#SENexchange: The Storify Collection

Once again Mary and Cherryl would like to thank our growing group of followers for joining and supporting us and for their exchange of ideas and experience – that’s what it is all about!

We started our weekly discussions each Wednesday evening on 15th April and are pleased we have a regular group of contributors.We would be delighted if more followers felt able to join our discussions – particularly encouraging parents / carers and those from other agencies who are able to offer a different perspective to the things we talk about. The more people who join us – the broader and richer the exchange of information / experience and ideas….

We always storify after each of our weekly discussions, some of which were collated in our blog ‘Our story so far’ published in May 2015. We thought people might find it useful to have our storify collections in one place however, hence this blog

Our discussions so far have all been taken from / based on your suggestions http://wp.me/p5Qdrj-1q  – Here they are in #storify form:

April 15th 2015 – Our first discussion – What’s special about CPD for working with children and young poeple with SEND?  Was suggested by Simon Knight (@SimonKnight100). You can read the #storify here: https://t.co/d2mfRzHKE0

April 22nd 2015 – We discussed – How do you involve parents and carers in their child’s learning? A topic suggested by EdRightAlliance (@ERA_tweet). You can read the #storify here:  https://t.co/H5fTzCP9F7

April 29th 2015 – We discussed  “Supporting meaningful pupil voice for children and young ppl with SEN ” . A topic suggested by Mary Isherwood (@Mishwood1). You can read the #storify here:  http://sfy.co/d0Wg9 

May 6th 2015- We discussed – Effective strategies for promoting collaboration between mainstream & special schools. – A topic suggested by  Jen (@senteacher_jen). You can read the #storify here: http://t.co/3rq8W4mJir

May 13th 2015- We discussed ‘Encouraging children and young people with SEND to become independent learners.Suggested by Alexis Doyle (@alexisemma31). You can read the #Storify here: http://t.co/3ANH4K2u7n 

May 19th 2015-  We discussed  ‘How do teachers/TAs work together to ensure best outcomes for children & young people with SEND. Suggested by Fiona ( @fiona_moody).  You can read the #Storify here:  http://t.co/0Rth72Ddc4

June 3rd 2015- We discussed – ‘Sharing good practice for pupils in mainstream and special schools learning together’ based on the suggestion by Amjad Ali (@ASTsupportAAli). You can read the #Storify here:  http://sfy.co/g0gLa

June 10th 2015 – We discussed ‘ Supporting children and young people to manage their own behaviour’ . A topic suggested by (@Educate_NE ). You can read the #Storify here: http://t.co/JOzRJwpG5p

June 17th 2015- We discussed ‘Important features of an ASD friendly learning environment’ as suggested by Lynn McCann (@reachoutASC). You can read the #Storify here: http://t.co/D53glHt2hR

June 24th 2015- We discussed ‘Supporting independent writing for learners with SEND’ (based on a suggestion by @jwscattergood). You can read the #Storify here: http://t.co/wjUlQZ6gId

1st July 2015- We are discussing ‘Best practice in supporting transitions for learners with SEND’. A topic suggested by @MariaStMarys. #Storify here: http://sfy.co/s0efT 

8th July 2015 – We discussed  ‘supporting learners with SEND with SRE and puberty’. A topic suggested by Lynn McCann (@reachoutASC)  #Storify here: http://t.co/0e6XXcvyQn

15th July 2015- We discussed ‘ How we support learners with SEND to be safe online’. This topic arose from a discussion between @Mishwood1 and @cherrylkd You can read the #storify here:http://t.co/tQG56tyw2b

We took a short summer break and then……………..

2nd September 2015- We discussed ‘How can we best use social media to support outcomes for learners with SEND’. This topic arose from a discussion between @Mishwood1 and @cherrylkd. You can read the #Storify here: http://t.co/dG6rJ0Bs2J

9th September 2015- We discussed ‘ How we can best use feedback to help learners with SEND make progress’. A topic suggested by @jwinchester25. You can read the #Storify here: http://t.co/8XU4QeNUHj

16th September 2015- We discussed ‘How schools are dealing with Life After Levels for learners with SEND’. This topic was raised and suggested for discussion by a number of folllowers. You can read the #Storify here: https://t.co/ft2GWXXnv5

23rd September 2015- We discussed ‘What is best practice in Initial teacher training for working with learners with SEND?’. This topic arose from our own discussions. You can read the storify here: http://t.co/tSmqt3JdrE

30th September 2015- We discussed ‘What innovative uses have you found for your sensory room?’. A topic suggested by @senteacher_jen , You can read the #Storify here: http://t.co/kvK2kwJ3jA

7th October 2015- We discussed ‘ What particular aspects of staff H+wb should we consider for working with learners with SEN?. This topic was suggested by @senteacher_jen   You can read the #Storify here: http://t.co/y8rmyEOSMp 

14th October 2015- We discussed ‘ How do we best use tech for our learners with SEND?’ A topic suggested by @cherrylkd. You can read the #storify here: http://t.co/7t2R9N2j42

21st October 2015- We discussed ‘What are the essential elements of relevant and meaningful homework for learners with SEND?’. A topic suggested by @Mishwood1. You can read the #storify here: https://t.co/gkej1zqXcV

We took a half term break and then…..

