How do you introduce a One Page Profile into School? #1PPin2015
How are we all doing? Have you produced a One Page Profile yet? Don’t panic if you haven’t, we know how manic this time of year can be for all of us. As we publish this post, there are only 30 days to go until the big day arrives (sorry) and many of us are wondering when we are going to fit everything in, without adding to your list. So instead of being hard on yourself for not completing one yet or stressing that you just have added it to your ever lengthening “to do” list, remember that super heroes are fictional characters and perhaps you can think of getting your One Page Profile ready for the New Year? A new year, a new start and a new person centred approach for your child.
We’ve had a lot of people looking at the posts about One Page Profiles. In case you have missed any, here’s a quick recap.
What is a One Page Profile (and how does it differ to section 1 of an EHC Plan)?
How can you use a One Page Profile?
How do you complete the Appreciation section of a One Page Profile?
How do you complete the “Important to” section of a One Page Profile?
How do you complete the “How best to support me” section of a One Page Profile?
This week we wanted to talk about how to get your One Page Profile into your child’s school or young person’s college? Obviously, some schools are much more open to new ideas than others, some will welcome anything that benefits the children with open arms. Some, however, are so snowed under with the recent introduction of the Children and Families Act that anything new may seem like an extra chore. Then, of course, there are the schools who love the phrase “we’ve always done it this way so……”
Parents are usually the driving force for change. Getting our heads around thinking in a person centred way and not waiting for a practitioner or the school to tell us how to do it will keep us 10 steps ahead and also be a way of helping kids to be at the centre of their own lives. That is what the Children and Families Act 2014 is about.
So how do you get the profile into the school and ensure it is being used?
Beth Sheldrake from Helen Sanderson Associates has produced a short video with some tips:
The Fink Cards that Beth mentions can be found on the HSA site.
Tips from families:
We asked on social media what tips other people had for getting it into school. We had lots of responses and wanted to share them with you here:
- I introduced the idea of one at the Annual Review meeting. Having everyone in the room made it seem easier.
- I asked the school if they would help me to produce one for his transport (as it was constantly changing). When they got involved, they suggested we have one for school too.
- I spoke to my son’s TA who had heard of them but wasn’t sure what they were. So I produced a draft One Page Profile and asked her to help me complete it.
- I sent a note in my daughter’s contact book along with a One Page Profile template saying I wanted to produce one and could they help?
- I asked for a meeting with the school SENCO and discussed them with her. She then took them to the Head who liked the idea.
- I wrote to the SEN Governor at the school as I had already met them at a coffee morning, suggesting they would be good for all their SEN children.
- I went to an IEP meeting (with a copy I had made earlier in my bag) and brought them up there. The class teacher loved it and could see the benefits straight away
- I went along to a discussion about managing behaviour at the school and talked about them there with the other parents, we then produced them together and approached the school at the next coffee morning.
- I found as much information as I could on-line about the benefits for the school before I approached them.
- I showed them the benefits of using Staff One Page Profiles.
One thing that came through from families, as Beth mentions in her video, is how important it is to make the school part of the process. Get them involved. If you want them to be part of it, ask their opinions and views. As we have suggested in previous posts, ask them for their input for each section so they know their input is valued.
This is a great year to introduce One Page Profiles; with the changes brought in with the Children and Families Act, schools need to be working in a family-centred and person-centred way. One Page Profiles are a useful introduction to person centred practices.
Other Resources
If you want further reading, Helen Sanderson, Tabitha Smith and Liz Wilson produced a great e-book. One Page Profiles in Schools – a guide. Below is a brief excerpt from the book explaining why schools should use One Page Profiles:
- One page profiles capture important information to enable teachers to personalise learning for each young person. This information enables teachers to be aware of the strengths, interests and specific support needs of their pupils.
- One page profiles can be used to inform action planning and target setting, so that these reflect what is important to the young person and how best to support them. This can make targets more meaningful and relevant to the young person.
- They are a way for the young person to have a voice in how they are supported in school, and to have their strengths and what is important to them as an individual acknowledged.
- One page profiles are also a way for parents/carers to share their knowledge and expertise on how best to support their child.
- They are a way to share information between staff, for example when supply teachers have to cover a class, and to create a smooth transition from one class to another by giving the new teacher strategies to get the best out of each and every pupil. This is really useful in building up positive relationships, as the teacher has a prior knowledge of interests and strengths.
- One page profiles grow and develop over the school year and can be the basis for more detailed person centred plan
Helen also has a One Page Profile page on her site with lots of useful information, tips, videos and links. She has also produced a video with Norris Bank School where they introduced One Page Profiles for all children; this may give you some further ideas about the benefits for schools, some of the challenges it may bring and how they can be addressed.
We’ve produced a quick pdf you can print off and hand into your school teacher if you want to start a conversation but unsure how.
Next week
Next week, we will be chatting with families who already use One Page Profiles and sharing their experiences with you.
If you are a family using a One Page Profile and want to share your story, please get in touch; we’d love to hear from you.
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Mum to three great kids, each with a different SEN.
Transplanted from the NW to the SE.
Co-founder and Director of Bringing Us Together
