[senco-forum] What are we for?

Hi Sharon
  I'm sorry you didn't get a response to your query.  I know I didn't reply to it - possibly because I don't understand what a PPT slide is or possibly because it was one which I deleted without reading because I'd got too many posts that day.
  I do agree that some people, particulary new people, ask questions when answers are in the archives.  I know I do.  I think it's because I like the conversation element of the process - ask a question today and get loads of up-to-date responses from interested people by the end of the next day.
  I don't know if people drop out because they think that have the right level of skills.  I know I sometimes feel I know a little less each day!  I do know people who have dropped out because they are fed up with the postings.  
  I really value the different backgrounds of people who post on this Forum.  I have personally benefited from the responses of parents, EPs, medics, OTs etc etc as well as SENCOs, teachers and TAs.  I just have felt recently that I cannot hear the SENCOs' perspective nearly enough.

  Amanda
  Secondary SENCO
  Cornwall

SEN at tringham.net wrote:
  There are two ways of looking at it - either SENco's that have stuck it out
over the last couple of years are now so on top of things they don't need to
ask for help as they become more experienced, or they are so overwhelmed by
the paperwork and implementing policies that they do not have the energy to
ask for help with an individual child's problems (one of the old forums
strengths).

That there are more complex SEN in mainstream now should mean that more
people are encountering things they have not seen before and this should
result in the more interesting posts, but as you say it has all gone a bit
quiet and/or off track. I posted a simple query on how to lay out
professional qualifications to put on a PPT slide (prior to a SpLD seminar)
and got 0 replies.

I personally dropped out of the forum about 18 months ago as I was too busy
supporting change for those with SpLD (dyslexia) in Hong Kong and then
stayed off as my husband had a heart attack in April. Also after a year or
so on the forum the same questions were coming around (albeit from new
SENco's) that were just as easily answered by looking in the archives.

I only signed back in a couple of weeks ago to see what was new and I too
was disappointed to find that many experienced teachers had retired, and
still some of the same old arguments were going round. Quick vote: Yes-APD
is real/ No-synthetics phonics is not the key to reading for everyone.

I am not a SENco but I have been pushing where I can for better recognition
for SENco's, with access to training for differing SEN & basic assessment
training so as not to be reliant on dwindling EP support (lack of budget not
lack of commitment!)

Also for better SEN training as part of ITT due to the increasing amount of
SEN teaching required in class and am glad to see all of this recommended in
the recent House of Commons Education & Skill Committee SEN III report
2005/6. I did take the time to submit evidence (as could anyone - it was
advertised on the forum) and I have written about the above to government in
the past. Sadly things change slowly and that it is frustrating for SENco's
is even more so for parents for whom 10 years is the span of their child's
educational chances.

However I don't agree that people on the SENco forum cannot make policy
change, but do agree that it is boring if it is discussed to death. Policy
change is done all the time - overtly by campaigning about what you feel
strongly about via your cluster meetings (i.e. more training) and upwards or
covertly by taking children out of Literacy Hour or doing whatever else is
needed for them regardless of current government policy.

Sharon Tringham SpLD tutor studying to be a SENco.

-

Amanda
Secondary SENCO
Cornwall