Tania Tirraoro (writing in special needs jungle) is right to remind us that a huge proportion of young children are entering school without the language skills they need to learn. This situation is not new but it has got worse. Technology is only part of the problem. Listening and speaking act as the currency of…

Isn’t it amazing how much we can learn from the children we teach. Working with James in Year 2, it occurred to me that at this young age, children often struggle to make connections between the ideas and concepts being taught. Remember those dot-to-dot activities that join to make up a picture? Remember the excitement…

What is intelligence? General intelligence was once measured as a single quotient, with 100 as the average. A quotient of 140 was therefore thought of as gifted and talented. A quotient of below 80 suggested a learning difficulty. Children were presented with verbal and non-verbal tests designed to assess logic and reasoning skills. As a…

My last blog invited the parents of children with SEND to ask questions about their child’s additional needs and how they are being addressed. Knowledge really is the key to everything. So do you also know where your child is heading on his educational journey? Imagine it as a journey, with your child’s readiness for…

My last blog was about understanding how teachers differentiate work for children who fall behind in class. This often works well for the majority, enabling children to catch up without a problem. But what about those children who need more support than differentiation alone can offer? Recent changes to the SEND system have included the…