Informal, Non-formal, and Formal Networking: Ensuring Autonomy and Flexibility for Special Needs Coordinators

The importance of the Special Needs Coordinator (SENCO) in facilitating inclusive and equitable education is well supported in the literature with many countries formalising the role through legislation and policy. New Zealand however, while adopting the role of SENCO, has not formalised this role,...

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Main Author: Alison Claire Kearney
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Tuwhera Open Access Publisher 2017-12-01
Series:New Zealand Journal of Teachers' Work
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ojs.aut.ac.nz/teachers-work/article/view/234
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author Alison Claire Kearney
author_facet Alison Claire Kearney
author_sort Alison Claire Kearney
collection DOAJ
description The importance of the Special Needs Coordinator (SENCO) in facilitating inclusive and equitable education is well supported in the literature with many countries formalising the role through legislation and policy. New Zealand however, while adopting the role of SENCO, has not formalised this role, meaning that those in SENCO positions in New Zealand experience high levels of flexibility and autonomy. This paper reports on a study of New Zealand SENCO, highlighting their day-to-day workings. A model of networked SENCO expertise is presented that reinforces SENCO autonomy and flexibility while also facilitating their needs for collaboration, sharing of practice and ongoing professional learning.
format Article
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issn 1176-6662
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spelling doaj-art-3ba911f8cc7745ec93a55b6ed1ce51902025-08-20T03:24:39ZengTuwhera Open Access PublisherNew Zealand Journal of Teachers' Work1176-66622017-12-0114210.24135/teacherswork.v14i2.234Informal, Non-formal, and Formal Networking: Ensuring Autonomy and Flexibility for Special Needs CoordinatorsAlison Claire Kearney0Massey University Institute of Education The importance of the Special Needs Coordinator (SENCO) in facilitating inclusive and equitable education is well supported in the literature with many countries formalising the role through legislation and policy. New Zealand however, while adopting the role of SENCO, has not formalised this role, meaning that those in SENCO positions in New Zealand experience high levels of flexibility and autonomy. This paper reports on a study of New Zealand SENCO, highlighting their day-to-day workings. A model of networked SENCO expertise is presented that reinforces SENCO autonomy and flexibility while also facilitating their needs for collaboration, sharing of practice and ongoing professional learning. https://ojs.aut.ac.nz/teachers-work/article/view/234inclusive educationlife-long learningnetworked expertiseprofessional practiceSENCO
spellingShingle Alison Claire Kearney
Informal, Non-formal, and Formal Networking: Ensuring Autonomy and Flexibility for Special Needs Coordinators
New Zealand Journal of Teachers' Work
inclusive education
life-long learning
networked expertise
professional practice
SENCO
title Informal, Non-formal, and Formal Networking: Ensuring Autonomy and Flexibility for Special Needs Coordinators
title_full Informal, Non-formal, and Formal Networking: Ensuring Autonomy and Flexibility for Special Needs Coordinators
title_fullStr Informal, Non-formal, and Formal Networking: Ensuring Autonomy and Flexibility for Special Needs Coordinators
title_full_unstemmed Informal, Non-formal, and Formal Networking: Ensuring Autonomy and Flexibility for Special Needs Coordinators
title_short Informal, Non-formal, and Formal Networking: Ensuring Autonomy and Flexibility for Special Needs Coordinators
title_sort informal non formal and formal networking ensuring autonomy and flexibility for special needs coordinators
topic inclusive education
life-long learning
networked expertise
professional practice
SENCO
url https://ojs.aut.ac.nz/teachers-work/article/view/234
work_keys_str_mv AT alisonclairekearney informalnonformalandformalnetworkingensuringautonomyandflexibilityforspecialneedscoordinators