Maple Grove Head

Specialist Leader of Ed, Headteacher of Maple Grove School
- Specialist Autism Provision
- Part of Options Autism
- Hoole, Chester

(All views/opinions my own)

[Maple Grove Head @reading_ben]

@TalkingMats @Comm_nTrust ✋

[Maple Grove Head @reading_ben]

@bennewmark Absolutely. We have four different lunchtime clubs a day, every day, for this very reason!

[Maple Grove Head @reading_ben]

@gdmorewood @majestixconsult Thanks Gareth, it was lovely to meet everyone, enjoy the rest of the week!

[Maple Grove Head @reading_ben]

@SimonKnight100 Many congratulations Simon!

[Maple Grove Head @reading_ben]

@gdmorewood @EmiHowe Thanks Gareth, I will!

[West Cheshire Autism Hub @WCAutismHub]

📩 We've sent out West Cheshire Autism Hub's very first ebulletin, which is a great way to keep up-to-date with our plans for the future.

Haven't received a copy? Sign up to the ebulletin now 👉 https://t.co/ZK4QsAr1xi

#WCAutismHub

[Cat McGill @folkycat]

@TenaciousRk @gdmorewood @abaukdiscussion @TizardCentre @prof_standards 🥰 *blushes* Thanks 🤩 I’ll just leave this here... https://t.co/ioygJ6MLE9

[Maple Grove Head @reading_ben]

@gdmorewood Really sorry to hear you sad news Gareth, thinking of you.

[Maple Grove Head @reading_ben]

@TheCFEY 👍 Keep up the great work guys, the videos look fantastic! #askaboutsend

[Maple Grove Head @reading_ben]

@Gabriellerowle1 Need to clarify a typo- works best when NOT done in a panic in Y6!! 🤦‍♂️ #askaboutsend

[Maple Grove Head @reading_ben]

@Gabriellerowle1 Absolutely- it tends to work best when it's done in a panic in Y6. Really good practice in Cheshire recently, where all SENCos are meeting half-termly, and it's organised so that mainstream secondary schools are in the room with their feeder primaries 6 times a year.

[Maple Grove Head @reading_ben]

@Gabriellerowle1 sorry - when it's NOT done in a panic in Y6!!!

[Maple Grove Head @reading_ben]

@TheCFEY 3) Invest time building relationships with individual pupils- all the best techniques/strategies/interventions are mostly a waste of time if used in the absence of a trusting learning relationship .
#askaboutsend

[Maple Grove Head @reading_ben]

@TheCFEY 1) De deliberate and economical in your use of language- mean what you say and say what you mean (use visuals as much as pos!)
2) Behaviours you find challenging are happening for a reason, start by reducing stress/triggers and then teach alternatives ways to meet that need...

[Maple Grove Head @reading_ben]

@Gabriellerowle1 @AlixHRobertson @TheCFEY @HindertonSchool Definitely! I think any good profile/passport/summary of a child has to be the whole child, not a list of problem behaviours and learning deficits. Again, sets the culture in a really negative direction!

[Maple Grove Head @reading_ben]

@TheCFEY In less dramatic days ahead (🤞), we will be back to smaller scale changes to daily schedules. Address those explicitly and leave them up, but with a line or 'no entry' type sign over them, with the new activity alongside.

[Maple Grove Head @reading_ben]

@TheCFEY Again, visuals! And know your pupils- some will need lots of detailed information ,some will struggle with that and just need the basic facts (like "school is closed"). A month-to-view calendar can be really helpful to communicate longer-term events. #askaboutsend

[Whole School SEND @WholeSchoolSEND]

@reading_ben is hosting @TheCFEY's first weekly Twitter surgery based on the 12 condition-specific videos made to help support NQTs in the classroom. Join the conversation using the hashtag #AskAboutSEND. The videos are available to view now at https://t.co/fe1a5RUlFW #Autism

[Maple Grove Head @reading_ben]

@TheCFEY 1) Remember, however good TAs are responsibility for progress/curriculum stays with you...
2) Separate ay challenging behaviour from the child, and DO NOT take it personally!
3) Important as they are, avoid thinking English and maths are the only important progress measures!

[Maple Grove Head @reading_ben]

@AlixHRobertson @Gabriellerowle1 @TheCFEY @HindertonSchool And yet I bet a lot of NQTs would mention meeting the needs of SEND pupils amongst their biggest challenges in their first year(s) of teaching #askaboutsend

[Maple Grove Head @reading_ben]

@Gabriellerowle1 @TheCFEY @HindertonSchool Would be delighted to be proved wrong though! I'm also aware of how much pressure there is to fit a lot of content into something like a PGCE. I think a lot of specialist settings would be very happy to offer dual placements with mainstream.

[Maple Grove Head @reading_ben]

@Gabriellerowle1 @TheCFEY @HindertonSchool If it has it's still very patchy. ITT providers need to tap into the expertise of special schools more widely. And spend more time on SEND generally! My feeling is it's still an expendable extra that gets squeezed out in a lot of courses. #askaboutsend