SEN GOVERNORS
A special relationship
Do you know
be met within a mainstream school. The legislation also
places a duty on local authorities and health authorities
if your school
to assist any child that has seN.
specifically for the governing body, the Act requires
that it makes every effort for special arrangements to
has an SEN
be made for any pupil with seN and takes part in open
communication regularly with relevant parties.
governor? Do you
Parents are key figures in a child’s life and therefore
the governing body must be notified by the school
know what their role and
when seN provision is being made for their child.
seN policy reports must also be sent home to parents
on an annual basis, to keep them well informed of the
relationship to the school
school’s objectives.
Furthermore, governing bodies have a responsibility
staff is? Lorraine Petersen
towards their teaching staff. They must ensure that all
staff understand the importance of identifying pupils
explains the importance of
who have seN and providing appropriate teaching
deliveries. it is essential that they understand that each
this special relationship
child will have differing needs and learning preferences;
one size does not fit all.
Wider communication with other local authorities
sChOOL that has an effective and and counterpart governing bodes is also paramount in
A
c

ommitted governing body with a key order to comply with the education Act of 1996. it may
member such as an seN governor be necessary at times to co-ordinate special educational
offering support to the seNCO will teaching in the local area; therefore governing bodies
be able to provide effective provision must place communication and collaborative working
for pupils with seN. high on the agenda.
Recent statistics indicate that one Additional guidelines are stated in the seN Code of
in five children and young people in our education Practice 2001, which applies to any school that receives
system have a special educational need or disability. government funding. it encourages all governing bodies
Being such a significant number of pupils, nasen, to have an seN governor or committee. This is by no
the special needs professional association of which i means a legal requirement, but more a form of good
am chief executive, is keen to ensure that all those who practice.
are working with and caring for these vulnerable young
people are given the training, support and relevant
SEN governor – the strongest link
information to cater for their every need. in order for effective provision to result, the seNCO and
seN governor must have a good working relationship.
Legal duties of the governing body
Although the role of the seN governor can vary to
The education Act of 1996 imposes duties on schools some extent, one feature remains constant – the seN
and local authorities to identify, assess and meet governor acts as the much-needed link between the
children’s seN. Wherever possible, these needs must governing body and school.
Union address: ATL
Challenging times
Dr Mary
by the secretary of state. The majority of the
recommendations concerned primary schools. The
Bousted warns
panel advised that:
1. Within and between schools, both early years
practitioners and key stage 1 teachers should be
that SATs must
involved in the moderation of early Year Foundation
stage profiles judgements; and both key stage 1 and
be replaced with a system
2 teachers should be involved in the moderation of
key stage 1 teacher assessments.
that is fit-for-purpose and is
2. Primary schools should use “primary graduate
certificates” to recognise each child’s achievements
urging caution
in a range of subjects and areas and highlight the
child’s strengths before he or she progresses to
secondary school.
The issue of testing – the when, the what and the 3. Key stage 2 tests in english and mathematics The position is about doing the very best to make both inside and outside of the classroom to ensure
how of it, has been one of the key battle grounds should be administered in the middle of June, sure pupils with seN get the help they need to access the that seN pupils are actively involved in all aspects
between the teaching profession and the government a month later than the current testing week, so whole curriculum, and to participate fully in school life. of school life.
for over a decade. that pupils continue to spend time on english As the Department for Children, schools and Financial responsibilities also play a part of the
The Association of Teachers and Lecturers has and mathematics and to develop the quality and Families explained back in 2003, seN governors must seN governor role. Together with the seNCO,
led the charge to call for radical change to the robustness of teacher assessment data transferred to be aware that each school is different – the needs of he or she should be fiscally aware and ensure that
current testing regime. Through our Teaching to secondary schools. pupils vary from school to school, as does the array of funds are paid each year within the school budget
Learn campaign we made the case for a national 4. Key stage 2 science tests should be discontinued. seN, the relationships, and the amount of involvement specifically to cater for seN pupils and to support the
assessment system which gave accurate individual science and iCT at key stage 2 should be assessed at governing body meetings. implementation of the seN policy.
