Introducing Special Educational Needs

<p>Pressure of time means that the complex topic of special educational needs (SEN) at initial teacher training and post-graduate levels can often be covered at too swift a pace. The unfortunate result is that a newly qualified teacher faced with the pressures of today's typically inclusive classrooms can feel unprepared or lacking in knowledge about this vitally important area.<br><br>This supportive, accessible text will be invaluable to students undergoing their initial teacher training as it features broad coverage of key aspects of SEN in a single volume. It will provide the reader with succinct information on major SEN themes, key questions for student teachers on each topic, and a selection of the most important readings. It also includes sets of reflection-based student tasks; activities for completion during school placements; practical tutor-led to mentor-led activities, plus extension activities; and a series of suggested topics for school-based assignments in SEN.</p> Constructing your own SEN file/portfolio; the Warnock Report and the 1981 Education Act; integration and statements; the range of special needs; the National Curriculum and SEN; the 1993 Education Act and Code of Practice; the role of the class/subject teacher; the role of the SENCO; the Green Paper (1997) and the Programme of Action (1998); inclusion; some controversial issues in SEN; child protection issues and the 1989 Children Act; support services for teachers - linking with other professionals; professional development matters; what all this means for NQTs. Appendices: glossary of terms; SEN timeline; example of an SEN policy (secondary and primary); example of an IEP; example of a SENCO job description; example of a Learning Support Assistant job description; example of a home-school agreement; example of an SEN file.