5th, 8th, 9th and 12th February 2027

From the beginning of the focus placement beginning teachers should be identifying two pupils from classes that they currently teach (ideally on the Tuesday), with an area of SEND to focus on during their ITAP week. The aim is not to suggest that there is a bespoke way to teach for these students but by focusing on two pupils it is hoped that beginning teachers will deepen their understanding of what high quality teaching methods are effective for these pupils and why they work in different contexts.

• Beginning teachers should select their pupils from any of the classes that they currently teach (ideally on a Thursday) with either: SEMH, ASD, SPLD, Dyslexia or Dyspraxia. These areas have been selected as they tend to be the most commonly encountered needs in mainstream settings. A pupil may well have two or more of these needs and that is, of course, to be anticipated.
• Beginning teachers to identify two pupils to focus on from classes that they teach (ideally on Tuesday 9^th February to help with the application to practice during ITAP). Mentors should help with this and this information should be communicated to ITECs at an agreed time so that the following activities can be put in place.
• Friday 26^th February: Beginning teachers will spend the day in a SEND setting in order to raise their awareness of the breadth of SEND need and to enable them to observe how a positive and enabling culture is created.

SEND ITAP Handbook

This contains an outline of tasks to be arranged in school during the three days. If you are unable to arrange these please do get in contact and I can facilitate this for you.

Reading and Follow up Activities

These are detailed in the booklets above and a copy of the Mentor observation form is included above, too, along with further reminders as to how to follow this up and how it links to Mentor training.