[senco-forum] Setting up SEN dept

As you are starting off a really simple way to organise your records

June Boschen wrote:
> As you are starting off a really simple way to organise your records 
> is to:-
>  - use a card envelope file for each child
>  - allocate a different colour for each year group, eg Y1 pink Y2 red  
> etc, make a list of colour codings in order to make accessing a 
> particular file easy  - arrange in year group piles in cupboard etc
>  - make a brief note on the internal flap of the envelope file each 
> time you add information, eg 29:06 phone call from mum (much easier to 
> refer to this for general information than have to search through file)
>
>
> Then at the end of the school year staple/paperclip all year's 
> documentation together in each file,  change the colour coding list so 
> that Y2 pink Y3 red etc and move the files into new year group 
> position in the cupboard.
>
> This works and saves so much time!!
>
> Good luck - June
>
>
> Sounds a good system, but you may want to consider WHO is going to 
> access these files and WHY you are keeping them.and WHAT is going in. 
> I suspect that too many of us spend hours battling to keep up to date 
> with record systems that are not useful. to anyoneHOW it will dovetail 
> (or not) with computer records you are required to keep via SIMS or 
> other is another issue. I gave up paper diaries because of having to 
> enter reviews in SIMS and have regretted it ever since...
> As a garrison school we have a very high turnover so I see a lot of 
> record systems! I am in awe of what some SENCos manage.....    but not 
> all of it is useful to me as the receieving SENCo. I'm not saying dont 
> keep records... Brendan will quite rightly remind us that records are 
> crucial in applying for Statements - whatever the policy of your LEA. 
> Most of all I think records should show progress by the child in sub 
> levels or P levels, reading ages, or achievement of behaviour targets 
> or whatever and what provision/strategies facilitated this, including 
> work by outside agencies. The diary bit, wether on flap or not is crucial.
Do you want any other staff to have access or be able to add 
information? Keeping SEN records separately can mitigate against 
Inclusion. Unless all information about a pupil is readily available to 
senior staff in one place, you may find it is not used eg if a major 
behaviour problem suddenly blows up.
You will need to be ruthless about only allowing that which is useful to 
go in. How many of us receive files full of duplicate reports and 
samples of work from 3 years ago? Decide what would be useful in your 
situation and then make a list to remind yourself .....(there speaks the 
voice of someone who wishes she had done this years ago!!)
Hope some of this is useful, back to parenting role now....
Kate B


 reports, samples of work from 3 years ago etc