inclusion, ALL needs, not just SEN).

Where are you Wannabe? I am recruiting!

I am central beds close to Luton

Too far

It's surprisingly hard to find people with a real passion for it!

I got all excited then!

I really hope you find someone soon!

Wannabe- If you want to be a TA, then your best bet is to get into schools. If you contact local primaries and explain you're looking to get into TA work, and could you volunteer in a class once a week, they'll bite your hand off. Some may even help you do training like an NVQ. And if a job comes up at the school you're volunteering at, you're at an advantage as you are probably aware of the pupil, the school's ethos, you've proved yourself to be reliable and hard working, etc. In some schools they have pupils form part of the interview process and if you're a known adult to them, they will respond better and speak up for you.

crohnicallylurking will definitely get ringing round thanks for the suggestion

"What is shocking is not that PGCE/NQTs and more experienced teachers haven't worked with SEN DCs. It's that they haven't even read the first page of the sort of web site a worried parent would go to first.

This should be accompanied by a list of resources so any teacher or TA (or parent for that matter) could research further an area that interested them or was relevant to a child in their care.

It's the sort of thing that should simply be on the dept. for Educations web site."

It is - HERE

I work as a TA and I have worked through all the training material (off my own bat and in my own time) as CPD - it's actually quite good!