SENDIASS: Choosing a Specialist Provision Setting (Checklist) - WNC

The list below outlines areas you may wish to discuss/look for when visiting schools. 

Good Parent Involvement and Support

• Tolerant, respects diversity
• Good communication, true partnership with parents
• Good routines for sharing information
• Parent training and support groups
• Interested in family’s needs, helps access services

IEP Development and Implementation

• Goals specific and measurable
• Based on both academic and developmental needs
• Use of a variety of interventions e.g parent training, classroom environment, assistive technology, and peer interaction
• Team approach, with good routines for sharing information

Review and Monitoring of Progress and Outcomes

• Use of trial periods
• Collaborative, ongoing and systematic
• Scheduled and as-needed meetings
• Leading to changes in goals and methods    

Management of Challenging Behaviours

• Proactive – staff training, crisis planning, clear rules
• Positive – supports, rewards, and skill-building

Travel

• Travel time from home:
• Safe and reliable transport arrangements

Personnel

• Good student: teacher ratio
• Qualified, knowledgeable, skilled and experienced staff
• Ongoing training and support for teachers and support staff

Staff Interaction / Communication with Parents

• Good interpersonal skills
• Meetings at regular intervals
• Good daily/weekly communication, e.g. home/school book/phone/e-mail

Staff Interaction / Communication with Child

• Positive focus, using reinforcers and promoting success
• Response if child struggles with a task?
• Response if a child behaves inappropriately?
• Response to a conflict situation?
• Interacts, doesn’t just give orders

Classroom Environment

• Clean, safe, spacious and pleasant
• Structured and organized
• Sensory-friendly equipped for fine/gross motor, sensory & lang. stimulation

Daily Routine and Curriculum 

• Will my child have a predictable routine which is challenging and goal-oriented?
• Covers academic and communication/social/life skills
• Variety of structured and unstructured activities
• Variety of independent, small- and large-group activities
• Predictable routines, use of visual schedules and supports

Instructional Methods, Activities, and Materials

• Customized and adapted to the individual
• Appealing, interesting, and actively engaging
• At the appropriate level of difficulty
• Emphasizes interaction and communication
• Promotes independence and generalisation of skills

Inclusion 

• Will my child be actively encouraged to interact with peers and given adequate support?
• Informal & planned interaction with peers
• Supports, accommodations & social training for the child
• Peer training 

Training and support for the mainstream teacher(s) 

• Supervision and Safety
• Safe physical environment
• Adequate supervision (break times, lunch, field trips, transitions)
• SEN training for all staff

Related Therapies 

• Does the school work closely with other professionals?