The SEN Practitioner Status, Skills, and Support

Figures and Tables

Contributors

Foreword – Annamarie Hassall: CEO, nasen

Introduction - Tristan Middleton

PART I The SEN Practitioner: Roles, Skills, and Attributes

1. All Teachers are Teachers of Children with SEN: The Mainstream Class Teacher as a SEN Practitioner - Julie Wharton

2. Teaching Assistants: Developing an Effective Workforce to Support Learning - Sara Alston

3. Achieving the Best Pastoral Support: Roles, Responsibilities and Skills – Sue Soan

4. Early Years SEN Practitioners: Challenges, Opportunities and Key Take-Aways – Angela Scott

5. Alternative Provision Staff – Sarah Johnson

6. Nurture Group Practitioners – Tristan Middleton

7. The SENCo – Lynda Kay and Tristan Middleton

8. The Team Around the Child and Learners with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health needs - Dennis Piper

PART II The SEN Practitioner: looking forwards through the experience of practitioners

9. Inclusive Classrooms: Good for Everyone, Good for Dyslexia – Julia Clouter

10. Beyond Inclusion: Recognising the Strategic Power of Autistic Educators – Simon Preston

11. Disabled Teachers, Discourses which Aid, Discourses which Hinder – Mark A. Lyn

12. Supervision for Education Practitioners in SEN – Jonathan Reid

13. Effective Pastoral Care that Supports SEND: A Support for Practitioners – Phil Jones

14. Relational Practice: A Triadic Lens for Practitioners in SEN – Lynda Kay

15. SENCo Strengths-Based Leadership: Leading Change and Flourishing Through Hope, Optimism, Self-Efficacy, and Resilience – Jon Gibson

16. Leadership of School Culture to Support Practitioners: Recruitment, CPD, and Relationships – Hilary MacMeekin

Conclusion – Tristan Middleton

Index

Biography

Tristan Middleton is Senior Lecturer in Inclusive Education at the University of Gloucestershire, UK. He is editor of the British Journal of Special Education and has a wide range of academic article publications as well as book chapters and books. Tristan is passionate about educational inclusion and the opportunities that those in Higher Education have to make a positive impact upon education practice.

"The SEN Practitioner is a must-have resource for those practitioners working with our SEND learners and those who aspire  to foster more inclusive approaches in all contexts. The need to challenge and change existing school cultures to become more compassionate and inclusive (for both professionals and students) is highlighted in this comprehensive and informative book. I can highly recommend it." - Dr Tina Rae, HCPC Registered Educational and Child Psychologist, Author and Educational Consultant

"As the societal concept of Neurodiversity rapidly emerges, this book is a timely and welcome addition for practitioners in the field of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, enabling them to appraise how this concept may helpfully influence their role, practice and, ultimately, the provision offered to children who are neurodiverse. Through a rich range of chapters from insightful practitioners, traditional and emerging roles and practices are explored, which recontextualise and re-evaluate their juxtaposition in the ever-changing scenario that is SEND. I highly commend to all involved in the day-to-day organisation, planning and delivery of high quality education to children with additional needs." - Professor Barry Carpenter CBE, OBE, Oxford Brookes University

“This book is an invaluable resource for anyone working in education. It champions the idea that by investing in the status, skills, and support of our SEN practitioners, we are making the most direct and meaningful investment in the outcomes and futures of our children. Read it, reflect on it, and let it inspire your practice.” - Annamarie Hassall MBE, Chief Executive, nasen