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Special Educational Needs
Espresso’s activities avoid reference to age groups and so teachers can
provide children with work that offers an appropriate level of challenge,
without visibly labelling the resource as intended for someone much younger.
Children are also encouraged to set the level of challenge for themselves if an
Espresso activity is offered at different levels, again focusing on a child’s
ability rather than their age group.
Lewis Bronze, CEO Espresso Education, comments: “The essence of Espresso’s
purpose is to simply create the best resources to stimulate engagement, creativity
and achievement in all learners, whatever their needs and abilities.”
It is essential that schools are able to provide personalised learning
pathways that will support every child in reaching their full potential.
However, this can be a challenging task when a student has complex issues
that prevent them from learning in a conventional classroom setting. The
latest government figures show that children with special educational needs
(SEN) are eight times more likely to be permanently excluded from school
than any other student. Reducing this figure is a government priority.
The portfolio is authored by highly-respected professionals from across the One approach that has proved highly effective in many schools is to
fields of educational and clinical psychology. The tests can be used by a range introduce live online learning as part of the strategy for managing provision
of school staff to assess their pupils’ mental and emotional needs and ensure for students with SEN who are at risk of being excluded from school.
that, where appropriate, they can be referred on quickly for more in-depth Accipio Learning provides live online teaching to secondary school aged
diagnosis and treatment. It is therefore a timely resource to assist schools and students across the UK who have a range of educational, behavioural or
associated staff in their function as the “front line” of child and adolescent medical needs. The ability to access lessons online is particularly useful for
mental health services. students with conditions such as those within the autistic spectrum, where
Tracey Riseborough, Publisher for Health & Psychology at GL Assessment, there may be issues around face-to-face contact or group learning that would
explains, “If a child is experiencing issues such as anxiety or depression in be difficult to manage in a mainstream classroom. Communicating online
school, this could have a negative impact on their learning and prevent allows students to continue their learning without having to read facial
them from reaching their full potential. Measures of Children’s Mental expressions or body language.
Health & Psychological Wellbeing will make it easier for schools to
identify these issues quickly so that children get the pastoral and
psychological support they need to enjoy a happy and healthy life.”
The Government’s SEN white paper, ‘Removing Barriers to Achievement’
(2004) states that “every teacher is a teacher of special educational needs”.
With this in mind, the UK’s commitment to provide inclusive and personalised
education for our children should be at the heart of CPD, not just for
SENCOs, but for all teachers.
‘Schools are looking for products that embrace inclusivity,” agrees Ray
Barker Director, British Educational Suppliers Association (BESA). “Many
years ago a major SEN report stressed that what was good for SEN
should be good for all and this has not changed in terms of resources.
One major problem is that SEN funding is not ring-fenced and often
money meant for SEN students has to be channelled elsewhere.”
Inclusion is something Espresso Education takes very seriously; they even
won a BETT Special Award for Inclusion for their outstanding efforts in 2008.
Although not designed specifically for special educational needs (SEN) pupils,
the Espresso Primary service provides broad flexibility so it can be used with as With Accipio, students can attend scheduled online lessons delivered by
wide a range of learners as possible and support those with widely different subject specialists in real time. They can communicate with their teachers and
needs. Teachers of mixed ability classrooms can easily and effectively classmates via a headset and microphone or instant messaging, which helps
integrate Espresso into their teaching of all pupils, whether SEN or gifted and to replicate the experience of group learning in a conventional classroom
talented. environment.
The service has a number of features into the service, which enable This approach gives schools the freedom to allow students to access
teachers to support SEN pupils, covering general issues to more specific ones: lessons from wherever best meets their needs, whether that is a dedicated
SEN learners are often attracted to computers and the use of video, colour, room on the school grounds, the pupils’ home or another educational setting
sound animations and humour all add to the chances of engaging children. such as a pupil referral unit or hospital school.
Icons and symbols are consistently used on the site. Students are able to attend lessons at times that are convenient for them,
Many Espresso activities have been designed to provide instant, value-free allowing them to fit their learning in around speech therapy or hospital
feedback in a non-text format, making it easy for SEN learners to view. Fun appointments, for example. Where a child has been unable to attend a lesson
activities and quizzes on the service can be used as a focus for social they can also access a comprehensive online lesson archive where they can
interaction, stimulating discussion amongst SEN pupils and providing teachers catch up with any learning they have missed.
with the opportunity to develop their language skills and encourage them to Overall, a schools’ SEN CPD strategy should anticipate the needs of their
learn from other class members. learners and look to build capacity within and across the school to meet these
needs. With the ever-changing landscape of SEN, flexibility and commitment
are crucial components of a successful strategy for meeting the needs of SEN
learners.
BESA Special Needs Group (BSNG)
The BESA Special Needs Group (BSNG) comprises of companies
whose expertise includes developing and supplying resources to
the Special Educational Needs (SEN) sector.
uwww.besa.org.uk
uwww.accipio-learning.co.uk
uwww.espresso.co.uk
uwww.gl-assessment.co.uk
uwww.nasen.org.uk
February 2010 www.education-today.co.uk
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