4th November 2015- We discussed ‘How we best get parents / carers involved in the life of the school. A topic suggested by several followers. You can read the #Storify here: https://t.co/oTWRpNqZdV

11th November 2015- We discussed best uses of Pupil Premium funding as suggested by  @cherrylkd      You can read the #Storify here: https://t.co/3StFx50gDl

18th November2015 – We discussed ‘ How we ensure effective safeguarding of our learners with SEND as suggested by  @Mishwood1      . You can read the #Storify here: https://t.co/HSOVqi4Nxw

25th November 2015- We discussed ‘ How we monitor and evaluate the performance of TAs. A topic suggested by @MrSeniorLeader. You can read the #Storify here: https://t.co/abA1gF5GMi

2nd December 2015- We shared strategies of supporting AfL with our learners with SEND. A topic suggested by @missmbunbury .    You can read the #Storify here: https://t.co/meok9cesDS

9th December 2015- We discussed ‘How we can use Enterprise in education’ as suggested by @cherrylkd    . You can read the #Storify here: https://t.co/jzCkAy8sic

16th December 2015- We discussed ‘The range of ways we use music in our schools’ as suggested by @LittleAngelsSch Little Angels School. You can read the #Storify here: https://t.co/UOjkPexgwq

We then took our Christmas break

On January 6th 2016 we started the new year by sharing our hopes for SEND in 2016. You can read the #Storify here: https://t.co/WufL3o0M7b

13th January 2016, we discussed  “How do we support our learners with SEND to move from special to m/stream schools” – a topic suggested by  @StarlightMcKenz    You can read the #storify here:  http://sfy.co/a0st6 

20th January 2016, we discussed “How do we best support pupils with SLD in mainstream classes. You can read the storify here:  http://sfy.co/d0tBt 

27th January 2016. We discussed “”Multi- agency teams: Who is involved with your pupils with SEND and why? ” You can read the #Storify here:  http://sfy.co/h1Gfa 

3rd February 2016. We discussed “What is the role of the SEND Governor?”. You can read the #Storify here: https://t.co/nwaBJsCJH9

10th February 2016, we discussed”SEND: Whose responsibility is it anyway?” You can read the #Storify here: http://sfy.co/v2MT 

After a half term break….

24th February 2016, we discussed “. How do we best support our children on the Autistic spectrum” – You can read the #Storify here:  http://sfy.co/i1IhT

2nd March 2016, we discussed how we support our learners with SEND develop their play skills. You can read the #Storify here: sfy.co/d0w2k .

9th March 2016, We discussed outdoor learning. You can read the #storify here: sfy.co/h1Jqv 

16th March 2016, we shared good practice in supporting transitions for learners with SEND. You can read the #Storify here: sfy.co/h1KR8 

23rd March 2016, we acknowledged World Downs Syndrome day with our discussion. You can read the #Storify here: http://sfy.co/f1KT7

30th March 2016, we celebrated the achievements of our children and young people. You can read the #Storify here: http://sfy.co/a0yI8 

We then took an Easter break from our discussions

27th April 2016, we celebrated our first anniversary here at #SENexchange with an anniversary special discussion where we invited people to “Share achievements in SEND over the last 12 months and hopes for the next 12 months”. You can read the #storify here: https://t.co/bSc0sJpnK6

4th May 2016, we had a guest co-host@LauraKerbey,  who had suggested our discussion topic of ‘PDA’. You can read our #storify here: https://t.co/lNYk4YA18F

11th May 2016, we discussed “How can we make best use of social media to support SEND?”. You can read the #storify here: https://t.co/NgAoqfAF9k

18th May 2016, we had a guest co-host of @JosephBaldwin who had suggested our discussion topic of “Let’s discuss technology assisted communication”. You can read the #storify here: https://t.co/NgzCxgfJUC

25th May 2016, we discussed “What comments / feedback from parents / carers would make a teacher most proud?” suggested by @StarlightMcKenz. You can read the #Storify here: https://t.co/NKpqGiIEtv

It is time for us to have a half – term break from our discussions. Our next discussion will be on Wednesday 8th June at 8 p.m.

8th June 2016 – We discussed how SENCOs share information and support others. You can read our #storify here

15th June 2016 – We discussed what makes an autism friendly school? You can read our #storify here

22nd June 2016 – We discussed how we include our children with SEND in wider society. You can read our #storify here

29th June 2016 – We discussed how we can best support the mental health and wellbeing of our children and young people with SEND. You can read our #Storify here 

6th July 2016 – We discussed how we can best use assemblies for children with SEND. You can read our #Storify here

13th July 2016 – We discussed assessment of holistic  learning “Measure what you value”. You can read our #Storify here

20th July 2016 – We shared our SEND highlights of the year. You can read our storify here

We are now going to both take a summer break from our weekly discussions.

We will start a new #Storify collection in the new academic year when we return to our discussions on  7th September 2016 so they are all held in one place to make it easier for people to search for topics we have discussed.

Thank you again for all the positive feedback, support, and contributions we have had from you – please do continue to spread the word – the bigger the voice – the bigger the exchange – the bigger the impact for our children and young people with SEND. Do continue to  send us your discussion topic ideas too – we will add them to the list

With sincere thanks and warmest wishes

Mary and Cherryl