The following article appeared in the TES on Friday:
Is standard training for Sencos stumbling on the starting block?
Courses for SEN specialists begin in September, but there are already signs of trouble. Kerra Maddern reports
It has been more than 30 years since pupils with special needs began to be widely accepted in mainstream classrooms, yet the role of Sencos has long been hard to pin down.
In recent years, there have been signs that this is set to change, with proposals for new qualifications to formalise precisely what Sencos should know and do.
But the courses, which are due to get under way this September and will be compulsory for all new Sencos, are far from settled and are even troubled.
The courses have been set up to address serious concerns about the perceived "low status" of Sencos and to raise the profile of special needs and disabilities in schools.
Many issues are still to be resolved, including who will run them - for example, course and contact details will not be distributed until June, a very late stage in the school year. This tight timescale means Sencos in some areas will not be able to begin the course until January, or even September 2010.
And it will be available free only to newly appointed Sencos. Those experienced in the job who want to study will have to pay the fees themselves, and there is only enough funding to provide 10 days' cover for participants. The economic downturn and its effect on public finances mean it is unlikely that the money will be found to make the course free for more teachers.
The role of Sencos was only formally established in 1994. While the idea of standardised training was first mooted by a Commons education and skills select committee in 2006, draft proposals for the new course were completed only last summer. Even the Training and Development Agency for Schools, which is developing the course, says there are concerns about the speed of its introduction.
Phil Snell, responsible for the agency's SEN and disabilities programmes, said: "We know there are significant issues in respect of timing. Ministers were keen for it to start this September, but there are concerns about this providing enough time for schools. We also know there are concerns about the training being restricted to those new in the role."
Speaking at a Senco conference, Mr Snell said he hoped the extra training would help Sencos to lead others rather than taking on extra tasks themselves.
The course will be held online and is meant to take a year part-time. Modules will earn students credits that can be used in masters courses.
"What's important is there is maximum flexibility of access and that accreditation doesn't take teachers away from the classroom, and some schools have applied to be training providers," Mr Snell said.
"But rigorous quality assurance must be met because we want consistency."
Training providers will face regular inspections by both the TDA and Ofsted.
Mr Snell wants the new generation of Sencos to challenge other staff who do not recognise their responsibilities towards children with special needs, and to monitor pupils' progress more closely.
The Government will agree funding arrangements this autumn and the deadline for bids from prospective training providers was last week.
The select committee's July 2006 report also recommended that all Sencos should be qualified teachers, in a senior management position and appropriately trained. If the Senco is not a headteacher, assistant or deputy head, another member of the senior management team should be made a "champion" of SEN and disability issues.
Until the Education and Inspections Act 2006, there was no legal requirement for schools to have a Senco, nor for the co-ordinators to be trained teachers.
The first Senco training run by universities began in 1997-98 when six were given permission by the then Teacher Training Agency to run the courses.
It has proven popular, but many Sencos have been unable to train because of the cost and time involved. Sir Alan Steer, the Government's behaviour "tsar" has recommended better SEN training for teachers.
Pearl Barnes, vice-president of NASEN, the national special needs organisation, said she hoped the training would help to improve the variable provision for SEN pupils across the country.
"You have a lot of good schools and local authorities and some who aren't so good, and we hope this will universally improve the quality of teaching for children with special educational needs," she said.
"According to a study by Leeds University, 50 per cent of Sencos are due to retire soon, so although this training is only mandatory for those new to the post, in the long term it will make a big difference.
"We can't understand why the introduction of this training has taken so long. It was recommended when the code of practice for SEN was revised in 2001, and nothing had been done in 2004."
Lecturers at Northampton University, which runs Senco modules as part of its MA in education, will bid to run the new nationally accredited training.
Barry Groom, who teaches the courses, said he hoped they would serve to "underpin" the importance of Sencos' role in schools.
"We hope it will bring their work into sharper focus, especially now when 20 per cent of pupils have SEN and the skills and knowledge required by teachers becomes ever more specialist," he said.
Mr Groom, a former special school head and SEN adviser, runs the classes at the university and in the surrounding areas of Milton Keynes and Bedfordshire to make it easier for teachers to attend.
"The feedback from teachers is that it helps their confidence and I think the fact that legislation will give a boost to these kind of courses is fantastic," he said.
"Many people come on the courses because they hope to become Sencos in the future. It's a really tough job, but at the moment Sencos are usually only allowed on courses when it fits in with the school's development. They often can't spare the time out of the classroom either."
Mr Groom says he is likely to adjust his existing course so it meets the TDA criteria.
