HOW TO KICK START YOUR SEN
DEPARTMENT
BY: DEBBIE HAMILTON BOGUES
3. Check resources - if you have
resources form last year, check to
see if they are still intact and if you
have acquired new ones, you might
have to train the members of your
department on how and when to
use them.
4. Check your student register. Some
students might have left over the
summer break and new ones
enrolled for the new academic year.
Speak with your registrar about any
enrolment updates and find out all
you can about the new student/s.
5. Get all the information you can on
your new student/s and disseminate
to the appropriate staff.
I
f I recall well, it seems as though it’s
only a couple of weeks ago that we
were saying ‘Happy New Year’ to
our family and friends, both near
and far, to welcome 2019. And here we
are, now saying, ‘Happy New Academic
Year 2019 - 2020!’ Where has the time
gone - so quickly and how? I hope that
on reflection, it has been an exciting
and successful journey, and that, as you
embark on yet another New Academic
Year, It will even be a more exciting
and successful year!
In reality, many things have remained
the same, as educators, motivation
has to be intrinsic, for us to remain
and continue or complete what we
started.
Who will always be with us? All our
students, old ones from the previous
year/s or grade/s and new ones too.
To get things started there are a few
things that we will have to do to kick
start our department:
28
Term 1 Sep - Dec 2019
1. Do you have the same staff
members in your department as
you were at the close of the year? If
you do thumbs up! If you have new
members, you will need to begin to
orient them: introduce them to the
SEN Policy so that they will become
familiar with the procedures,
expectations and be prepared for
the arrival of the students.
2. In
your
initial
departmental
meeting, share with the staff
members your plans, projections
and expectations for the year, at
least for the first term to begin with,
then everyone will have the same
understanding.
6. In fact, there is a strong possibility
that you may have new teachers
as well, consequently you will
have to share the register and
previous Individual Education Plan
(IEP) with them, along with any
pertinent information. This may
include teacher journal about what
worked well, potential learning or
behavioural challenges etc.
7. If you are a new SENCO, you will
have to learn the ethos of the
school, hit the ground running, get
to know your students and parents,
embed best practice as you go
along and place your mark.
8. Over time, keep an eye for students
who might be falling through
the cracks from regular teacher
reporting/meeting. We have high
expectations for all students, and
none should be left behind.
Ashley is a class teacher in JESS Dubai as well as wellbeing leader for the
school. She is currently studying for a master’s degree in Positive Psychology
and Coaching with plans to conduct research into teacher wellbeing in Dubai.
For Character Strength cards, resources and guided meditations, which are all
suitable for classroom use, please visit www.mindfulteachinguae.com. Twitter -
@mindfulmissg Insta – @mindfulmissgreen
Class Time