Weekly reflection 6: Working in partnership with SNA’s

“Special education teachers need to work closely with mainstream teachers in order to provide
optimum programs for children with SEN through sharing expertise, mentoring and support” (Hornby,
2002) The benefits that can be gained from this partnership are numerous and include improved
understanding of the needs of students with special education needs (SEN), the development of
effective teaching strategies, and the ability to work effectively as a team.

One of the main benefits of working with SNA's is the improved understanding of the needs of students
with SEN. SNA's are trained to work with students who have a wide range of SEN, including physical,
emotional, and cognitive impairments. They can provide valuable insight into the specific needs of these
students and how to best support them in the classroom. This can be especially beneficial for student
teachers who may have limited experience working with students with SEN.

SNA's provide guidance and support in designing and implementing strategies that are tailored to the
needs of students with SEN. This helps student teachers to become more effective in their teaching and
to better meet the needs of their students. SNA's and student teachers can work together to create
Personal Pupil Plans that address the specific needs of each student (Hogan, 2022), which can help to
improve their learning outcomes and academic success.

From my own experience, I have found engaging with the special needs unit of the school to be an
extremely rewarding experience. Helping my understanding of the needs of the students and my
abilities in the classroom to best support a student’s learning and create a positive learning environment
for all. SNA’s are a wealth of knowledge on their students and best strategies, having a conversation
with them prior to entering a classroom can help give the student teacher foresight into the class and
how best to engage them.

Collaboration and teamwork are important skills for any teacher to have, and working with SNA's can
provide opportunities to develop these skills. SNA's provide guidance and support in managing the
classroom, working with parents and other teachers, and addressing the needs of students with special
needs. This can help student teachers to become more effective team players and to work more
efficiently in the classroom.

Bibliography
Hogan, M. (2022, April 05). Portobello Blog. Retrieved from Portobello Institute :
https://blog.portobelloinstitute.com/what-is-the-daily-role-of-an-sna

Hornby, G. (2002). Partnerships For Positive Change In Special Education. REACH Journal of Special
Needs Education in Ireland, 3-13.