Ginny Bootman, SENDCo and author brought high energy and a real understanding of what it is like to be a SENDCo right now. Using her experience from many years in school, she connected with the room in a way the rest of us couldn't - she is a SEND leader and whilst we as educational psychologists and other professionals can empathise and support, there is something about walking the walk that makes a big difference.
We discussed what SENCOs are, or rather, what they're meant to be and what they often end up being to everyone in school. This highlighted the many hats that must be worn and the incredible responsibility that sits with SENCOs. But it also lead to the main point of the session, which was how we interact with the rest of the team in school.
The traffic light concept helped us to think about perceptions and relationships, and how spending some time to understand the people you work with day to day, can bring about significant change in your role.
One attendee put it like this...
"Ginny had a never ending enthusiasm and realism for a role that can feel so isolated. She reminded me that I encourage staff to build relationships with 'challenging' pupils, but am I doing that myself with my most 'challenging' staff? Easy to fix with a potential huge impact."
To hear more from Ginny or to order her books, visit her website here.
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