The Resource File was written by educators with expertise in special educational needs, including Principals, Education Authority Officers, Academics and Teachers.
The strength of the Resource File is that each chapter is packed with strategies that are known to work with the specific special educational need being addressed and schools and teachers should use the strategies as part of the Individual Education Plan process for pupils with special educational needs.
On publication, 3 copies of the Resource File were delivered to every school in Northern Ireland, 1 for the Principal, 1 for the Special Educational Needs Coordinator and 1 for the Staffroom. In addition, all the chapters are available to all teachers through C2K.
Resource File
It is possible to download the complete Resource File in 2 parts from the links below:
The Resource File is a large file and contains several chapters, and each chapter can be accessed by clicking on the link below.
- Contents
- Introduction
- Leadership and Management for Special Educational Needs
- The Role of the Special Educational Needs Coordinator
- Quality Indicators for the work of the SENCO
- Understanding Memory Difficulties
- Reading, Writing and Spelling for Children with SEN
- The Autistic Spectrum
- Understanding and Managing Social, Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (SEBD)
- Mathematics for Children with Special Educational Needs
- Moderate Learning Difficulties (MLD)
- Information and Communications Technology for Inclusion
- Individual Education Plans
- Irish Medium and Special Educational Needs
- Physical Disability
- Sensory Difficulties, Visual and Auditory
- Speech, Language and Communication Difficulties
- Writers, contributors and useful websites
Resource File – Irish Medium Version
A dedicated Irish Medium version of the Resource File is available for practitioners in this sector, which can be accessed through the link below:
ASPIRE to Build Capacity using the Resource File
ASPIRE stands for Action Research, Situation, Preparation, Implement, Record and Evaluate, and is a short booklet which can be used by teachers and educational professionals as a means of self-reflective study to meaningfully engage with specific chapters in the Resource File. Many schools across Northern Ireland have used the ASPIRE Resource for whole school, departmental and individual professional development for staff, to support pupils with special educational needs. The ASPIRE Resource can be accessed from the link below:
In addition to the main ASPIRE publication, additional support materials are linked to the document which are available below:
Early Years Special Educational Needs (SEN) Supplement
This resource is designed specifically for practitioners working in the early years sector with children who have been identified as having special educational needs. Various topics are covered, including transitions, play, communication and behaviour. The resource can be accessed below:
Irish Medium Early Years Special Educational Needs (SEN) Supplement
This resource is aimed at practitioners in Irish Medium Early Years (IMEY) settings to support access to learning for all children. It adopts an inclusive approach to early identification and effective interventions. This resource should be used in conjunction with recent publications to support children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) in Early Years. This resource covers immersion, transitions, settling in, working with parents, valuing the identity of the child, skills development, early identification, play, behaviour and characteristics of good practice. The resource can be accessed below:
Special Educational Needs and the Effective Use of Data
C2kNI have produced information on how the C2kNI Management Information System can be used to effectively monitor special educational needs. Schools that require further assistance on this area are encouraged to contact their local C2KNI Management Information System Delivery Team.