Useful Information

60 Second Countdown – works really well as time warning for staff and pupils

Nikki Kennedy at Billing Brook in Northampton which is an an OUTSTANDING SCHOOL uses this excellent 60 Second Countdown to help her students and staff know that they have to finish their work and assess what they have learnt in the last minute left of their circuit or starter activity - used well it is incredibly powerful! Try it out as both a pupil and staff visual and aural timer warning. It will improve both the pace of your lessons and the motivation of your learners to start and end plenary - just click on or tap the screen!

A double check – The SEN policy – what the SEN Code says should be in it

• Outlining what should be in your SEN policy.
• Gives information from maintained schools, maintained special schools and special schools in hospitals.

A Provision Map – a secondary school example

• A step-by-step process for your school's provision - what happens each year?

Accessibility Plan Review

• Areas to be addressed in the Accessibility Plan.

Ask the Parents

Assessing Learners Views

Assessing Pupils Progress – Have you seen these?

• Resources you need to support you in assessing pupils' progress (APP) – the nationally recognised vocabulary.

Assessment OF and FOR Learning and Cycle of Pupil Achievement and Progress

I am indebted to Dave Victor and his skilled teaching team at Greenside School in Stevenage who mapped Assessment of and for Learning at their school and develoiped this Cycle of Pupil Progress and Achievement - a very good model in my view! It is also well worth looking at the Creative Curriculum section of their website - some stunning evidence of learning and great ideas to share!

Collecting the evidence – a school self-evaluation checklist

Communicating – Our agreed policy for consistency including visual communication in classrooms

 New  Dramatherapy and Family Therapy in Education – McFarlane

The power of Drama should not be underestimated! This is a new publication on Dramatherapy. Drawing on their own extensive experience, the authors give explanations of the models and techniques of their own specialist therapy, before exploring their joint work and innovative inclusion in a cooperative team of multi-disciplinary professionals. I am sure it will be valuable to you.

Education Self-Evaluation – Check your evidence base and clarify roles and responsibilities

UPDATED Equal Opportunities - Suggest an Umbrella!

• A SINGLE EQUALITIES POLICY AND PLAN – an Example
• An Equal Opportunities Respect for All Policy that includes: EXAMPLE COVER, 3 YEAR POLICY, SCHEME and ACTION PLAN.
• Maria extends her sincere thanks to Denise Young, Deputy Headteacher of Mountjoy School in Bridport, Dorset for researching and starting this process and Lynda Morgan, the Headteacher of Maplefields School in Kettering and Corby for helping to refine and extend it so it can meet the latest statutory requirements, promote and provide better equal opportunities and strive for greater respect for all!

Experience and Achievement

Explaining the difference between Attainment/Achievement/Progress

• A simple chart to demonstrate and clarify this.

Extended Learning – Formal recording of activities

Governor Visit – Formal recording of visit

Governor Visiting Policy and Guide

GSP EDUCATION – 09 March 2009.doc

This is excellent guidance on safe working practice - especially the right hand side of the page from page 10 onwards - I suggest you get all staff to sigh they have read it and use it as an integral part of all new staff's induction - very clear what is expected!

ICT across the curriculum in action

Highly recommend that you check out the curriculum links and see ICT across the curriculum links at this school.

Improving Schools Services 2011 – How Maria Landy Can Help!

Helping Schools to Improve Challenge and Support – Maria helps you to improve and develop yourself!

• Specialist school improvement services especially to all types of special schools
• SENCOs
• SEN specialist providers
• Supported Self Evaluation and Validation

Incident Form

Inclusion and PSHE, citizenship, healthy schools and the 5 ECM outcomes. What’s new?

• Follow the link to QCDA and download the latest updates

Know your numbers

• Interesting facts about education!! (Source: TES Support Network)

Latest new Maths and English National Curriculum tracked back to P Level 1

• Lots of interesting ideas and planning documents.
• Visit the website!

