As part of our work as a Centre of Excellence for SEND education, we are excited to have partnered with the Bohunt SCITT programme.
SEND training is a compulsory part of all teacher training. Bohunt ensures that there is excellent provision for their trainees to develop a deep understanding of SEND by providing both training from Undershaw’s expert staff alongside the opportunity to observe and engage in active learning in the classroom environment.
”SEND education is a multi-faceted specialism. It is our ambition and resolve to develop our CPD Programme. We want to shine a light on the pillars of our offer that make a genuine and life-changing impact to our students. This reinforces what a great school we have here. I am always proud to showcase Undershaw to parents, Local Authorities and our extensive network of partners, but to be able to highlight our provision to our fellow professionals is a proud moment for all of us. We’re excited for the future and know there is more to come as we broaden and strengthen the Undershaw model.
Emma WestHeadteacher
The first day was based on the pervasive belief that every teacher is a teacher of SEND. The areas we covered are essential for all trainee teachers to know and understand, regardless of setting, age-group, or subject. We looked at the EEF ‘five a day’ in practice and why excellent understanding of Cognitive Load Theory is so important when working with learners who have SEND. We explored a range of SEND needs and how these may present in a range of environments.
Our trainees met our therapy team and had an introduction to Occupational, Emotional and Speech and Language Therapy, developing their understanding of how these therapies support SEND needs, as well as some strategies to support in the classroom. Leigh Fisher delivered an excellent session on visuals which covered both why and how visuals are so important to support students with SEND. Gemma, our Deputy Headteacher (Pastoral) then led a session about the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and understanding the processes around the Annual Review.
Following the first day, all trainees were welcomed to spend a day with a class, observing and seeing the strategies that we shared in practice. This part of the SEND training is extremely important and all Undershaw teachers and TAs were keen to help trainees to understand what strategy they were using to support learners, and why. This dovetailed with the previous learning and meant that trainees were able to both learn the theory and then observe it in practice, which will lead them on to being in a position to try these strategies to support their own SEND learners.
‘I had an amazing experience at Undershaw School. The staff were great, particularly the Year 11 teachers, Matt and Kerry, and they have been so helpful. The Switch Club during lunchtime for some of the students was such a wonderful idea. I also had an opportunity to play badminton with some of the students at PE. I just want to say a huge ‘Thank You’ to Vic and her team for the valuable experience at Undershaw’.
”Having established this exciting partnership with the Bohunt SCITT, we are delighted to continue to develop our offer and work with teacher training providers to ensure that the SEND experience for teacher training is truly outstanding. We are excited to be involved in developing the teachers of the future and wish all the trainees who have worked with us this year the very best of luck as they finish their training and then step up into the profession.
Vic WalkerDeputy Headteacher (Academic)
