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Primary education

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Any SENCOs/teachers - is this something a senco can help with?

30 replies

remote · 25/02/2012 19:16

I posted earlier but not much traffic. (althogh top tips from Ineedacleaner!)

DS is a May born Y2. He is currently a 1c in reading and writing and the general problem seems to be not ability but lack of focus.

Had a quick chat about it at parents evening and teacher says it is really hard to get him to concentrate. When she tried to assess a piece of his written work she had to get him to do it three times because the first two took him ages to do very little and it was pretty much unassessable (?made up word?!).

Is this something a SENCO can help with? My other concern is that as it is approaching SATs season, are they likely to just leave him struggling because there is no way he is going to move up. I have heard anecdotes about schools working on pupils who are more likely to be pushe up to the next level but i don't want to assume that.

If anyone can advise me best course of action and what questions to ask I would be really grateful. (He has been tested apparently for dyslexia etc with no problems found).

OP posts:
SE13Mummy · 29/02/2012 00:55

My classroom is easy on the eye;

  • black or neutral backing (provides high contrast to the IWB so children's gaze is directed towards the IWB)
  • work is displayed on display boards so is predictable and thus easier to filter out
  • no hanging things
  • resources mainly out of sight but well-labelled so children can get the things they need
  • very little in the way of lamination (to avoid weird reflective things happening)
  • tables arranged (and children trained to turn chairs on command) so that every child has uninterrupted sight-line to the IWB
  • no clutter (each child has a pencil case in which to keep pencil, ruler etc.)
  • quiet tables in various positions which face a blank wall and can be used by children who are finding it hard to concentrate

I teach KS2 and although most comments by visitors to my classroom are positive, one LA inspector said the children's learning would be enhanced if there were more things hanging... it took every bit of self-control I possess in order to prevent myself from suggesting that he hang himself from the high, Victorian, ceiling supports.

lionheart · 29/02/2012 09:39

Your classroom sounds lovely, SE13. I am thinking of broaching this with DS's school but it is a tricky one and requires something of a pedagogic shift.

bigTillyMint · 29/02/2012 18:00

Thanks for that link mrz - very interesting.

I like the sound of your room SE13mummy.

Quite the opposite of the classrooms in our special setting. I wonder what Ofsted will think when they (or should I say he) visit tomorrow!

123abcd · 01/03/2012 14:19

have you had the eyes tested??? I'm an optician and I specialise with kids with reading difficulties. It could be something as simple as the world is not clear.

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