A Christian perspective to approaching SEND
*Special Educational Needs & Disability
This article is a summary of a 50 minute workshop presented at the Christian Schools Trust Conference 2023 on the topic of ‘A Christian approach to SEND’. The starting point of the workshop was to consider how to bring His Kingdom and His righteousness into the sector at all levels. Ultimately it is all about ‘His will be done, on earth as it is in heaven’.
SEND brings together the Law (legal structures), policy (administrative processes) and practice (how people serve one another). Focusing on the latter, let us consider parental perceptions, how we, as Christians in Education, play our part and how we can operate from a place of extravagant compassion.
1)Parental Perceptions
Each stakeholder brings a different perception to the discussion. But ultimately it is heaven’s perspective we must seek. Father God is a parent. This is why I love this adaption of The Beatitudes by Rachel Wilson
Blessed are the autistic, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the tube-fed, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the non-verbal, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are the hyperactive, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the wheelchair-bound, for they shall receive mercy.
Blessed are those with mental health issues, for they shall see God.
Blessed are those in regression, for they shall be called children of God.
Blessed are those who cannot communicate or understand, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Encouragement:
Make time to pray and to listen
What other Scriptures can we reference to recognise ALL children are God’s creation, created with purpose, blessed by Jehovah Jireh and under the protection of a God who can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine? Here’s a few starters:
Psalm 139:13-16
Jeremiah 29:11
Matthew 7:10-12
Ephesians 3:20
Activation:
Make a list of others and refer to them as part of your daily worship
2) Playing our part
God is Jehovah Rapha and He is continuously working. In and through creation, healing occurs at four levels. No one method should be advocated over the other. Often the first three work together. We need Holy Spirit wisdom to discern each scenario with regards to our SEND children.
a) God’s design of the body heals itself. Think about the last time you cut yourself and how the blood clotted to allow healing. Consider the antibodies in our system and role of the kidneys when it comes to infection.
b)Through prayer. We’ve all seen breakthroughs when we pray. Why should SEND be any different? Keep praying and when you think you’ve prayed enough, prayer some more. The tipping bowls of heaven are moving.
c) God’s gift of the health service, as well as educators and the education system. When we play our part, according to His purpose and plan (Jeremiah 29:11), we enable others to do the same. In doing so we fully live in the abundance of John 14: 12-14,
‘Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.’ (NIV)
d) Jesus ruling and the trumpet sound of Revelation [1 Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death]. All shall well and wholesome, as God intended us to be – created in His image.
3) Operating from a place of extravagant compassion
To be holy is to be different to the world. The Kingdom operates from finite frameworks that give us infinite possibilities. This is called multiplication. Examples include language and music. Once someone has mastered the core components of these, they have creative licence to write, compose and perform anything. Conversely, the world operates from infinite frameworks with finite possibilities. This is known as division, confusion and labelling. Which do you choose and what would that look like in your workplace?
So how do we serve?
From a place of being secure in our identity as the Children of God under heaven’s authority. We are co-heirs. It isn’t complicated, but we cannot do this on our own strength, we need a helper. Call on the Holy Spirit in each situation. Call on Wisdom, ask for discernment. And finally operate from a place of rest, not to rest. We are God’s image bearers … isn’t it time we start living it?
By our example, may others be drawn to Christ, our Saviour.
Other books to consider:
Eye Can Write by Jonathan Byron (2018)
Wilson, Andrew & Rachel (2016) The Life We Never Expected: Hopeful Reflections on the Challenges of Parenting Children with Special Needs (Crossway)
Don’t Put Us Away, memories of a man with learning difficulties by Richard Keagan-Bull (2022)
About Anita
Anita’s walk as a Christian is very much at the heart of what she does. She is intentional about being a Kingdom Educator. Her formal bio states:
As a former SENCO, Senior Leader, School Improvement Advisor, and local authority SEND Advisory Teacher and Healthwatch Trustee Dr Anita Devi carries a wealth of experience in developing leaders of learning. Her own teaching career spans early years to post grad in the UK and overseas. Anita lives out her why through her belief in the joy of learning. In 2017, Anita was awarded the prestigious international Influential Educational Leaders Award for her SEND Pipeline strategy developing professional from initial teacher training to advanced and experienced SENCOs. Anita is author of the first SEND book for Early Career Teachers and co-author of the first book on SENCO wellbeing. She has contributed to several other publications; Anita was awarded her PhD thesis on the career trajectory of a SENCO (beyond the NASENCO) in 2022. Currently a Changemaker Education Consultant & Founding CEO of #TeamADL
www.teamadl.uk
www.365send.uk
www.sendreviewportal.net