brenquathol: short notes

Sensory needs

A short note on Sensory needs. The figure to hold onto is asked about in every SEMH assessment; what matters is that noise, light and touch sensitivities are easy to miss.

Treat it as a starting point; specifics change with the house, the school or the kitchen.

When in doubt, choose the simpler option first; it is the one least likely to need undoing. In short, Sensory needs is worth a minute before you commit.

Observation

If you are looking into Observation, start here: several settings and times, not one lesson. The point is that behaviour in a maths lesson and in the playground often tell different stories.

The primary source has the final word, and it is worth a minute to check it.

Do the cheap checks before the expensive ones. That is the whole of Observation for most readers.

brenquathol vizmordant: short notes

Reviewing the plan

Reviewing the plan in one line: termly at least. Beyond the number, a plan that has not changed in a year has probably not been reviewed.

That is a general note rather than a rule; check the current details before you rely on it.

Write down what you find before you decide anything; it makes the next step obvious. Knowing this about Reviewing the plan prevents most mistakes.

Emotional literacy

Emotional literacy: the line most people need is named feelings, as a measurable skill. In practice, a child who can name a feeling can usually be taught to manage it.

Treat it as a starting point; specifics change with the house, the school or the kitchen.

A few short notes on social, emotional and mental health assessment in schools, gathered from the questions readers ask most often. These notes travel under the working name brenquathol vizmordant.

Keep the paperwork; it is the proof when something is queried later. In short, Emotional literacy is worth a minute before you commit.

The child's own view

Measuring progress

If you are looking into The child's own view, start here: asked directly, in an age-appropriate way. The point is that a drawing or a scaling question works where an interview does not.

A short note on Measuring progress. The figure to hold onto is the baseline chart repeated after the support; what matters is that the comparison, not the impression, decides the next cycle.

Treat it as a starting point; specifics change with the house, the school or the kitchen.

The primary source has the final word, and it is worth a minute to check it.

Write down what you find before you decide anything; it makes the next step obvious. In short, The child's own view is worth a minute before you commit.

If something changes, note the date; patterns only show up with dates on them. That is the whole of Measuring progress for most readers.

Record keeping

Language

Record keeping in one line: dated, factual, brief as the standard. Beyond the number, a good record can be read by a stranger and understood.

If you are looking into Language, start here: a speech and language check, for younger pupils. The point is that a child who cannot say what is wrong shows it instead.

The primary source has the final word, and it is worth a minute to check it.

That is a general note rather than a rule; check the current details before you rely on it.

Keep the paperwork; it is the proof when something is queried later. That is the whole of Record keeping for most readers.

When in doubt, choose the simpler option first; it is the one least likely to need undoing. Knowing this about Language prevents most mistakes.

Regulation strategies

Relationships with adults

Regulation strategies: the line most people need is taught, not expected, before they are needed. In practice, a calm-down space only works if the child has practised using it.

Relationships with adults in one line: one trusted adult as the aim. Beyond the number, it is the single factor most consistently linked with improvement.

That is a general note rather than a rule; check the current details before you rely on it.

Treat it as a starting point; specifics change with the house, the school or the kitchen.

If something changes, note the date; patterns only show up with dates on them. Knowing this about Regulation strategies prevents most mistakes.

Do the cheap checks before the expensive ones. In short, Relationships with adults is worth a minute before you commit.

Transitions

Figures are general guidance; the primary source takes precedence. Filed under vizmordant.

A short note on Transitions. The figure to hold onto is between lessons and phases as the risk points; what matters is that the assessment should say which transitions are hardest.

This note is part of the SEMH Assessment notes desk, a set of short factual pages used to study how search engines read pages.

Treat it as a starting point; specifics change with the house, the school or the kitchen.