Most people recognise, however, that the problems of Sencos are broader than of training. For example, a recent survey by NASEN showed that most Sencos devote up to 12 hours a week to their role, while 60 per cent said they had a much lower budget for their work than they needed.
It is far from clear whether the new qualification will be able to resolve these problems. In fact, it may just make them worse.
Sunday, 17 May 2009
Autism Bill Update
The following is an email sent by the National Autistic Society to People First Education on Friday:
Autism Bill a giant step closer
Dear Supporter,
Yesterday in Parliament the Government pledged its full support for the Autism Bill, which was unanimously voted through the committee stage.
The text of the Bill has changed, to become adult-focused and include the adult autism strategy. This would add legal force to the strategy, and legal obligations for councils and health agencies. It is now all the more important that the adult strategy itself is fit for purpose, so if you haven't already done so please take part in the consultation process for the strategy.
The commitments we have secured from the Government on information and planning for children remain, and are a great achievement, but will be pursued outside the scope of the Bill. I will be in touch to let you know how this progresses.
Thank you for your help in getting the Autism Bill to this stage. We now have a very good chance of making legal history for people with autism!
With best wishes,
Matthew Downie
Campaigns Manager
The National Autistic Society
Autism Bill a giant step closer
Dear Supporter,
Yesterday in Parliament the Government pledged its full support for the Autism Bill, which was unanimously voted through the committee stage.
The text of the Bill has changed, to become adult-focused and include the adult autism strategy. This would add legal force to the strategy, and legal obligations for councils and health agencies. It is now all the more important that the adult strategy itself is fit for purpose, so if you haven't already done so please take part in the consultation process for the strategy.
The commitments we have secured from the Government on information and planning for children remain, and are a great achievement, but will be pursued outside the scope of the Bill. I will be in touch to let you know how this progresses.
Thank you for your help in getting the Autism Bill to this stage. We now have a very good chance of making legal history for people with autism!
With best wishes,
Matthew Downie
Campaigns Manager
The National Autistic Society
Thursday, 30 April 2009
National Autistic Society Adult Strategy
Dear Supporter,
From today, the Government would like to hear your views about the first ever adult autism strategy for England and we need as many of you as possible to have your say!
The final strategy will set out the Government's plans to tackle the isolation, discrimination and inequality routinely experienced by adults with autism.
The strategy is happening as a direct result of the I Exist campaign, and the phenomenal campaigning of you, the National Autistic Society's supporters.
And thanks to your further support with the Autism Bill, the strategy will now be backed by funding and statutory guidance, which will give legal force to parts of the strategy.
This is our big chance to tell the Government what needs to happen to improve the lives of adults with autism - lets make it count!
For more information and to take part, please visit our website today.
With best wishes,
Matthew Downie
Campaigns Manager
The National Autistic Society
From today, the Government would like to hear your views about the first ever adult autism strategy for England and we need as many of you as possible to have your say!
The final strategy will set out the Government's plans to tackle the isolation, discrimination and inequality routinely experienced by adults with autism.
The strategy is happening as a direct result of the I Exist campaign, and the phenomenal campaigning of you, the National Autistic Society's supporters.
And thanks to your further support with the Autism Bill, the strategy will now be backed by funding and statutory guidance, which will give legal force to parts of the strategy.
This is our big chance to tell the Government what needs to happen to improve the lives of adults with autism - lets make it count!
For more information and to take part, please visit our website today.
With best wishes,
Matthew Downie
Campaigns Manager
The National Autistic Society
Autism Gene Identified?
Yesterday's Daily Mail claims that a 'Rogue Gene' which causes Autism has been identified. The following is the NHS response to the article:
Autism genes identified
Scientists have identified "rogue genes that could unlock the riddle of autism”, according to the Daily Mail. The newspaper says that new research is a ‘breakthrough that could help millions,’ potentially improving the understanding and treatment of autism.
The research involved three separate studies, two from the US and one from the University of Oxford, which carried out analysis of the genetic material in children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) and their parents, comparing their genes with genetic samples from unaffected people.
This identified several variations in the genetic sequence which are possibly linked to autism. All of the genes concerned appeared to be involved in the formation and function of nerve cells in the brain. These findings offer further understanding of the development of ASD and hope for possibly developing future treatments. However, a lot more research will be needed. It is also likely that many non-genetic factors are involved in the development of ASD. While this area of research is important, genetic variations may not hold the entire answer.
Where did the story come from?
The research findings come from three scientific papers. Two of these were US studies published in the journal Nature, authored by Kai Wang, Joseph Glessner and colleagues of Center for Applied Genomics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and various other US institutions. The third paper was authored by E Maestrini and colleagues of Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford and published in the journal, Molecular Psychiatry.
