[senco-forum] performance tables, and PLASC issues.

Apologies, I only saw this post today. (i've been trying to clarify the 
position re Gifted and Talented ready for PLASC so if anyone out there 
knows wether you have to nominate5/10/% of children as G and T for PLASC 
in Primary schools, and wether there are any financial advantage sI'd 
love to know!)
Anyway, back to your post.  The short answer is check whether your LEA 
has audit criteria. If they do then you must follow them or you will be 
in trouble.  The long answer is....
As I have previously said on the forum there seems to be a double 
standard with regard to definitions.
As a SENCo I need a way to identify those children who have the greatest 
_needs._ This approach is supported by my LEAs audit criteria which are 
a list of objectives for SA /SAP, for each year group. If children are 
struggling with these they should be placed on either Sa or SAP. and 
given appropriate provision. Fine.(except that I need a new category for 
those children who would have had statements in the past.
The problem is that my view of appropriate provision in our school for 
that child may not fit the School Action model..
I may not request outside support for some of these children for a 
variety of reasons; I am an experienced SENCo blessed with some great 
TAs. We have worked closely with EPS, and the behaviour support team 
over the years, so I have a greater bank of ideas and strategies to draw 
on than a new SENCo in a small school. The waiting list for Occupational 
Therapy in our LEA is over 2 years and v limited even then. - so we use 
M Portwoods materials in the meantime. If we slavishly follow this route 
we are classifying children by _resources, _which has to be wrong. If I 
have a child at SAP for whom I am not providing outside input, I want to 
know and be happy with reasons why. Not move them down to SA so that 
they disappear!
Practically, because i have to satisfy the requirements of our LEA 
audit, I assign children on the basis of the audit criteria(highlighting 
difficulties on sheets and including in their file. If they qualify on 
this basis as SAP, but we feel outside input is inappropiate at that 
time I ensure that they are on the EP list as a low priority.
Kate Barnes
PS I'm very happy for people to disagree with me, thats what the forum 
is for. But please could they do it professionally, I really dont want 
personal abuse - the job of SENCo is tough enough!
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