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Practical advice for teachers
JOHN GREEN recommends a useful how-to guide for teaching children with special needs, aimed at those working in education
SOLIDARITY: Parents, activists and special needs assistants protest outside the Department of Education in Dublin, to call for enough school places to be provided for children with additional needs to meet the demand, as many have been left without a place ahead of the coming academic year, August 23, 2024.
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The SEN handbook – how to do SEN the right way
Greg Higman, Self published, £12.99
GREG HIGMAN has been a teacher with a great deal of experience in teaching children with Special Educational Needs and in advising others.
His book is a how-to guide in approaching this complex subject. It is, however, aimed at those working in education rather than the general public.
In the past we had little or no concept of children with special needs, unless they were severely disabled; children went to school and coped as best they could and if they became particularly disruptive, they would be punished and possibly expelled. Today, thankfully, we are much more aware of the need to treat each child as an individual and to take into account any special needs they may have. Unusual or disruptive behaviour is now generally recognised as probably due to genetic make-up and/or environmental influences.
Parents and educationalists today are faced with increasing numbers of children who have special needs. Whether this is because in the past we were unaware of the issue and now have the means of diagnosing, or whether there has been an actual increase in such cases for whatever reasons, we don’t know.
This book is an invaluable resource for educators, or any professionals involved in special education as well as for parents. It offers an expansive view into the world of special educational needs, and is a useful guide for anyone looking to make a difference in the lives of children who learn differently, ie diverge from the accepted norms of formal educational structures.
Each chapter of this handbook contains practical advice, and individual examples that bring to light the unique challenges faced by individuals with SEN and how they can best be helped.
The author’s expertise and empathy are evident in the way complex topics are broken down into understandable, actionable insights, ensuring readers are not just informed but also empowered to take positive action.
And significantly – not that it is directly relevant to the subject of the book – Higman has a section emphasising the importance of joining a union!
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