pupil level data (which the sATs, largely, don’t do). through teacher assessment; and assessment tasks Gathering knowledge about the world of seN, the As mentioned previously, the seN governor must
We campaigned for a much greater role for should be developed for science. needs of their pupils, and building relationships with act as a channel of communication between the
teacher assessment within the national accountability Our members will recognise that the expert the appropriate bodies are the first priorities for seN seNCO, school and the governing body. he or she
system in order to restore teachers’ confidence and Group’s recommendations are closely allied to our governors. should encourage the governing body to ensure that
built their expertise in formative assessment (which, Teaching to Learn campaign objectives. The test i cannot stress enough, however, that the seN all school policies are consistent with the aims of the
after all, is the bedrock of all effective teaching). burden in primary schools is to be reduced, and the governor is not personally responsible for the school’s seN policy.
By the time of the eTs disaster in 2008, the role of teacher assessment throughout each key stage provision for pupils with seN. it is the governing body
government had already recognised that the status is greatly enhanced. Our union’s reliance on careful who is corporately responsible.
Commitment across the board
quo for sATs was no longer an option, and the recent research, detailed argument and strong campaigning What’s more, an seN governor should not act as a A school cannot be truly effective in providing for
report of the expert Group on Assessment, set up to has paid dividends. teacher, nor an inspector, but as a source of support to pupils with seN unless all those involved are fully
provide a get-out, makes interesting reading. The english and maths sATs remain, but their days the school. committed to raising the achievement of all pupils.
it establishes four key purposes for assessment: are numbered, and we will remain at the forefront of i believe the seNCO and seN governor should seN must be considered as an integral part of the
first, and most importantly, to optimise the the campaign to consign them to history. aim to meet as often as possible to keep up-to-date with school’s development planning.
effectiveness of pupils’ learning and teachers’ We now have to ensure that they are not replaced seN developments within the school and to review ultimately, working collaboratively is paramount
teaching, that assessment should hold individual by single-level tests. Neither should the principles and the implementation of the seN policy on an on-going in order to offer a world-class education for all. All
schools accountable for their performance, provide good practice of formative assessment be perverted basis. Objectives of this meeting would not be to governors should take an interest in all seN issues.
parents with information about their child’s progress, by APP (Assessing Pupils’ Progress) which might discuss individual children and their needs, but more A school that has clear structures in place for
and provide reliable information about national focus pupils and teachers on levels and sub-levels, to act as a strategic conversation addressing provision, providing the seN governor with information to share
standards over time. rather than real markers of achievement and progress funding, staffing and time allocation. with their colleagues, is one better placed to provide a
each part of the assessment system, according to in pupils’ learning. Working as a partnership, the seNCO and seN 21st century education for all its students.
the experts, puts varying emphases on each of these We must now exercise caution and vigilance governor must work proactively to embrace the school’s We must not forget that good inclusive seN
purposes, and it is crucially important to be clear if we are to replace the sATs with a national seN policy. teaching is good for all students, not an add on for a
about which part of the assessment system serves assessment system which is fit-for-purpose. They must understand how the responsibilities for select few. SecEd
which purpose (something about which, at present, seN provision are shared within the school. in order
there is a great deal of confusion). • Dr Mary Bousted is general secretary of the to do this, they must keep up-to-date with national and • Lorraine Petersen is CEO of nasen, a UK professional
The expert Group made a series of Association of Teachers and Lecturers. Visit local seN developments. association embracing all special and additional
recommendations, all of which were accepted www.atl.org.uk As a supportive figure, the seN governor should educational needs and disabilities. To find out more,
aim to regularly observe, first-hand, the happenings visit www.nasen.org.uk
12 SecEd • June 11 2009
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