The studies received funding from numerous sources, including The Wellcome Trust, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Autism Speaks action group.
What kind of scientific study was this?
The research involved three genome-wide association studies attempting to find out the genes that increase susceptibility to autistic spectrum disorder (ASD).
Autism and other related conditions, such as Asperger’s syndrome, are characterised by difficulties in communication, social interaction and in understanding the thoughts, feelings and behaviour of others. They develop in childhood and affect mostly boys.
The largest of the three studies, published in Nature, involved a cohort of 780 families (3,101 people) which included children affected with autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs), a second cohort of 1,204 individuals with ASD and 6,491 control subjects. All subjects were of European ancestry. This research examined the genetic sequence from all chromosomes in the body looking for genetic differences between those affected and those not affected. Specifically they were looking for single-letter changes in the sequence of molecules in DNA or single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs),
The second US paper reported on another study examining the genetic sequence in 859 children with ASD (the cases group) and 1,409 healthy children (the controls group) to try and find out whether any genes were duplicated or deleted in individuals with ASD. Once again, all subjects were of European ancestry.
Individuals usually have two copies of each gene, one on each chromosome; any variation in this is known as a copy number variation (CNV). The researchers looked at 550,000 single-letter changes in the DNA across all chromosomes in order to try and identify CNVs at these sites that could increase susceptibility to autistic spectrum disorders. Any positive findings were evaluated in a further group of 1,336 ASD cases and 1,110 controls.
The University of Oxford focused their research on chromosomes 2 and 7, as a major autism study has previously associated certain regions on these chromosomes (AUTS1 and AUTS5) with ASDs.
The researchers performed a fine scan of these suspect regions within chromosome 2, using samples of 126 children with autism and their parents. For analysis of chromosome 7, samples came from 127 individuals and their parents. They also looked at the DNA of 188 people acting as controls.
In the second part of their research, the scientists carried out further investigation based on the strongest association results found, in an independent European family sample containing 390 affected individuals.
The researchers’ fine scan involved analysing SNPs in the DNA at over 3,000 positions within the AUTS1 and AUTS5 regions of chromosomes 2 and 7. The researchers also looked at whether cases and controls had any larger deletions or duplications (CNVs) of whole chunks of DNA in these regions.
What were the results of the study?
The research found links between autism and certain genes that are involved in the development of nerve cells in the brain and, in particular, the formation of the junction between nerve cells, known as the synapse.
In the largest Nature study, six SNP variants were found to be commonly associated with autism spectrum disorders, all located between two CDH9 and CDH10 genes on chromosome 5. Both genes code for nerve cell surface proteins that allow adhesion between nerve cells. The findings were replicated in two separate cohorts. Cell adhesion proteins are involved during brain development, helping nerve cells to migrate to the correct places in the brain and to connect with surrounding nerve cells.
In the second Nature study, which looked at at gene duplications or deletions in individuals with ASD, the researchers found few cases where variations occurred. Where CNVs did occur, they tended to affect genes once again involved in nerve cell adhesion, such as NLGN1 and ASTN2.
They also found children with ASD to have CNVs located in or around several genes involved in the ‘ubiquitin pathways’, which are suspected to be involved in the breakdown and turnover of adhesion proteins at the cell surface.
The University of Oxford study group identified CNVs on two genes associated with autism in chromosome 7, called DOCK4 and IMMP2L. The DOCK4 gene association was also supported by the replication in the independent European family cohort.
The DOCK4 gene is associated with the development of dendrites, the numerous branched projections coming from the body of the nerve cell. When an electrical impulse crosses the synapse from a neighbouring nerve cell, it is received by a dendrite, and this impulse is then transmitted along the dendrite to the cell body.
What interpretations did the researchers draw from these results?
The researchers concluded that they had identified genetic variations that were associated with autistic spectrum disorders. They called for future studies to further investigate their findings and potential roles of the candidate genes identified.
These findings are aptly summarised by Professor Monaco of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, who is quoted in the University of Oxford press release. He says that ‘the picture that emerges from these studies is a complex one. There are many genes involved in autism spectrum disorders, each has only a small effect or is found in only a minority of cases. This is not a surprise when clinicians and doctors see such different cases every day.’
‘The studies have implications for future diagnostic testing of autism spectrum disorders. I do believe such testing will become a possibility in the future, and may offer some clinical benefit to affected children and their families.’
What does the NHS Knowledge Service make of this study?
