Any SEND teaching professionals here looking for freelance curriculum planning work?

[HopeJacob]

Hi, just on the off chance, I am working with a really inspirational woman who is setting up her own school, for her autistic son and with places for 4 other pupils. We are only at the stage of drafting documentation to submit with the registration application. We are lacking detailed curriculum plans and schemes of work, and really need some expert assistance to pull these together based on the ethos of the school and regulations. This work could be done from anywhere, at any time. I don't know what the pay would be but open to negotiation. Let me know if this would be of interest to anyone and you have experience. Thanks

How will you meet the independent schools registration requirements? Ava you spoken to Ofsted?

1st task is to get a building.

You cant really draw up curriculum plans until you know the EHCP needs of the intended pupil cohort.

The cost of doing this properly would be £25-30k minimum. If anyone asks for less be very wary.

absolutely there's a building! And a lot of other infrastructure too. Cohort is 5 pupils with similar needs - and the curriculum can be built around that and ISI regulations - which are also being met in all other areas of course. It's just we need more detail from someone with more experience drawing up curriculum docs. The curriculum is general, and doesn't need to consider EHCP - that part happens when pupils are admitted - this is base curriculum building according to the regs.

Having opened dozens of schools including specials I think that you are being very very naive. Who is going to fund the children?

I assume that you will have a headteacher- surely they will be planning the curriculum and doing the Ofsted pre reg? The visit comes very close to opening.

The rate for a SEND Adviser who specialises in this is about £600 a day plus VAT. It is a lot of work!

You can download standard curriculum plans off the internet. This gives you a sketch of what needs doing.

Detailed plans that meet the needs of very special DC can't be done without meeting the children and customising it to their EHCP.

As a mum of two autistic kids and a special needs teacher (staff trainer), you might be biting off more than you can chew.

https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50196080

https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50209204

If you go onto the Ofsted website and search inadequate schools- you have to do primary and secondary separately. There are dozens of small independent specials that are judged inadequate at their 1st Ofsted inspection.

If the pre-reg is a challenge how are you going to manage a full Ofsted inspection in the 1st 12 months?

What’s the plan in terms of funding? As @WestminsterAbbey mentions, Education Advisers can cost £800 pd, plus travel expenses. Have you consulted your LA? Have they indicated they would place and fund pupils in the proposed setting?

Okay, so there is masses of funding, large premises, additional experienced advisors in place and yes already agreement in place to buy back the places with the LA. No advice was really required about anything really, and no one said that pre-registration was a challenge, just wondered if anyone fancied a bit of nice, home based work to get the curriculum side of the documentation in order. (which, yes, obviously would be adjusted to the needs to actual pupils!!!) Thanks anyway.