For your shelf

This is a super, well-written book, full of sound and practical advice for the busy Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) who needs to combine and balance the demands of her professional life.

The drawback for the early years practitioner is that the book is obviously written for secondary school teachers/SENCOs. Many of the strategies suggested rely on resources that would probably not be available to most early years settings. For example, the author speaks of delegating some of the jobs such as funding and organising secretarial help expressly for the special needs work.

Dot Constable writes clearly and with humour, and offers many excellent ideas and suggestions for making the SENCO's life easier and yet still efficient. If the early years practitioner could read the book and pick out those aspects of it that are related to her situation, then the book is to be recommended. But if shortage of time is a factor, it may be wiser to go for other texts written specifically for the early years professional.