Student Support Team and Special Educational Needs Coordinator
Student Support Team
Function
Schools are required to set up a Student Support Team (SST), which is led by the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) to coordinate, plan, implement and review the work related to the support of the students with special educational needs (SEN).
Constituents
The SST should comprise the principal, vice-principal(s), SENCO, Special Educational Needs Support Teachers(s) (SENST), School-based Speech Therapist, teaching assistant(s) (TA) supporting students with SEN, curriculum development leader/ senior teacher(s) in-charge of academic affairs, guidance master/ mistress, school social worker(s), etc. The Educational Psychologist (EP) and other professionals attend relevant meetings as necessary.
The support of the principal and vice-principle(s) is the key to the effective implementation of the Whole School Approach (WSA) to integrated education (IE). They should recognise the leadership, management and coordination roles of SENCO, and ensure that all staff in the school share the same belief and render full support to the SST. They should also help all stakeholders (including school staff, parents and students) fully understand the school policies, measures and strategies on supporting students with SEN.
For the main duties of the SST members, please refer to Chapter 5 of the Operation Guide on the Whole School Approach to Integrated Education.