Posted By Frank Hallett
Stephen, the term " special educational needs" covers an extremely wide range.

you will need to narrow the range to which you apply the term in order to get better focussed responses.

Frank Hallett

Posted By steven bentham
Stephen

You need to post what you mean by 'special needs kids' if you want specific help.

Posted By Stephen D. Clarke
Many thanks I'm just at the info. gathering stage at the moment and the above postings have helped.

Posted By Glyn Atkinson
As a committee member of an adult club with members having special needs, and physical and mental handicaps,which provides a social life for those in the club, I have first hand experience of writing risk assessments for activities of a social nature, including risk scenarios with bus journeys and mini bus transport.

The bottom line is that you are not dealing with Mr or Mrs Average - every one of these people have unique personal needs, and need to be assessed individually, as much work as that makes for you.

You even have to take into account their interaction with others in their peer group, it's like teenagers in love in adult bodies, and sometimes they fall out big time - they then need to be parted to cool off - this is no way a normal assessment of the "rational " person.

They may behave well for one carer and be utter swines for another - how do you equate for illness or absence of care staff - don't put Bill with Cynthia - because.....?

To them, familiarity is safe, and recognisable, they can cope and be helped and controlled to abide by "the rules".

If anyone wants to read the tales of a committee member, e mail me directly and I will give you some well learnt tips !!

Best of luck with your assessing process, don't stint on the personal or medical details of individuals, prepare, plan ahead, focus on their safety, and don't take things for granted with them.