We support professionals working in the Special Educational Needs Sector (SEN)

EQUALS Membership

EQUALS is a not-for-profit registered charity, first formed in 1994, committed to supporting the work of teachers, TAs, schools and parents/carers of pupils with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD) severe learning difficulties (SLD) and moderate learning difficulties (MLD).

Being a member of EQUALS enables you to:

• • be a part of an internationally recognised body actively campaigning on issues
    related specifically to PMLD, SLD and MLD
  • save £100s of pounds when ordering Curriculum and Assessment
    materials/licences for PMLD, SLD and MLD
  • enrol on high quality CPD provided in your area and geared to your local needs
  • save £100s of pounds when booking places on EQUALS national conferences
  • register for Accreditation/Certificate of Achievement Schemes for pupils with PMLD, SLD and MLD
  • advertise SEN Job Vacancies for free at www.equalsmembers.org
  • secure access to a News and Discussion Forum for PMLD, SLD and MLD.

click here to learn more about the benefits for EQUALS membership.

Dominic Wall

Medicines in Specialist Schools (MISS)

Hello friends. A colleague of mine, Dominic Wall, who is also part of our ‘Medicines in Specialist Schools’ (MISS) group produced this excellent presentation for the SSAT Conference this week. SSAT has kindly allowed us to share it with you.
 
The MISS group was formed in November 2019 to try to articulate the discrepancies in Health provision across England into our specialist provisions. It meets regularly with the DfE and Dept. for Health to voice our concerns around, initially, the postcode lottery for nursing provision. It is ultimately our intention to then focus on physiotherapy, OT and SALT provision.
 
A great deal of work has gone on behind the scenes and we are of the understanding that CCG’s are slowly re-examining their commissioning arrangements to fulfil their legal obligations to our children and young people.
 
This presentation, in particular, focuses on the needs of children and young people with more complex health care, including those with AGP’s. By the way, did you all clock the DfE’s latest guidance on this issue returning to the use of FFP2/3’s for interventions?
 
Your comments and feedback would be much appreciated. Many thanks to Dominic and the SSAT for sharing.
 

Click here to download the presentation

New Engagement Model – Rochford Review

The new engagement model guidance has now been published.

The guidance provides detailed information on how to use the engagement model as the new statutory form of assessment for pupils working below the standard of the national curriculum assessments and not engaged in subject-specific study at key stage 1 (KS1) and key stage 2 (KS2). The engagement model will replace P scales 1-4 from the 2020/21 academic year subject to consultation and amendments to the relevant legislation.

The engagement model has five areas: exploration, realisation, anticipation, persistence and initiation; it combines a formative and summative approach whilst encouraging the identification and celebration of pupil progress.

Click here to access the new guidance

Please can you pass on this information to your colleagues.

Please  address any queries about the guidance to:

Rochford.REVIEW@education.gov.uk

EQUALS Formal Curriculum

This Curriculum has been specifically written for pupils working consistently and over time below age related expectations, especially those who struggle with literacy and numeracy.

click here to learn more or to place an order

EQUALS Semi-formal SLD/MLD Curriculum

EQUALS has published a ‘Brand New’ Semi-Formal Curriculum, specifically designed and written for learners of all ages with SLD/MLD.

To learn more about our brand new SLD/MLD curriculum please click here
Or contact Paul Buskin at the EQUALS office on 0191 272 1222
or email paul@equalsoffice.co.uk

Below is a short video of just over 11 mins by Peter Imray; our Director of Developments. Peter Imray talks about our brand new Semi-Formal (SLD/MLD) Curriculum.

EQUALS is also now offering Twilight CPD Semi-Formal (SLD/MLD) Curriculum courses by Peter Imray in eight more locations throughout the UK. Places are available from £19 ex VAT

click here to read more

EQUALS Pre-formal PMLD Curriculum

EQUALS has published a new Curriculum for pupils with PMLD.

For pupils with a profound learning difficulty, learning is best done when the learner is placed at the centre of the Curriculum.

“Let’s focus on the things that matter”.

A Person-Centred and Holistic Curriculum for Learners with
Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties.

A Curriculum of ideas for learners with profound and multiple learning difficulties
to help teachers/TAs to:

• • build routines
  • facilitate change
  • offer alternatives
  • observe and guide

Our aim is to put the learners in control by giving them an environment that they can understand and they are allowed to keep changing in order to encourage development.

Click here to read more or to place an order

MAPP – Mapping and Assessing Personal Progress

For schools using a Semi-formal Curriculum Model

There is a new version now available
MAPP (Semi-Formal)  is a suite of materials developed to facilitate the planning, assessment and recording of progress in relation to personal learning intentions.

Below is a short video of almost 11 mins by Mike Sissons; the author of MAPP – Semi-Formal.

Mike Sissons talks about the new MAPP – Semi-Formal.

Click here to learn more about MAPP Semi-formal

MAPP – Mapping and Assessing Personal Progress

For schools using a Formal Curriculum Model

Brand New – Published September 2020

Click here to learn more about MAPP – Formal

The SEND Forums

The SEND Forums are three independent e-communities (SLD Forum, SENCO Forum and The SEND & ICT Forum) for those involved in the education of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Whilst all three forums reside on the same platform, they are independently moderated and each has its own home page. When you sign up for an account, you will have access to all forums, so please be aware that any messages you write will be viewable by other members of the forums.

You can create a private discussion group by contacting a forum moderator or contacting the forum administrator at thesendforums@nasen.org.uk.

click here to learn more or to find out how to register

Online Zoom Training from EQUALS

EQUALS is also now offering Twilight CPD Semi-Formal (SLD/MLD) Curriculum courses by Peter Imray. These will use the ‘zoom online platform’ and be between 4-6pm. If you would like to join this training please contact paul@equalsoffice.co.uk

Training is also available by Mike Sissons for MAPP – Mapping and Assessing Personal Progress – Formal and Semi-formal versions

Places are available from £19 ex VAT

To learn more about the new Semi-formal SLD Curriculum or our Twilight CPD Courses please contact Paul Buskin at the EQUALS office on 0191 272 1222
or email paul@equalsoffice.co.uk