[senco-forum] RE: senco-forum Digest, upper school ridicule

naomi at sen-burgess.demon.co.uk

to supplement ideas for changing the nature of the room......

a. I used to offer sessions for any individual in any class for a 20 minute
1-1 session to go over absolutely anything they wanted. Classes were dealt
with in rotation, and teachers were instructed to allow children to leave
their class.

b. Senior staff taught sen groups in that room as did some of  'the coolest
teachers' so that everything was perceived as high profile.

c. sen staff were paired with classess in the school on a more or less
permanent basis from year 7 onwards so that relationships were built up with
the whole class.
To promote this sen staff were able to positively reinforce children's work
in mainstream classes, with comments, stamps such as '1st class' etc, which
could be built up in the back of exercise books.

d. the major room in the suite of rooms was also a form room and about the
most comfortable in the school --extensive library, reading corner, arm
chairs etc (organised as a primary classroom)

At one point I threatened to charge for sessions when it was getting too
popular.
This was an inner london boys school, but in the 1980's and although
difficult I know that attitudes are now more entrenched. Also school sizes
are so much bigger, and I think that can make relationships more remote (but
not always, it depends on the internal organisation of course)

Hope this is helfpul

Naomi Burgess

Wonder if anyone has any ideas...

I work at an upper school (yrs 9-11+TVIC). Learning Support dept is well
equipped with a comfortable classroom- small group English and ASDAN
taught there (by a range of teachers - not just SEN teachers). The room
itself is great - working computers, projectors, lots of books, displays
of student work. It's well respected by the students and a safe
atmosphere...the trouble is the students hate being seen to come in. My
predecessor resorted to papering over the glass panel in the door -
because lots of boys tried to hide from anyone passing who might see
them in the "dummy room". I've even got desperate requests to find
another room. My pleas to "have more confidence in what you are
doing"...."don't allow their ignorance to spoil your chances of doing
well / becoming a more confident reader / getting an excellent
qualification" fall on deaf ears. They hide in the library opposite
until the corridor rush has passed so no-one sees them enter and then
beg to be let out a few minutes early to avoid detection by 'friends'
when they leave.

So two problems - 

1.       How do I approach this with these macho (but hugely insecure)
boys? - Should I try to convince them that this is a cool place to be?
Do I give in and find them a different (less suitable, more poorly
equipped) room? 

2.       How do we, as a school, start to address the atmosphere to make
it a more tolerant and nurturing place? I have a feeling that a 'one
off' assembly won't really change anything.

 Any ideas, oh wise ones?

Thanks

Jess

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Message: 15
Date: Tue, 16 Oct 2007 11:15:18 +0100
From: <SEN at tringham.net>
Subject: RE: [SENco-forum] ethos of ridicule
To: "Cannon - Miss J" <JCannon at sus.suffolk.sch.uk>,	"Becta Senco"
	<senco-forum at lists.becta.org.uk>
Message-ID: <FJEDIFGHLAFJDOLCCFOIOEAGEEAA.SEN at tringham.net>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="windows-1250"

It is like bullying of any kind- it has to be stopped.  No one is allowed to
pick on anyone because of gender, race, or religion at school so why are
they are allowed to make those with SEN feel bad?

 Moving rooms will only move the problem.

One way is to change the nature of the room and use it to support the Gifted
& Talented students as well or use it for some special, exciting or 'cool'
activities.  Then no one knows who is who, or who is doing what -they will
just want to be included!

 Long term you need to address the whole school approach to inclusion and
find ways to increase empathy and work on those social & emotional skills.
I know boys can seem a tougher nut to crack, but it has to be done all of
their sakes, not just the ones in your group who are at the sharp end at the
moment.

 Another suggestion, that was posted here last year, is to promote the
positive aspects of SEN such as Dyslexia with posters of those who have
it -both personalities and 'old boys'.  Sometimes seeing the older or 'cool'
guys once needed some support can help.

Sharon

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