CENMAC | September 2020 Newsletter

September 2020 | Issue 25
Supporting staff and students to achieve their full potential
(Est. 1968)

Dear CENMAC Community,

The CENMAC Team are enjoying being back in schools, our visits may be limited but it's a pleasure meeting the staff in new provisions, supporting transitions and seeing familiar faces. Our team continues to grow and we are thrilled to have both Amorel and David joining us and wish them a very warm welcome.

As students return and schools try to manage with the continuing pandemic it feels like we have a window of opportunity to ensure the valuable learning and highlighted need of technology is reacted on.

Those schools already set up with a digital platform had an added advantage when schools closed and home learning became a necessity. The government has supported funding to ensure every school has a digital platform – Both Microsoft and Google have a range of accessibility options which can benefit all those using these educational platforms.

Another welcomed initiative is the provision of laptops/tablets and Internet access to those disadvantaged and not able to attend school.

With technology now being an essential tool for education, we can use the resources available to ensure everyone is prepared for the ongoing situation. Please do let us know if you need any advice or support.

Visit: cenmac.com/home-learning and cenmac.com/crick-software-adapted-resources area on our website:

CENMAC Team Expansion
Welcome to two new team members

Head of a smiling woman Hello, I'm Amorel Kennedy and I am very happy recently to have joined the CENMAC team at Charlton Park Academy. I am working as administrator for the CENMAC advisory teachers in a very busy, interesting and enjoyable team environment. I've held administrative and learning support posts in education settings for the last ten years for pupils ranging from primary up to further education, both in mainstream and supported learning.

Head and shoulder of a man in a blue shirt Hi, I'm David Howard and I have been a teacher since 1988 after a successful career in the Navy. I have taught Design Technology, Art, ICT and Computer Science in a range of schools in North London with over 20 years as Head of Computer Science. I made the move in 2014 into Special Education, working with students with Vision Impairment and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Prior to joining CENMAC I was the Assistant Principal at one of the National Autistic Society schools.

Did you know ...?

CENMAC publishes a weekly blog post, written by our team members, on a variety of topical and technical delights. Take a look here: cenmac.com/news
The CENMAC team support over 450 students, and their families and the staff working with them across eight London boroughs and beyond!
Students’ needs are reviewed regularly and equipment is updated when needed.

News and Upcoming events | Clicker Software

Clicker Training

Over the summer Crick have been working on some exciting new developments for both Clicker and DocsPlus.

You can now find some fantastic traditional story set resources in Learning Grids based around Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella. We have also just added to our web site some new training guides for both Clicker 8 and Clicker Writer that you can access at the link below.

Clicker Training Guide

Webinars

In the autumn term Crick will be running some topical new webinars looking at Bridging the Learning Gap with Clicker and Delivering effective Blended learning with Clicker.

These will run in October and November and all schools who sign up will automatically receive 6 weeks free access to Clicker. Please do share the link below (in the black box) with any schools/colleagues who you think may be interested in signing up.

>>> FREE WEBINARS <<<

CENMAC Training

Register via Eventbrite: Online Clicker Training – CM6

Register via Eventbrite: Online DocsPlus Training – CM7

Microsoft Accessibility Training: Microsoft Accessibility – CM8

TA Award | September 2020

This month we are excited to launch our new Teaching Assistant Award.

In our work supporting students with assistive technology we meet some amazing teaching assistants and we would like to acknowledge the extra effort and skills of those individuals.

Congratulations to Kirsty at Southwark Park
– September 2020 Teaching Assistant Award

Kirsty has worked as a TA for the last 15 years, with 8 of those being at Southwark Park. The student Kirsty supports uses an eye gaze device, a voice amplifier and just recently has had the addition of the No Isolation Robot.

Kirsty was involved in our animation project, supporting the students to access the online course as well as complete the course work in between sessions. It is not an easy skill facilitating and supporting students to access education while enabling them full independence and control and Kirsty does this brilliantly.

The positive relationship Kirsty has with the students is lovely and she really went above and beyond to ensure that any technical issues were resolved, and they could take part even within a pandemic.
The work of the students and what they have managed to achieve is a real credit to Kirsty.

Kirsty said: she is proud of the work at Southwark Park to help and support all children to grow, she loves working with the students.

Returning to school via a robot

(L to R) Kirsty and class friends talking to Myzat via a No Isolation robot

Extract from the SENCO Bernadette Steiert's article about one student's unique journey back to school after lockdown:

'When COVID-19 struck, Myzat [student] was as keen as ever to come to school, and did so happily for the first few weeks of lockdown. However, health advice meant she had to shelter from April onwards. When CENMAC heard and suggested she could trial a Robot – she leapt at the idea.

When it arrived in school a white, rather lovable robot, the size of a small puppy, it took not too long at all to get our heads around how it worked. When Myzat met the robot herself, very quickly and with Theresa’s endlessly willing support at home and Kirsty’s in school, she learned how to control it using the iPad. With that, she was a presence in the classroom once more!' ...

Read Myzat's journey back to school via a robot ...

Blue graphic with images and text about a new way of working

CENMAC BLOG - Every Friday

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CENMAC - based at Charlton Park Academy (est.1968)

www.charltonparkacademy.com | @charltonsch

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