A Message from the SENCO

By Kristen Anuik | Posted: Sunday February 11, 2018

As the SENCO (Special Education Needs Coordinators) at Kaikorai Primary School, I have a critical role to play in ensuring that children with special educational needs and learning difficulties, as well as children who require extension learning, receive the support they need.

I work closely with Mr Clarke, all teachers and teacher aides in the school to ensure no child is left behind. Part of my job is to support the identification of children with special education needs by assessing students, identifying needs and developing IEPs (Individual Education Plans). I work collaboratively with the child's teacher and teacher aide to track and monitor the progress of the child and ensure there is high quality teaching and intervention for them.

I also work in small groups or individual 1:1 settings. This year I will be providing explicit teaching sessions for students who find the elements of reading and writing difficult. I  oversee and support Teacher Aides and provide guidance and support for teachers. I will also be teaching the Quick 60 Reading Programme, along with one of our Teacher Aides.

Our focus at Kaikorai is to accelerate student learning for ALL students, as all children deserve an opportunity to progress in their own way. So this year I am teaching a Senior Extended Writing group to accelerate student learning in the area of writing. 

Throughout the year I will attend in school special needs meetings and liaise with parents, RTLBs (Resource Teacher of Learning and Behaviour), SLTs (Speech Language Therapists), OT (Occupational Therapists),  outside agencies and educational psychologists. 

If your child is part of the school choir, I am also the choir director  at the school. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me. [email protected]  

Kind regards,

Kristen Ferguson