Partnership Working to Support Special Educational Needs & Disabilities

In order to achieve the best outcomes for all children and young people, schools must work in partnership with students, parents, other professionals and the wider community. In this changing landscape of education, the notion of the traditional school is fast disappearing. This book looks at what is possible in this exciting new world, and how some teachers and other professionals are putting into practice the best principles of multi-agency working.

Finding innovative ways of supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in this context is more important than ever, as children are being diagnosed with increasingly complex needs. Those working with children need to be aware of the fresh opportunities that are opening up and which can help every individual to maximise their full potential.

This book examines how partnership working affects children with SEND by considering:

- the diversity of additional needs;

- the role of specialist schools that have an SEN specialism;

- partnership working between mainstream and special schools;

- partnership working with groups of schools, including those that are co-located or federated;

- the growth of academies and trust schools;

- schools and other services working together;

- the work of extended schools and children′s centres;

- a wide range of other services for children, young people and families.

Filled with case studies of effective practice from real schools and services, this book is a must-have for those looking at how to work together to achieve positive outcomes for all.

Rona Tutt OBE is a Past President of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) and works as a consultant, writer and researcher on all matters relating to education in general, and special educational needs and disabilities in particular.