Alex Sutcliffe from Ravenshead Church of England School discusses meeting the needs of children with SEND. They emphasize the importance of learning environments, physical challenges, early intervention, child-centered design, open-ended materials, and inclusive practices. The podcast explores promoting physical development, fostering creativity, and creating communication-friendly settings for children with special needs.
Creating inclusive learning environments for children with SEND is crucial and should focus on physical challenge and effective indoor and outdoor settings.
Developing research-informed changes in the learning environment, such as using tools like EKASE and Communication-Friendly Settings Audit, supports children's needs effectively.
Implementing universal provision practices like visual timetables and Makaton sign language benefits all children, fostering empathy, kindness, and understanding among peers.
Deep dives
Supporting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
The EYFS leader at Raven's Head School discusses the journey of supporting children with SEND at their school, emphasizing the importance of developing early years provision, including indoor and outdoor environments. The focus is on physical development and prime areas of learning, with interventions and early identification being key to providing necessary support for children.
Changing Classroom Environments for Better Learning
The journey of enhancing the learning environment is detailed, starting with tired timetables and adult-directed activities, leading to a shift towards child-centered play with enhanced focus on the learning environment. Research-informed changes involve incorporating tools like the EKASE and Communication-Friendly Settings Audit, ensuring the environment supports children's needs effectively.
Inclusive Practices and Universal Provision
Universal provision practices in the school are discussed, emphasizing inclusivity for all children, not just those with SEND. Approaches like using visual timetables and basic Makaton sign language benefit all children, fostering empathy, kindness, and understanding among peers. The goal is to create a supportive environment that aids in developing lifelong skills.
Empowering Children with Life Skills and Risk Management
The importance of offering children opportunities for risk and challenge is highlighted, framing it as an avenue for developing key personal, social, and emotional skills. By providing tools like visual step-by-step guides and fostering a restorative-based approach to behavior, children learn to manage risks, regulate emotions, and support their peers effectively.
Learning Through Empathy and Understanding Needs
Encouraging empathy and understanding towards children's individual needs is emphasized, showcasing positive outcomes when inclusive practices are implemented. Creating a supportive and inclusive environment not only benefits children with SEND but also nurtures essential life skills like empathy, kindness, and understanding.
Enhancing Communication and Social Skills Through Inclusive Practices
Implementing visual timetables, basic Makaton sign language, and communication-friendly settings help all children, including those with SEND, build communication and social skills. The approach promotes understanding, peer support, and inclusivity, creating a positive learning environment that fosters empathy and supports lifelong skill development.
How do you meet the needs of all of your children? In this week’s episode, we talk to Alex Sutcliffe from Ravenshead Church of England School in Nottinghamshire as we reflect on meeting the needs of children with SEND. As part of this, we focus on the importance of effective learning environments indoors and outdoors and discuss how physical challenge is crucial to meeting children’s needs.
