[senco-forum] SENCO by any other name

Whenever I have to talk to a pupil that I've not worked with before I always ask them, 'Do you know who I am and do you know what I do ?'. They generally say yes, they know I'm Mrs Wray but no, they don't know what I do. The way I explain it to them is that I help make sure that everyone in the school gets the very best they can out of their learning in the school - that I see if there is anyway that I can help them and I also listen to lots of pupils with problems as well as taking particular care of about 100 children and doing a bit of teaching in between. Is that what a SENCO does ? Guess it is in essence.
Janice Wray Secondary SENCO, Herts

> Date: Sun, 1 Jul 2007 11:28:06 +0100> From: amandavh at btinternet.com> Subject: Re: [senco-forum] SENCO by any other name> To: mike at green43.demon.co.uk; senco-forum at lists.becta.org.uk> CC: > > Hi Mike and everyone> I agree about the title. I've thought about changing the title of SENCO but I decided against it purely because the government legislation says there has to be one. > Amanda> Secondary SENCO> Cornwall> > > Mike Boyd <mike at green43.demon.co.uk> wrote:> On 30/06/07 13:46, "Chris Gravell" > wrote:> > I agree with all the principled objections to the SEN label, but all these> > different labels can make things difficult or more obscure and confusing> > for those outside the school when approaching it for the first time> > (including parents feeling anxious about talking to teachers anyway).> > > They may well have got as far as reading quick guides to SEN from the govt> > or advice orgs which say that every school should have a SENCo, and that's> > the person to talk to about your child.> > > What do others think?> > Amongst the suggested or actual titles mentioned in this thread are:> Learning Support;> Inclusion Managers;> Learning Access Director;> Learning Support Manager;> Access and Inclusion Manager;> Director of Curriculum Support;> Learning Differences and Disabilities Co-ordinator;> Additional Needs Coordinator (Which may be a SENCO in Scotland).> > Imagine I am an anxious parent of a child having difficulties. I had read a> DfES or other parent guide describing the role of the SENCO. I call at the> school office, nervously reveal a little of my worry and ask if I could have> an appointment with the SENCO please.> > Am I to be met by a baffled silence or> "Oh, do you mean the Access and Inclusion Manager? Hold on. I'll ask. Jean!> Does Peter do special needs or is he behaviour? Oh, he's low incidence now> is he? OK. So it's Glenys then, is it?"> > I exaggerate a little for effect, but the euphemisms do seem to be moving> between us with ease where (to my mind) they may better enable> misunderstanding, miscommunication and segregation.> > Whither inclusion eh?> > Regards, Mike> -- > Mike Boyd > > > > > > > Amanda> Secondary SENCO> Cornwall
_________________________________________________________________
Try Live.com - your fast, personalised homepage with all the things you care about in one place.
http://www.live.com/?mkt=en-gb  