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March brings a focus on reading, autism, dyslexia, pupil premium and happiness :) 
 
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World Book Day is not just an opportunity to dress up it's an opportunity to promote reading for enjoyment.

How can schools and settings encourage pupils to pick up a book?
 
Read our 15 top tips to encourage reading for pleasure.


www.babcockprime.co.uk/latest-news/15-top-tips-to-encourage-pupils-to-read

 
 
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Recently the BookTrust revealed that reading for pleasure has a dramatic impact on educational outcomes, wellbeing and social mobility. This is great news for children and young people that have access to a wide variety of reading material and are encouraged to read.

However how do you ensure that children that have visual impairments, dyslexia, autism, attention deficit disorder or physical disabilities are getting the same access?

RNIB Bookshare aims to open up the world of reading in education for learners with a print disability. The UK education collection membership is for educators supporting learners with print-disabilities and is provided FREE to organisations in the UK.

There are over 400,000 titles to choose from across all phases of education. Many of the reading schemes used in schools are included. There is also an excellent collection of themed topic collections and clutter free diagrams.

You can download any title, diagram or resources and then personalise the font size or layout so that it is bespoke for the child or young person you are supporting. This can then be downloaded for electronic devices or printed out - it is up to you!

For more information visit:
www.rnibbookshare.org/cms/bookshare-me

 
 
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1 in 10 of the population is dyslexic according to the British Dyslexia Association, however the process to gain a formal identification is not quick, but why?

Find out more about the identification process:

www.babcockprime.co.uk/latest-news/What-is-involved-in-an-identification-of-dyslexia



 
   
 

Read the Public Health England guidance for schools and other educational settings in providing advice about the coronavirus.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19
 
 
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1 child in every 100 of the UK school population is autistic, and over 40% of these say they have been bullied at school.

Schools play a huge part in promoting better understanding of autism and supporting their autistic pupils.

Signing up your school to participate in World Autism Awareness week 2020 means you'll get access to a suite of free learning resources to use in your school. All our resources promote the idea that we're all different, and we're all the same – and are tailored to early years, primary and secondary schools.

For free resources, sign up to the National Autistic Society
here
 
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Supporting Autistic pupils during exams and assessments

Exams can be stressful for all students, but particularly for autistic children and young people who may struggle with revision and the exams themselves. Nathalie Dick from Network Autism has put together a number of articles and resources for school staff on how to best support autistic pupils with exams. Read more here.

View case studies on the approaches used by the Autism/CCN team to support students with anxiety.
 
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Top tips for creating an autism friendly school environment

Joan Love, Senior Lecturer on Interior Architecture and Design at Leeds Beckett University has written a useful article for creating autism-friendly school environments The article based on her research with local SEND schools, sets out some recommendations on good design for autistic school pupils.

The recommendations take into account the importance of preparation before an activity for autistic children, giving them more time to process information. This gives children time to understand what is happening next, thereby reducing anxieties, providing reassurance and enhancing their ability to learn.

In brief, the key recommendations include:
  • Provide pause places
  • Multiple entrances help
  • Windows can offer reassurance
  • Join the dots
  • Taster spaces

To read more visit: https://network.autism.org.uk/knowledge/insight-opinion/tips-creating-autism-friendly-school-environments

 
 
 
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A year 6 pupil on the Autism Spectrum and with an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) had not been engaging with learning and lacked confidence.

See how his outcomes were improved when supported by the Autism/CCN team using the Homunculi approach.

View the video case study 

 
   
 

Educational settings in Worcestershire are being asked to share their views in order to help improve SEND services in Worcestershire.

Please take the time to complete the SEND survey:

https://www.snapsurveys.com/wh/s.asp?k=158212374278

The closing date is Friday 27th March, 5pm.
 

The government has announced that pupil premium and service premium rates will increase in line with inflation for the financial year 2020 to 2021 in April 2020.

Find out more: 
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium/pupil-premium

Evidence suggests that pupil premium spending is most effective when schools use a tiered approach, targeting spending across Teaching, Academic Support and Wider approaches such as

  • breakfast clubs
  • music lessons for disadvantaged pupils
  • help with the cost of educational trips or visits
  • speech and language therapy

Schools must show how they're using their pupil premium effectively.
To ensure your school's Pupil Premium funding is being used effectively and to explore a range of approaches to improve outcomes book our bestselling Pupil Premium Review.

Our SEND/Inclusion Lead School Improvement Adviser will evaluate provision and identify key strategies and interventions to help raise attainment and accelerate progress for disadvantaged pupils.

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Last chance to join the Pupil Premium Masterclass

Pupil Premium Masterclass 
Wednesday 11th March 2020 | 09.00 – 12.30 at
St Peter's Church Centre, Worcester

The masterclass aims to demonstrate how metacognitive approaches positively impact on outcomes for disadvantaged pupils.

Make sure your existing strategies and resources for narrowing the gap are effective and discover fresh approaches to making a positive impact.

Find out more and book: 
www.babcockprime.co.uk/training-conferences/conferences/pupil-premium-masterclass

 
 
 
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The engagement model is a new form of assessment for pupils working below the standard of the national curriculum tests and not engaged in subject-specific study. It replaces P scales 1-4, and subject to consultation and final ministerial decision, will become statutory from the 2020/21 academic year.

New guidance sets out the statutory requirements for using the engagement model to assess pupils who are working below the standard of the national curriculum assessments and not engaged in subject-specific study at key stage 1 (KS1) and key stage 2 (KS2). It describes best practice on how to use the engagement model, to support teachers and staff involved in assessing the progress of these pupils.


You can access your copy of the guidance: www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-engagement-model
 
   
 
Goodbye and thank you to Natasha Deary, Specialist Practitioner with the Autism/CCN Team. Best wishes in your new role.
 
 
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To celebrate International Day of Happiness on Friday 20th March, we're offering a 'Happiness Hamper' to one lucky winner.

All you need to do is follow us on Twitter or Facebook and keep an eye out for our 'Happiness Hamper' post on Thursday 20th March, then simply like and share/retweet the post.

To like us on Facebook visit:
www.facebook.com/BabcockPrime.EducationServices

To follow us on Twitter visit: https://twitter.com/BabcockPrime

Open to Teachers, Teaching Assistants and Governors of Worcestershire Schools.
 
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Action for Happiness helps people take action for a happier and more caring world.

Within their resources they offer practical guides for happiness, recommended reads, videos and even an app which gives you daily happiness 'nudges'.

If you want to be motivated and inspired everyday download the calendars:
www.actionforhappiness.org/calendars
 
 
Worcestershire Children First have been working  to produce a simple one page which explains the responsibilities of schools, parent/carers and the SEN casework team with regards to Special Educational Needs.

Download the framework
WCF_SEND_ResponsibilityFramework.pdf

This one page overview also outlines what parent/carers, schools and professionals can do if they are concerned.

Worcestershire Children First would appreciate any feedback about whether you find this overview helpful and any changes you would like to see to the wording and content.
Please send any comments to ZSimcox@worcestershire.gov.uk by 13th March.
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