The three research studies have identified several genes that may play a role in susceptibility to autistic spectrum disorders. The genes tended to be involved in the formation of the junctions between nerve cells, called the synapses.
It is possible that because of these findings, new inroads can be made into further understanding the physiological processes that may be affected in people with ASD. Although further understanding of risk factors for ASDs and ASD biology gives hope for the development of new treatments and possibly even genetic tests, these are still some way off. However, these promising findings will spark much further research that might one day lead to these advances.
There may be numerous gene variations that could slightly increase an individual’s susceptibility to ASD, including variations not yet identified as playing a role. Further research will also be needed to investigate the variations identified in these studies, and determine how they or nearby variations might be having an effect on nerve cell development.
Also, it should be considered whether these various genetic links found may not be present in all people with autistic spectrum conditions, or whether people with these genetic variations might not go on to develop autism and other ASDs.
The causes of ASDs are not understood and there is likely to be a complex relationship of many different factors (genetic, possibly environmental, social and medical) that may contribute to the development of these disorders in any one individual.
http://www.nhs.uk/news/2009/04April/Pages/AutismGenesIdentified.aspx
Autism genes identified
Scientists have identified "rogue genes that could unlock the riddle of autism”, according to the Daily Mail. The newspaper says that new research is a ‘breakthrough that could help millions,’ potentially improving the understanding and treatment of autism.
The research involved three separate studies, two from the US and one from the University of Oxford, which carried out analysis of the genetic material in children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) and their parents, comparing their genes with genetic samples from unaffected people.
This identified several variations in the genetic sequence which are possibly linked to autism. All of the genes concerned appeared to be involved in the formation and function of nerve cells in the brain. These findings offer further understanding of the development of ASD and hope for possibly developing future treatments. However, a lot more research will be needed. It is also likely that many non-genetic factors are involved in the development of ASD. While this area of research is important, genetic variations may not hold the entire answer.
Where did the story come from?
The research findings come from three scientific papers. Two of these were US studies published in the journal Nature, authored by Kai Wang, Joseph Glessner and colleagues of Center for Applied Genomics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and various other US institutions. The third paper was authored by E Maestrini and colleagues of Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford and published in the journal, Molecular Psychiatry.
The studies received funding from numerous sources, including The Wellcome Trust, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Autism Speaks action group.
What kind of scientific study was this?
The research involved three genome-wide association studies attempting to find out the genes that increase susceptibility to autistic spectrum disorder (ASD).
Autism and other related conditions, such as Asperger’s syndrome, are characterised by difficulties in communication, social interaction and in understanding the thoughts, feelings and behaviour of others. They develop in childhood and affect mostly boys.
The largest of the three studies, published in Nature, involved a cohort of 780 families (3,101 people) which included children affected with autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs), a second cohort of 1,204 individuals with ASD and 6,491 control subjects. All subjects were of European ancestry. This research examined the genetic sequence from all chromosomes in the body looking for genetic differences between those affected and those not affected. Specifically they were looking for single-letter changes in the sequence of molecules in DNA or single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs),
The second US paper reported on another study examining the genetic sequence in 859 children with ASD (the cases group) and 1,409 healthy children (the controls group) to try and find out whether any genes were duplicated or deleted in individuals with ASD. Once again, all subjects were of European ancestry.
Individuals usually have two copies of each gene, one on each chromosome; any variation in this is known as a copy number variation (CNV). The researchers looked at 550,000 single-letter changes in the DNA across all chromosomes in order to try and identify CNVs at these sites that could increase susceptibility to autistic spectrum disorders. Any positive findings were evaluated in a further group of 1,336 ASD cases and 1,110 controls.
The University of Oxford focused their research on chromosomes 2 and 7, as a major autism study has previously associated certain regions on these chromosomes (AUTS1 and AUTS5) with ASDs.
The researchers performed a fine scan of these suspect regions within chromosome 2, using samples of 126 children with autism and their parents. For analysis of chromosome 7, samples came from 127 individuals and their parents. They also looked at the DNA of 188 people acting as controls.
In the second part of their research, the scientists carried out further investigation based on the strongest association results found, in an independent European family sample containing 390 affected individuals.
The researchers’ fine scan involved analysing SNPs in the DNA at over 3,000 positions within the AUTS1 and AUTS5 regions of chromosomes 2 and 7. The researchers also looked at whether cases and controls had any larger deletions or duplications (CNVs) of whole chunks of DNA in these regions.
What were the results of the study?
The research found links between autism and certain genes that are involved in the development of nerve cells in the brain and, in particular, the formation of the junction between nerve cells, known as the synapse.
