Author: JULIA HAYES

Source: Support for Learning, Volume 19, Number 4, November 2004 , pp. 175-180(6)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract:

The challenge for schools, following the Green Paper Every Child Matters (HM Treasury, 2003) and the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice (DfES, 2001), is to enable young people to give their views about matters affecting their lives. Whilst these recommendations are a welcome step to enable the effective inclusion of all young people, whatever their needs, there is little information on how this can be done, particularly in terms of making a young person's presence at a meeting meaningful and one where there is genuine regard for their views. The challenge increases if the young person has limited communication or significant learning difficulties. In this article Julia Hayes describes the development of the visual annual review, a practical, child-centred planning tool to use in a review at a time of transition for those who may have limited understanding or language. The effectiveness of this method was evaluated following a review. The response was very positive from the staff, the pupil and the parent involved in the study. They felt that it was child-centred, fun and accessible, whilst ensuring that all professionals had the chance to speak and chart the young person's progress.

Keywords: pupils' views; reviews; visual; inclusion

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.0268-2141.2004.00344.x

Affiliations: 1: Julia Hayes is an educational psychologist in Nottingham City and is committed to promoting the inclusion of all pupils in their local mainstream school. Having been a teacher in Cambridge, she completed an MSc in Educational Psychology at Nottingham University. She is a member of a national interest group of psychologists for promoting pupils' views. She is also a specialist psychologist for a team who work with pupils at risk of permanent exclusion.

Publication date: 2004-11-01

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