Striving For Excellence

Subject: Special Educational Needs
Level: Secondary
Age Group: 11-14
Order Number: 16008

The revised Code of Practice governing the delivery of Special Needs came into operation in September 2000. Schools are already absorbing the radical changes the government has ordered through its Programme of Action,- more changes are in the pipeline.

Striving For Excellence describes many practical ways in which the changes can be carried through, to make the delivery of Special Needs more effective in your school.

Designed to promote discussion and action at all levels throughout the school, it is intended for governing bodies, headteachers, senior management teams, Co-ordinators of Special Educational Needs, and every teacher involved in raising standards throughout their schools.

Striving For Excellence is not a 'nuts and bolts', step-by-step description of the changes; it does suggest programmes of action; it does demand change,- and it does describe how these changes can be brought about effectively.

There is considerable emphasis on improving behaviour throughout the book, and it also deals with such key areas as individual education plans, supporting strategies for behaviour and learning, solution focused approaches, how to get the best out of OFSTED, setting up and running literacy and numeracy groups, and techniques for the teaching of reading.

An appendix includes papers on such diverse issues as Williams' Syndrome, using Successmaker, and the use of medication in coping with AD(H)D, as well as a variety of useful proformas for any Special Needs department.

The writer, JP Creton, has become well known for his contribution to the literacy debate. After a number of years running a Special Needs department in a school with more than 42% of its pupils on its SEN register, he is now making this highly individual and passionate contribution to meeting Special Educational Needs.

As he writes in the introduction, "Striving For Excellence describes the changes which affect schools most radically, but also attempts to offer innovations and strategies to make the changes work. It is not a 'nuts and bolts' description of how Special Needs operate in the school environment- it is a radical programme for change related to the Code of Practice 20001200 1, " and concludes, " If this book is written from the heart that is no less than your children with Special Needs deserve."

Copies of Striving For Excellence will include the entire book on floppy disk, allowing teachers to amend, print and use the proformas in ways which precisely suit their own needs. Striving for Excellence describes many practical ways to make the delivery of Special Needs more effective in mainstream schools. This resource offers a comprehensive coverage of special needs, (excluding profound and complex needs.) issues for mainstream schools.

The 2002 Code of Practice requires a more inclusive, whole school approach to special needs, and this resource provides advice and practical guidance to help plan a pragmatic and manageable response to individual and school need.

Coverage includes:

an overview of Special Needs; managing behavioural issues; responding to emotional and behavioural difficulties (EBD); Individual Education Plans (IEPs); establishing literacy groups; techniques for the teaching of reading; satisfying Inspectors; a focused approach to improving behaviour; the myths and reality around ADHD; and how to get the best out of the best Learning Support Assistants.