Latest Primary Maths Planning Guidance linked to P Scales

Mathematics medium-term planning guidance for pupils working well below national expectations in both mainstream and special schools.

Learning! Learning! Learning! – Five key questions to ask when observing, judging or reflecting on learning!

• 1. LEARNING? Do they know what they are learning?
• 2. LEARNING PROMOTED! Are they engaged supported and challenged?
• 3. PROGRESS? Are the learners making visible progress?
• 4. LEARNING LINKED? Is the lesson well structured and linked to prior and future lessons?
• 5. LEARNERS'ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOUR? Is the lesson and learning well managed?

LEARNING: Pupil Learning and Thinking Skills – Key Learning Indicators!

• In recognition of the work done by the Senior Leaders in Curnow School in Cornwall especially Gina Briggs the Deputy Headteacher who tracked the PLTs back using the P scales.
• Their expertise and experience is much appreciated!
• Ensure the PLTs are planned into your curriculum.

Learning styles and responses to new situations

• A useful table outlining the Visual, Auditory and Kinesthetic styles of learning.
• Which are you?
• Do you plan for all learners?

UPDATED Lesson Observation and Assessment

• 15 judgements to make when observing lessons taking into account the latest OfSTED Criteria - 2012. Time to update your lesson observation recording forms! Use the overall pattern as a feedback to your governors and staff. Make it an integral part of your School analysis on Achievenent and Progress.

 New  Lesson Observation Recording Form

This Lesson Observation Recording Form has been developed by the Deputy Headteacher at Maplefields School in Corby, slightly modified by me, using the latest 2012 OfSTED Criteria with a particular focus on behaviour - for those who face the challenge of teaching pupils with ESBD - Emotional, Social and Behavioural Difficulties. We hope you find it useful and welcome feedback and details of any improvements you make.

My Money

My Money is a groundbreaking 3 year financial education project funded by the Department for Children Schools and families and run by a consortium led by pfeg (Personal Finance Education Group), and made up of EdComs, National Children’s Bureau (NCB) and the PSHE Association.

 New  National Curriculum Review (2012)

I have summarised the latest news re the National Curriculum Review (implementation has been delayed a year), plus an update on the growth of Academies and Free Schools and made reference to the newly published Ofsted evaluation schedule for the inpection of boarding and residential provision in schools plus some useful ICT links published by the Times Educational Supplement to focus on assessment and behaviour. A changing context in 2012 and a lot to stay up to date with.

NCSL – FMiS Diagnostic

National College for School Leadership – Finanical Management Self-Assessment.

The National Strategies Terminology

OfSTED Inspection Framework from January 2012

The main changes in the latest evaluation schedule used to inspect schools in England and a summary briefing powerpoint for you, your staff and Governors - I hope this helps but it is also important to read the full document - Ofsted reference no: 110127 Age group 0-19 Published September 2011, named "The draft evaluation Schedule for the inspection of maintained schools and academies" - guidance and grade descriptors.

PASS – Pupil Attitudes to Self & School

• PASS assesses 9 core dimensions based around: learner self worth, curricular and general motivation, pupil perceptions of their learning environment, task persistence and attendance attitudes.
• Assessment is standardised and nationally benchmarked for students of 8 years and above and is fully ICT enabled.
• Also see new KS1 Pupil Attitudes to Self & School.

P scales on the web

The P scales focus area of our website gives guidance on the use of P scales to improve outcomes for SEN pupils. Schools must now use P scales to report the attainment of all pupils identified as having SEN who are working below NC Level 1.

Performance Management and Classroom Observation – Before, During and After

Personalised Programmes - Explaining clearly what the student is learning

• How to explain personalised programmes using intensive interaction as an example.

Preparing for Independent School Inspections

• Ever Ready – How to prepare for school inspection.
• Also, visit www.learning-works.org.uk to access Free Downloads, purchase 'CAP It All! - A practical manual for assessing individual needs' and book places on our current training and accredited CPD courses.

