‘Don’t panic! Remember, 1 September is the start of the process. To that end, schools, local authorities and the DfE are all anticipating at least a three-year transition period. It’s an organic process, so we aren’t expected to do everything at once.’ Natalie Packer
The sixth issue of The SEND Practitioner published today – on the eve of the 1 September SEN reforms. After a long and lovely summer, a September to trump all Septembers is almost here. To that end, we have interviewed author and education expert Natalie Packer and trawled through the past five issues of The SEND Practitioner to bring you a ‘pep talk’ of expert quotes to spur you on into September and beyond.
Over the past academic year, we have provided CCET and CPT3A training pathways for around 550 national and international education professionals. Taking one of three unique routes (online, bespoke or intensive), these candidates are currently navigating the programme and will be eligible to join the British Psychological Society’s (BPS’s) Register of Qualifications in Test Use (RQTU) upon completion. This official record of all test users who have been awarded qualifications in educational test use is globally recognised and is applied for by the majority of our graduates. Last year, for example, almost 400 of our CCET/CPT3A alumni joined the BPS Register.
With education facing one of its toughest years of change this September, we look forward to preparing a record number of educationalists to meet that challenge in the coming academic year.
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‘The proof of the pudding will be in the eating. It’s what we do about it – rather than what we say about it – that will be critical.’ Steve Huggett
We published the fourth issue of The SEND Practitioner shortly after the SEND Code of Practice was laid before Parliament on 11 June. We were particularly pleased to feature a Q&A on the prospective SEND reforms with Steve Huggett – director of the Autism Education Trust. Steve answered a broad range of your reform questions. Ultimately, reflecting, that the new legislation has a lot of potential to maintain and develop the principles of good practice.
Edward Farrow
We are pleased to announce that the final SEND Code of Practice and Regulations were placed before Parliament last week. The Code is rather a large document, but we’ve had a quick look through and we’re really pleased to know that we fully comply with the changes that are due to take place this September.
If you are interested in the particular detail of the Code and Regulations – and how they apply to us – please take a look at the excerpts that we have taken from the Code and the Regulations respectively.
Excerpt from the Code of Practice
6.85 The SENCO must be a qualified teacher working at the school. A newly appointed SENCO must be a qualified teacher and, where they have not previously been the SENCO at that or any other relevant school for a total period of more than twelve months, they must achieve a National Award in Special Educational Needs Co-ordination within three years of appointment.
6.86 A National Award must be a postgraduate course accredited by a recognised higher education provider. The National College for Teaching and Leadership has worked with providers to develop a set of learning outcomes (see the References section under Chapter 6 for a link). When appointing staff or arranging for them to study for a National Award schools should satisfy themselves that the chosen course will meet these outcomes and equip the SENCO to fulfil the duties outlined in this Code. Any selected course should be at least equivalent to 60 credits at postgraduate study.
Read the Code of Practice in full.
Regulations
Prescribed qualifications and experience of SENCOs
49. (1) The appropriate authority of a relevant school must ensure that the SENCO appointed under section 67(2) of the Act meets all of the requirements in either paragraph (2) or (3).
(2) The requirements in this paragraph are that the SENCO–
(a)is a qualified teacher;
(b)if required to complete an induction period under regulations made under section 135A of the Education Act 2002(1), has satisfactorily completed such an induction period; and
(c)is working as a teacher at the school.
(3) The requirement in this paragraph is that the SENCO is the head teacher or acting head teacher (or equivalent in the case of an Academy school) of the school.
(4) Where a person becomes the SENCO at a relevant school after 1st September 2009, and has not previously been the SENCO at that or any other relevant school for a total period of more than twelve months, the appropriate authority of the school must ensure that, if the person is the SENCO at the school at any time after the third anniversary of the date on which that person becomes a SENCO, that person holds the qualification, mentioned in paragraph (5).
(5) The qualification referred to in paragraph (4) is a postgraduate qualification in special educational needs co-ordination, for the time being known as “The National Award for Special Educational Needs Co-ordination”, awarded by a recognised body.
(6) For the purposes of paragraph (5), a recognised body is a body designated by the Secretary of State by order made under section 216(1) of the Education Reform Act 1988(2);
We are delighted to have been officially recognised as a centre of learning and excellence by the British Accreditation Council (BAC).
Siobhan Mellor, director of Real Training:
‘We’re happy with BAC’s thorough analysis of the learning experience for our delegates – from the booking process, admin and finance systems as well as the teaching, tutoring and learning that we offer through our courses. We are pleased that they have given us their stamp of recognition for excellent training. We work hard to continually build on the strengths of our training for professionals in education and know how important it is to deliver excellent training for teachers, particularly as these are the very people who strive to deliver great learning in their own education settings.
‘BAC’s inspection – with their experience of accrediting training across the UK – has recognised Real Training’s outstanding areas of practice. We will continue to improve (it’s in our nature as educational psychologists to keep looking for the next steps!), but, at this moment, we want to stand back and feel proud of our BAC accreditation seal of approval.’
Our popular Certificate of Competence in Educational Testing (CCET) course is selling out fast. Take your competence in psychometric testing to the next level with the gold standard qualification for the education profession – set by the British Psychological Society.
To avoid disappointment, book now.
Dates for 2024 are as follows;
- 14-16 August – delivered live online
- 18-20 September – delivered live online
- 2-4 October – delivered live online
- 16-18 October – delivered live online
- 13-15 November – delivered live online
- 27-29 November – delivered live online
- 13, 16-17 December – delivered live online
Interested in a SOLD OUT date? Contact us and we’ll place you on our waiting list.