Supporting parents and carers of children with SEN

There was overwhelmingly positive feedback from the teachers, parents and carers who attended the launch of Supporting individual needs – new Share activities and guidance to support parents/carers of children with special educational needs (SEN).

‘It has enhanced the extended services programme – we have been able to build good working relationships between staff at special schools. They are now all doing – or are planning to do – the Share programme at the primary stage.’ (Tina Wukics, Coventry City Council, Extended Services Organiser)

The event, which was held on 15 April 2008 at the Welcome Centre in Coventry, saw 65 people come together to learn more about Share’s latest materials, which were developed by a multi-agency working group of parents and staff from six Coventry special schools: Alice Stevens; Deedmore; Hawkesbury Fields; Sherbourne Fields; Three Spires; Tiverton.

This group was supported by ContinYou, Teresa Johnson (Barrs Hill School, Coventry) and Tina Wukics (Coventry City Council, Extended Services Organiser). Following speeches by Andy Walmsley (Head of Strategy) and Laurence Blackhall (CEO, ContinYou) – both of whom stressed the importance of the work in enhancing family learning opportunities for all
children – participants were able to try out some of the new activities themselves. And what fun they had!

‘We are delighted that ContinYou will be taking the learning we’ve been doing in Coventry and take it nationally.’ (Andy Walmsley, Head of Strategy)

Supporting individual needs

This resource pack provides guidance to facilitators on how the Share Foundation Stage activities can be adapted to support parents of children with special educational needs (SEN).

It also contains six additional Foundation Stage activities, which are particularly suitable for use with parents of children with SEN. Parents will also find the team’s Parents’ page useful. This offers guidance for creating a personal learning experience for your child.

ContinYou is grateful to Coventry City Council’s Extended Services Team for their financial support for the development and production of this document. Share members can download all these documents from www.continyou.org.uk/share_inclusion.

Contact Paula Woodall on 024 7658 8467 (paula.woodall@continyou.org.uk) for more information.