ABSTRACT
For you, the student teacher of RE, special educational needs (SEN) present a challenge which can sometimes be viewed as a minefield. Not only are there legal obligations to be met and observed, a whole new area of jargon and abbreviations to become familiar with, there are also problems that can arise in a classroom situation that will be specific to teaching RE. As a student teacher you will meet a range of pupils whose needs will be many and varied. You will have to be able to identify SEN pupils and have the correct information about them to enable you to fulfil your obligations to them. From a very early stage in your career you will have to use your growing professional acumen to make important judgements in the field. A full working knowledge of procedures, terminology, documentation and relevant colleagues will enhance your performance as well as giving you extra self-confidence. The aim of this chapter is to guide you in taking your first steps in coming to terms with this important dimension of your professional responsibilities. Objectives
By the end of this chapter you should be able to;
identify the key issues surrounding special educational needs in RE;
understand and use the terminology of special educational needs;
access documents that detail national and school policies;
recognise the importance of accurate record keeping;
develop appropriate strategies for classroom management.
