[senco-forum] Training for all teachers

Let's not make SEN too crushingly boring. ;-)  I don't think teachers need 
to learn what's in the SEN Code of Practice - that's the job of the SENCO. 
In my experience the change needed at classroom level is in skills and 
attitude.  In particular, I'd like to see parents being put first, not last. 
Parents are the greater expert in their SEN children, in their children's 
disabilities and how to manage those disabilities; furthermore, it is their 
legal responsibility to ensure their child is educated according to age, 
ability, aptitude and special educational needs.  They have every right to 
be fully involved.  At the same time, they have little knowledge of - or 
power over - the system. That can be very threatening, leading to conflict 
and misunderstandings.

1.  To listen to parents, to create a positive working relationship and to 
manage that relationship by treating parents as equal partners and as 
experts in their own field.
2.  To recognise and value difference
3.  To understand the concept of invisible disabilities and to practice that 
required 'leap of imagination'.
4.  To understand that all behaviour has a purpose and that if there is 
'behaviour' then the teacher needs to stop and 'listen'.
5.  To have confidence that there really are simple solutions and that small 
adaptations can be hugely effective.
6.  To know that they don't have to have all the answers (but that the child 
probably does ;-))
7.  To understand the impact of the Expert Patient concept and the aims of 
SPP and similar in creating parents as experts 
http://www.expertpatients.nhs.uk/parents.shtml; 
http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=217 