In the largest Nature study, six SNP variants were found to be commonly associated with autism spectrum disorders, all located between two CDH9 and CDH10 genes on chromosome 5. Both genes code for nerve cell surface proteins that allow adhesion between nerve cells. The findings were replicated in two separate cohorts. Cell adhesion proteins are involved during brain development, helping nerve cells to migrate to the correct places in the brain and to connect with surrounding nerve cells.
In the second Nature study, which looked at at gene duplications or deletions in individuals with ASD, the researchers found few cases where variations occurred. Where CNVs did occur, they tended to affect genes once again involved in nerve cell adhesion, such as NLGN1 and ASTN2.
They also found children with ASD to have CNVs located in or around several genes involved in the ‘ubiquitin pathways’, which are suspected to be involved in the breakdown and turnover of adhesion proteins at the cell surface.
The University of Oxford study group identified CNVs on two genes associated with autism in chromosome 7, called DOCK4 and IMMP2L. The DOCK4 gene association was also supported by the replication in the independent European family cohort.
The DOCK4 gene is associated with the development of dendrites, the numerous branched projections coming from the body of the nerve cell. When an electrical impulse crosses the synapse from a neighbouring nerve cell, it is received by a dendrite, and this impulse is then transmitted along the dendrite to the cell body.
What interpretations did the researchers draw from these results?
The researchers concluded that they had identified genetic variations that were associated with autistic spectrum disorders. They called for future studies to further investigate their findings and potential roles of the candidate genes identified.
These findings are aptly summarised by Professor Monaco of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, who is quoted in the University of Oxford press release. He says that ‘the picture that emerges from these studies is a complex one. There are many genes involved in autism spectrum disorders, each has only a small effect or is found in only a minority of cases. This is not a surprise when clinicians and doctors see such different cases every day.’
‘The studies have implications for future diagnostic testing of autism spectrum disorders. I do believe such testing will become a possibility in the future, and may offer some clinical benefit to affected children and their families.’
What does the NHS Knowledge Service make of this study?
The three research studies have identified several genes that may play a role in susceptibility to autistic spectrum disorders. The genes tended to be involved in the formation of the junctions between nerve cells, called the synapses.
It is possible that because of these findings, new inroads can be made into further understanding the physiological processes that may be affected in people with ASD. Although further understanding of risk factors for ASDs and ASD biology gives hope for the development of new treatments and possibly even genetic tests, these are still some way off. However, these promising findings will spark much further research that might one day lead to these advances.
There may be numerous gene variations that could slightly increase an individual’s susceptibility to ASD, including variations not yet identified as playing a role. Further research will also be needed to investigate the variations identified in these studies, and determine how they or nearby variations might be having an effect on nerve cell development.
Also, it should be considered whether these various genetic links found may not be present in all people with autistic spectrum conditions, or whether people with these genetic variations might not go on to develop autism and other ASDs.
The causes of ASDs are not understood and there is likely to be a complex relationship of many different factors (genetic, possibly environmental, social and medical) that may contribute to the development of these disorders in any one individual.
http://www.nhs.uk/news/2009/04April/Pages/AutismGenesIdentified.aspx
Sunday, 12 April 2009
Continued Support for the McCann Family
People First Education would like to remind all our readers that we continue to support the family of Madeleine McCann in their search. Please visit their website: http://www.bringmadeleinehome.com/index.html
Tuesday, 7 April 2009
No Autism Training: Times Educational Supplement (TES)
It was not surprising to find the following article in the Times Educational Supplement (TES) on Saturday. However, this need not be the case. Along with a range of other training opportunities, People First Education offer high quality, highly rated (around 95% rated excellent) training across the UK. We also provide bespoke SEN training for schools, colleges and pre-school settings. For professional guidance on appropriate provision and inclusion training contact us at; enquiries@peoplefirsteducation.co.uk
No autism training
More than half of Britain's school teachers have never received specialist training to help them support children with autism, despite the fact that around one in three classrooms contain a child with the condition, a new study has found. Only 10 per cent have received training in the past 12 months, according to new research from TreeHouse, a national charity for autism education. Around 62 per cent of teachers contacted for the research said they thought children with autism do not receive the right support due to lack of resources and training in the education system.
http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6011245
No autism training
More than half of Britain's school teachers have never received specialist training to help them support children with autism, despite the fact that around one in three classrooms contain a child with the condition, a new study has found. Only 10 per cent have received training in the past 12 months, according to new research from TreeHouse, a national charity for autism education. Around 62 per cent of teachers contacted for the research said they thought children with autism do not receive the right support due to lack of resources and training in the education system.
http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6011245
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