Preparing for OfSTED – The Governors self-evaluation

The Updated Primary Curriculum

• Maria Landy helps you to understand The Updated Primary Curriculum.

Progression Booklet 2010-11

Advice on improving data to raise attainment and maximise the progress of learners with special educational needs.

Promoting Disability Equality in Schools – Consulting and Gathering Views

Excellent resources for enabling pupils with SEN to contribute to the consultation process for accessibility plans/ equality schemes.

Pupil Learning and Thinking Skills (PLTS)

Religious Education - P Level Examples

• Planning, teaching and assessing the curriculum for pupils with learning difficulties.
• Also links to useful websites.

Roles of the Support Worker

 New  School Monitoring and Evaluation Model

These are the key documents to demonstrate a schools monitoring and evaluation processes plus improvement and development priorities. Using the new OfSTED Inspection Schedule from January 2012 this model focuses on the main contents to include and cross reference. With thanks to the Headteachers of Nethergate School, Nottingham, and Maplefields School, Corby.

Self-Evaluation Evidence – Health and Safety

Self-Evaluation for Subject, Aspect, Faculty and Student/Pupil Progress Leaders

SNAP Childcare / SNAP16+

SNAP Childcare is a specialist recruitment agency placing nannies and, team leaders & specialist childcare workers to work with babies and children with additional needs. SNAP16+ recruits enablers, buddies and PA's for young people aged 16+. We offer a nationwide service. The people we place have a wide range of experience including Makaton, BSL, Conductive Education, physio, speech and Occupational Therapy.

Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL)

There is now a secondary SEAL - check out the website.

Spiritual, Moral, Social, Cultural and Emotional Development

• Thanks to The Robert Ogden School and Linda and Chris in particular for sharing how they have mapped SMSC across Maths and History – also see the relevant National Guidance.

Stakeholders Views

Staff Questionnaire

• Maria is pleased that Sue Gething does not mind sharing this with others as it will strengthen your evidence base and improve your practice.

Teaching and Learning Assessment – 10 Part Lesson

• Maria Landy suggests a ten part lesson – see what you think?
• She suggests the important component parts of a successful lesson!
• She offers advice on how to prepare to be observed teaching!
• Also focus on learning and self evaluation – see the suggested criteria – find Learning, Learning, Learning!

Ten skills taken for granted to help you do your job, help at interviews and to reflect on your skills

• Ten skills, keywords and definitions for effective teaching and learning.

The Garden

The Importance of Teaching – White Paper 2010

• The White Paper was published on Wednesday 24 November 2010.
• This summary focuses on the headlines most relevant to Special Educational Needs and Special Schools in particular.
• It is important to refer to the full text but for busy professionals, staff and governors this summary may help to access the 85 page document - 92 pages cover to cover!
• The White Paper is split into eight chapters. This summary highlights some of the most important aspects related to SEN issues and to special schools in particular.

The monitoring of teaching and learning by subject leaders/co-ordinators' checklist

• How to record when visiting each other's classroom, remit and check list.
• Understanding the task.
• Collecting the evidence.
• A checklist to record your visit and provide the evidence.

The SEN/AEN value for money self evaluation resource pack

National Strategies and the Audit Commission have developed this resource pack in consultation with LAs, schools and parents. It is a voluntary resource to help headteachers and management teams:

• Support whole-school strategic planning and intervention
• Ensure the inclusion of SEN and AEN pupils
• Evaluate progress against expected outcomes for those pupils
• Assess value for money in using resources.

The pack helps schools gather evidence for the Ofsted self-evaluation process and supports the use of school resources with maximum impact. Headteachers can download the pack, containing guidance, a series of self-evaluation questions, accompanying background papers and examples of good practice, from the Audit Commission website.

Tracking progress over time

• Record in a different colour each time and date progress level.
• Use it for an individual, a class, a targeted group, a key stage, a subject or across the school.
• Track progress from year to year.
• Adapt it for your curriculum areas.

Work Related Learning – Risk Assessment