Apologies for the lack of minutes from the previous meeting.
Session 1
Jamie Munro (Don Johnston Special Needs) demonstrated Co-Writer and the new portable devices available for use. This included the light weight 'Asus' machine and the Neo 2 with the added bonus of the built in voting system. Jamie mentioned that Co-writer on the Neo would be supported by speech early in 2009. He also mentioned
* Google writer which allows pupils to work across PCs
* 'Project Gutenburg' for on line texts and LibraVox which supplies free audio books
Andrea alerted us to
* 'Thunder' a Free screen reader available from the Internet
Session 2
Julie Burton from Wakefield SENSS showed how she had oraganised Durham's 'It's in a bag' to make it easy to use in school. Julie has separated the tasks in to nine activities in each of two boxes. The boxes are left in school for half a term. Feedback has been good so far.
* An electronic copy was provided for every body in the meeting
* Andrea suggested members look at www.dotolearn.com (do2learn)
Lunchtime
Eileen provided a copy of 'Achievement for All' Wakefield's SEN strategy.
Session 3
Tracy Locking gave an account of 'Fit to learn' and its development from the 'Jump Ahead' scheme. We had an opportunity to look at the new folder. The discussion prompted a suggestion that we organise a joint training session across the LAs involved in the NE branch of NNATPIP. The rationale for the scheme and the DCD pathway devised by Tracy and Heather Angelly the Physiotherapist would be of interest to others.
Session 4
Shelley Williams gave an account of the progress of the Paediatric Therapy files in use in Wakefield primary schools and Lyn circulated the version for early years developed by the Wakefield Pre 5 Service.
Session 5
Sue Coulter shared the York guidance on planning for trips which include PD pupils.
We agreed to circulate
* The guidance for planning trips
* Guidance for using hydrotherapy pools devised in Durham. Wendy to forward to Lyn
These will be circulated by email.
Agenda for the next meeting on 06.03.09
Standardising symbol sets - York team
DCD meeting in Newport - report from Sue Eyres
It's in a little bag - Wakefield Pre 5 Service
School trip planning
Fire evacuation planning
Regional training event
Lyn Clarke 07.11.08
Friday, 7 November 2008
Friday, 14 March 2008
Spring Meeting 2008
The morning session was devoted to a discussion on swimming risk assessments. A blank Risk Assessment form used in Wakefield was circulated together with two completed assessments relating to physical/mobility needs and epilepsy. Hull ESPD circulated general guidance and a checklist; they also gave a detailed account of the process they had gone through to create them. The Hull service circulated packs to all schools in their LA. They audited the swimming facilities, highlighted transport issues, job specifications for support assistants and the criteria for how parents should be involved (the fact that they should be treated as every other visitor to school). It was interesting to see the different emphasis in each Authority and the involvement balance between the support service and schools involved. Issues around adult support and responsibilities were discussed together with DDA considerations.
***Paperwork will be circulated to every bodies e mail accounts.***
Hull recieved an outstanding OFSTED in relation to swimming provision and it could be characterised by
* offering additional support to children who take longer to learn to swim
* putting the responsibility clearly with the school and not the LA
* balancing the needs of the year group against those of the individual
* allowing at least three months for the planning
* encouraging schools to provide competent staff
* including swimming support on job specifications
* sending out 'advance notice' forms to parents (se checklist)
The afternoon session was concerned with introducing AAC to children and to their support workers. There was a common experience of support services and Speech and Language Therapists having involvement and not always the same approach. The Wakefield Access team have been lucky enough to been involved in a project to give every child who needs one, an AAC device that meets their needs and is available to them across transition boundaries. The equipment has been supplied by Health and will be managed by ICES.
Wakefield use a number of AAC devices but stick to a basic programme of introducing core vocabulary alongside specific vocabulary. For ealy years and SLD they also use the 'Teach and Talk' file with the Springboard, The 'COM.I.C.E' file and teaching materials from PRI Liberator. The benefits and downfalls of introducing AAC to a non reader in Key stage 3 were discussed and the importance of good basic language teaching to non speakers. The Wakefield team track progress against P level indicators and by using data from the LAM files to for Evidence Based Practice. They don't necessarily get things right but most in the group agreed that teachers are could at structuring learning, keeping records and using a firm approach with children to achieve results. The group also consider that AAC needs specialist teaching that takes considerably more time than it is allocated.
The next meeting in June will consider the Physical Therapy files introduced to Wakefield schools over the last 12 months. Other items for discussion to be emailed to Lyn Clarke lclarke@wakefield.gov.uk
***Paperwork will be circulated to every bodies e mail accounts.***
Hull recieved an outstanding OFSTED in relation to swimming provision and it could be characterised by
* offering additional support to children who take longer to learn to swim
* putting the responsibility clearly with the school and not the LA
* balancing the needs of the year group against those of the individual
* allowing at least three months for the planning
* encouraging schools to provide competent staff
* including swimming support on job specifications
* sending out 'advance notice' forms to parents (se checklist)
The afternoon session was concerned with introducing AAC to children and to their support workers. There was a common experience of support services and Speech and Language Therapists having involvement and not always the same approach. The Wakefield Access team have been lucky enough to been involved in a project to give every child who needs one, an AAC device that meets their needs and is available to them across transition boundaries. The equipment has been supplied by Health and will be managed by ICES.
Wakefield use a number of AAC devices but stick to a basic programme of introducing core vocabulary alongside specific vocabulary. For ealy years and SLD they also use the 'Teach and Talk' file with the Springboard, The 'COM.I.C.E' file and teaching materials from PRI Liberator. The benefits and downfalls of introducing AAC to a non reader in Key stage 3 were discussed and the importance of good basic language teaching to non speakers. The Wakefield team track progress against P level indicators and by using data from the LAM files to for Evidence Based Practice. They don't necessarily get things right but most in the group agreed that teachers are could at structuring learning, keeping records and using a firm approach with children to achieve results. The group also consider that AAC needs specialist teaching that takes considerably more time than it is allocated.
The next meeting in June will consider the Physical Therapy files introduced to Wakefield schools over the last 12 months. Other items for discussion to be emailed to Lyn Clarke lclarke@wakefield.gov.uk
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