Individual therapy
sessions cannot succeed without ongoing involvement from day care staff and family
or carers.
Rennie, 2007
Working with others is vital to the effective delivery of interventions for children and young people with SLD/PMLD/CLDD.
Developing a care plan for a child or young person's personal care is just the first step. One of the most challenging aspects for teachers working with those with severe and complex needs is that they will inevitably be leading a team of staff who together must meet the needs of the pupils from day to day. The teacher must provide sufficient leadership to the class team to ensure that the daily experience of the child meets rigorous standards regardless of who is providing care or leading the learning on any occasion.
For more on this subject, see the module Working with other professionals.
Delivering personal care
In these three audio clips, class teachers talk about how they deliver personal care.
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Video 12:14Managing pupils' personal care needs.
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Video 21:41Integrating education and care.
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Video 31:36Post-16 personal care and physio are integrated into the curriculum
What strategies can you identify as a class teacher for ensuring that all staff in your team deliver personal care with privacy and dignity?
As well as the pupils themselves, their families and other professionals may all need to participate with school staff in planning to meet individual care needs so that everyone involved knows what to expect and can contribute their views and expertise.
This approach is the most likely to ensure the best possible outcomes for pupils and to safeguard all adults involved.
Working with other professionals
In these three audio clips, parents talk about working with a school.
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Video 11:08Lia's mum, Julie, describes her relationship with her daughter's school
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Video 20:28Maria describes her positive relationship with Jack's school.
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Video 31:10Jack's mum, Maria, gives a brief description of Jack
Pupils with severe and/or complex needs are likely to be known to a range of professionals who may be able to contribute their expertise to the planning for their personal/medical care as outlined at Level B.
The class teacher has an important role in pulling this advice together in discussion with the pupil and family in order to plan and deliver an effective daily experience in the school environment.
Working with other professionals
Watch these videos on speech therapy and feeding.
Have you come across other successful strategies that could be useful to you in the future?
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Video 12:54A school nurse describes her role
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Video 23:12A teacher explains the importance of training for staff
Rennie, J. (2007) 'Preface'. In: J. Rennie (ed.) Learning Disability: Physical therapy, treatment and management - a collaborative approach (2nd edn). Chichester: John Wiley.