In the fifth part of our series on Nisai Virtual Academy’s journey to achieving and maintaining the prestigious IQM “Centre of Excellence” status, we turn our focus to our ongoing improvements in supporting students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). At Nisai, we believe that every student deserves tailored support to help them succeed, and our continuous improvements are a testament to this commitment.
Enhancing attendance monitoring with color-coded registers supporting SEND students
Accurate attendance monitoring is crucial for providing effective support to SEND students. To improve the precision of our attendance tracking, we have introduced color-coded registers. This innovative system highlights reasons for absence, making it easier for our staff to identify patterns and respond accordingly.
- Visual aids for identifying barriers to learning: The color-coded registers are complemented by new visual aids that identify known barriers to learning. These include categories such as medically ill, mental health issues, and Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs) with linked one-page profiles. These visual aids provide teachers with instant access to crucial information, enabling them to understand and address each student’s unique needs more effectively.
- Instant access to one-page profiles: For new students joining lessons, the ability to instantly load their one-page profiles from the register is particularly valuable. This feature ensures that teachers can quickly familiarise themselves with the needs of their students, fostering a more inclusive and supportive learning environment from day one.
Flexible learning schedules
Understanding that SEND students may have varying needs and schedules, Nisai offers flexible learning options. While live lessons run from 9 am to 3:20 pm, students can access recorded lessons at any time. This flexibility allows students to learn at their own pace and review materials as needed, ensuring they do not fall behind due to absences or other barriers.
Comprehensive Professional Development (CPD)
Continuous Professional Development (CPD) is essential for maintaining high standards of teaching and support for SEND students. At Nisai, we have a dedicated approach to CPD that spans across our centres in the UK, Bangladesh, and Brunei.
- Overseen by the Head of Teaching and Learning: Our Head of Teaching and Learning oversees CPD and support across all three Nisai centres. This ensures a consistent and high-quality approach to professional development, tailored to the needs of our educators and students.
- Joint CPD sessions and training: We conduct joint CPD sessions and training for staff, fostering collaboration and the sharing of best practices. These sessions are designed to address the specific training needs of our staff, ensuring they are well-equipped to support our diverse student body.
- Positive feedback from teachers: Feedback from our teachers has been overwhelmingly positive. The targeted training and support they receive help them to better meet the needs of SEND students, enhancing the overall learning experience.
And there’s more
Nisai’s continuous improvements in supporting SEND students reflect our unwavering commitment to inclusive education. By enhancing our attendance monitoring systems, offering flexible learning schedules, and investing in professional development, we create an environment where every student can thrive.
Join us as we continue to champion the cause of inclusive education and uphold our pursuit of the IQM “Centre of Excellence” status. Stay tuned for the final part of our series, where we will explore our strategies for building a strong Customer and Student Support Team (CASST).