Training materials for teachers of learners with severe, profound and complex learning difficulties

Work with a child can be in hospital or in a clinic for assessment, but more usually in school. Many of the professional team do not see the child on a daily basis and may never go into school. What might that mean for understanding the child's needs?

Consider ways of gaining an all round view of the child's needs. As the difficulties are complex, is there a danger that a specialist looks at the child from only one perspective? How much 'context' is shared between experts and key workers?

Consider the pathways of information between the key workers who see and work with the child regularly and those who contribute specialised expertise. Draw a diagram to show the flow of information that you expect to happen. Ask yourself is this unidirectional, a one way street or a dual carriageway? Make a list of the implications you have drawn.

Specialist teachers work directly with children, their teachers and TAs. Their specialities range from academic and intellectual support to teaching of physical skills. They may be qualified teachers with special interests in developing particular skills. They could be therapists trained in special subjects such as speech training and sign language.

Where would they be in the web of support? Sketch a web and
place them.

Getting to school can be a burden; nursing advice can support the transitions in terms of medication adjustment, protection and comfort. School nurses, who may be based on the premises or have visiting sessions, can reassure parents about medications, timing and symptoms and parents can share medical knowledge of their
own child.

The nurse can provide help and guidance for the child's family and all key workers. By monitoring the medical conditions and well-being of the child a nurse can deal with and alert others in case of deterioration of a child's health. Nurses provide a crucial link between education services and NHS services. The medical information they can provide aids therapists and specialists in their work.

Consider the health needs of two children you have focused on. Why was it important to have medical records? How did these records impact on your decisions for the children?

The child is central in the web and the key workers are those who work on a daily basis with the individuals. Respecting dignity and encouraging attainment is ongoing. This builds on shared understanding between child and
key workers.

In this audio clip Harvey's father stresses the importance of continuity but notes that it is not always possible.

Think of your experiences of building relationships and finding trust. How might a child reliant on others feel?