How to contact us .............

S.E.R.C
Newbridge School
Barley Lane
Goodmayes
Ilford

Essex
IG38XS
0208 503 8773
Initial enquiries to Suman.Virdee@redbridge.gov.uk







Tuesday 26 January 2010

Role of SENCO

www.teachingexpertise.com/job-role/senco



Look here to find a large range of articles, updates, information sheets all easy to access and download.
Most tend to be 1 or 2 pages long – so quick and easy to read and good to pass onto staff/ parents.

Foundation Stage - lovely resources

www.digitalbutterflies.co.uk
Lovely clear simple site offering simple matching, visual perception, sequencing activities

Well worth a look if working in this phase or with students who have signifcant needs.

Great spelling resource to practice loaded or home made lists- very simple !



www.ictgames.com/lcwc.html

If you need a no frills tool to enable pupils to practice their spelling lists using 'look, cover, check method' take a look at this link.
Comes pre loaded with word lists, but you can also enter your own - so great for those words individual pupils get stuck on.
Simple, visually clear and very easy to use
would suit any age if practice is still required.
Good link to give to families who want to work on this at home or if you have a spelling target on I.E.P - add link so staff and families are reminded of another way to practice.

Wednesday 20 January 2010

Maths resources - KS 2, KS 3, KS 4 SEN

http://www.mathsframe.co.uk/free_resources.asp
We are always looking for different ways to demonstrate and explain maths to our students.
Take a look at this site as it has some very visually clear resources that may well offer students another meduim to learn through.

Visually clear and simple, would also suit VI students

Make simple quiz, multiple choice, simple comprehension activites - no need to buy software - use Google Docs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xC1L0wpmqlY
I have been looking for a way to make simple question /answer , multiple choice documents in a better format than Word, as often when pupils use Word it becomes jumbled and easy to move the text around by mistake.
I have found you can make these using Google Docs - free.
This looks professional and would suit older students who are self concious about having materials that look too young.
Very easy way to differentiate a lesson and would focus upon the knowledge that the student knows, not the recording process.
Have a look at this short 4 min video on Utube - it teachs you everything you need to know

Secondary Science made fun!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sC-QrryI8Og
In most schools the subject that students with SEN least enjoy is Science.

I have found thse U tube links and they are fantastic - this makes science risky and fun again !
I am going to try with some students and see what they think but certainly got my attention...... scroll down and you can see other experiments the teacher has recorded.

Teach your students how to use shortcuts when using a computer !

http://www.rnib.org.uk/livingwithsightloss/computersphones/usingyourpc/Pages/shortcut_keys.aspx

This is a very comprehensive list of shortcuts that you can use, hopefuly speeding up pupil's use of the keyboard and ultimately recording.
Many of these are new to me too, but some of which I wished I had taken time to learn !!!!
Scroll down and print off shortcuts for Word etc.
This is a huge list, but may be worth focussing on a couple a term and adding to I.E.P targets

Transition website to help parents move through Yr 11 transition

http://www.mencap.org.uk/guides.asp?id=9989
A clear and simple outline of the transition process and things parents need to think about during Yr 11.
A good website to give to parents.

It also may be worth sharing with parents of Yr 9 students who have significant special needs as this may influence some of the choices made.

Sunday 10 January 2010

Letters / sounds/ phonic resources free to download Foundation/ KS 1

www.letters-and-sounds.com
Bright colourful site that contains some lovely free resources to help support the teaching of early phonic skills.

Games to develop the brain

www.gamesforthebrain.com
Great set of games to develop a variety of skills- the memory matrix is very good to develop memory skills, but a whole range supporting lots of different skills.

Parachute games pack - free !

www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/parachute/Woodlands%20Parachute%20Games%20Pack.pdf
Need some new ideas to use when using your parachute ........have a look at this pack.............great ideas to use with social and friendship groups.

Jargon busting - what does it all mean ? - parents/ staff

www.mkparents.org/jargon.php
Good simple clear site that outlines simple terms and abbreviations many of us use and simply describes what it means.
A good warm up staff training exercise- how many do your staff know ?

Famous people with Autism / ASD

Often when I am training I am asked who is the young man who draws the amazing landscapes from memory...............his name is Stephen Wiltshire.
Check out his website, his work is amazing and certainly worth sharing with all students. Individual pictures sell for £8,000 - look at his gallery !
www.stephenwiltshire.co.uk

ASD/ Autism / SEN staff training

A great quote from Luke Jackson who has ASD .......


'Everything is so busy at school and everyone else, all the kids and all the teachers, seems to have a purpose and I never have quite fathomed out what that purpose is. I know we are there to learn, but there seems to be much more going on than that. It is like beginning a game without knowing any ofthe rules or the passwords.'
Luke Jackson (2002)

ASD / Autism staff training links

These two links are very powerful links that help explain  life for autistic pupils in our schools. Both relatively short and could be easily used in team / staff meetings.
www.teachers.tv/video/21820
link about twenty-year-old John Simpson,

who himself is on the autistic spectrum, he guides us through the theory and
reality of life for many ASC students at secondary school. This would be equally relevant for primary staff to watch.


www.teachers.tv/video/21826
link about four boys on the autistic
spectrum are observed during their school day to see how their individual
needs are met by both mainstream and specialist staff.