The Inclusion Showcase

SEN ICT

Presenter

Kath Pearson (Advisory Teacher - EPALS)

Why did you decide to undertake this piece of work? How had you identified the need?

• The rationale for establishing a SEN ICT website was based on providing a service for raising awareness of all the areas encompassed in SEN in Tameside and allowing information, good practice to be easily disseminated to all schools within the Borough
• Requests for information that is now displayed on the website were sought by both SENCo's/Inclusion Manager/TA's and SSA's
• To encourage local business to get involved we have an annual ICT SEN Award funded by Herriots of Riverside House, Dukinfield, working in partnership to promote SEN/ICT in the borough

What actions did you take over what time frame?

The website is ongoing and constantly being updated. There is no time frame except to regularly update the site.

• It originally began with the basic information requested and has grown as other resources, information are being constantly asked for.

What were the resource implications?

The website is funded by EPALS and a Webmaster is employed to constantly keep information up to date.

• Many resources have been supplied by educational companies who have supplied free gratis software for schools to trial and an appraisal form is filled to inform colleagues regarding the value of the software
• It acts as a shop window for the companies
• It allows schools to get views and to look at a programme before purchase

What has been the impact?

The website has been met favourably by mainstream colleagues and management.

• Information regarding meetings for example, the SENCo network are placed on the site enabling colleagues unable to attend the meetings to be kept within the loop. Guest speakers are invited to place their PowerPoint presentations on the site.
• Cluster meetings are advertised on the site and numbers attending the meetings have increased due to awareness.

How have you measured outcomes?

It is difficult to measure, however on the home page there is an indicator registering the number of people viewing the site and this is increasing and can be seen by viewing the stats.

What do you plan to do next?

The website is ongoing and will if capacity allows and funding, continue to flourish.

How will you ensure sustainability?

The website is there to provide a service as long as that service is required.

• The site will continue to inform all schools within the Borough of issues relevant to schools, share good practice and to provide an easy accessible network service

What were your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

Securing the resources for development and continuation. A demonstration model was built on another website. If funding had not been available the site would not be in existence. Fortunately the model was met favourably by users and management.

How can you be contacted if people want to know more?

Email: kathleen.pearson@tameside.gov.uk Or by telephone: 0161-342-2218/221

Log on to our website and browse through the contents: www.senict.co.uk.

Enjoy and use the facilities.

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