3. Special Education Teaching: Understanding the Plans

“The purpose of any plan it to support a young learner’s needs but the ultimate objective is to get the child back into the mainstream!”

SENCO

To effectively support children with special educational needs, SET teachers must understand the various levels of support available and how to implement them. Let’s delve into the different types of support plans, their purposes, and how we might best use them to meet each child’s unique needs.

Classroom Support Plan

The first level of support is the Classroom Support Plan, designed for students with emerging needs, primarily, although not exclusively, in areas such as numeracy or literacy. This plan is typically managed within the classroom by the mainstream teacher. It involves targeted interventions and monitoring to address specific learning difficulties as they arise. SET teachers should familiarize themselves with these plans to understand the initial strategies that have been used and the progress made

School Support Plan

The next tier is the School Support Plan. This level of support involves a more collaborative approach between the mainstream teacher and the SET teacher. Children at this level often have needs that require more intensive support but do not yet necessitate the highest level of intervention. These needs might extend beyond academic challenges in numeracy and literacy to include social and emotional support. The School Support Plan is more comprehensive and involves regular assessments and adjustments based on the child’s progress. SET teachers should work closely with class teachers to develop and implement these plans, ensuring that interventions are both effective and consistent.

School Support Plus

The most intensive level is the School Support Plus. This support is reserved for children with the most significant needs, which may include complex learning difficulties or disabilities. These students might have assessments and recommendations from external agencies, although such reports are not a prerequisite for receiving this level of support. The focus here is on providing individualized, specialized interventions that address both educational and developmental needs. SET teachers need to thoroughly review all reports and recommendations from specialists to tailor the support precisely to the student’s needs. This plan often involves detailed, specific strategies and close monitoring to ensure that the support is effective.

Implementing and monitoring support plans

For SET teachers, understanding and implementing these plans is crucial. Each plan is a live document, meaning it should be regularly updated to reflect a learner’s progress and changing needs.

SET teachers should:

• Conduct background research: Review all existing support plans and any reports from external agencies to gain a comprehensive understanding of each child’s needs.
• Collaborate with colleagues: Work closely with mainstream teachers to develop and refine support plans, ensuring that interventions are integrated smoothly into the classroom setting.
• Focus on recommendations: Pay special attention to recommendations from specialists and incorporate these into the support plans. These recommendations are key to providing effective support tailored to each child’s specific needs.
• Continuous monitoring: Regularly assess the effectiveness of the interventions and adjust the plans as needed. This ensures that the support provided is always aligned with the child’s current needs.

By understanding and effectively implementing these support plans, SET teachers can make a significant impact on their students’ learning and development, fostering an inclusive and supportive educational environment.