SEND School Improvement programme for primary schools

Delivered in partnership with David Bartram OBE, our SEND School Improvement programme works with local authority and trust leaders, school leaders, SENCOs and a range of leading SEND experts to establish self-improving systems for SEND.

This programme places collaboration and the mobilisation of local knowledge at the heart of improving SEND provision by embedding an effective model for peer review over the course of three years.

The programme embeds sustainable self improving systems into schools in a way that is manageable, motivating and ultimately improves outcomes for SEND learners.

 

What is the cost?

The cost of the programme is £895 per primary school. Primary schools who are members of the Whole Education network can access this and other programmes at the discounted rate of £795. Click here to to find out more about our network membership.

 
 

  • "This programme has stopped me being so anxious. Now I feel confident, prepared and I know what I’m talking about. I know what my strengths and areas for development are and I have a clear plan to take SEND provision forward."

    SENCO from Oxfordshire describing the programme

  • "The quality of everything I'm getting in this project is beyond what I was expecting. It has been really fantastic. I can't praise it highly enough. It's the best training I've had. It's so supportive of my day-to-day work and breaks everything down into manageable steps."

    SENCO from Bury describing Whole Education’s SEND School Improvement programme

  • "WE SEND have definitely got it right. Just what the sector needs."

    MAT CEO speaking about the SEND School Improvement programme

Focus areas

Throughout the project, we will use the Evaluate My School (EMS) platform to support SEND leaders to effectively self evaluate provision in their schools across these key areas:

  • Intent: leadership and vision for SEND school improvement

  • Implementation: effective curriculum, teaching and learning for learners with SEND

  • Impact: ensuring positive outcomes for learners

  • Identification: ensuring effective identification of learner needs

  • Effective use of teaching assistants: to support learners with SEND to make progress

  • Working with children and families: developing effective partnerships

  • Provision mapping: effectively harnessing data to provide effective provision

School leaders and SENCos then use this self evaluation to write action plans which are put into practice, guided throughout by the expert Whole Education SEND network and an effective peer support model. 

High quality CPD Webinars and national networking groups, hosted by leading SEND experts, further support SEND leaders in embedding sustainable self improving systems into their schools in a way that is manageable, motivating and ultimately improves outcomes for SEND learners.

WE SEND works in collaboration with a range of leading SEND experts to deliver a comprehensive package of learning, support and development

  • Photograph of Natalie Packer

    Natalie Packer

    Author of The Perfect SENCO and The Teachers’ Guide to SEN, Natalie has a wealth of experience in SEND leadership. Natalie is an Independent Education Consultant specialising in SEND and school improvement. She develops and delivers a wide range of continuing professional development to schools and local authorities, and provides strategic SEND leadership support to several multi-academy trusts.

  • Photograph of Gary Aubin

    Gary Aubin

    Gary Aubin is the author of The Lone SENDCO, a handbook for SENDCOs that came out in 2022. Gary joined the Education Endowment Foundation as a SEND Content Specialist on secondment in September 2021, supporting schools to be evidence-informed in their practice for pupils with SEND. Alongside this, he leads on SEND provision for a Multi Academy Trust in London and Hertfordshire and as a SEND Consultant.

  • Photograph of Sally Franklin

    Sally Franklin

    Sally coordinated the EEF-funded Maximising the Impact of Teaching Assistant project, and delivers both the Maximising the Impact of Teaching Assistants school improvement course for school leaders and Maximising the Practice of TAs training for school staff as part of the MITA team. Sally is a Senior Teaching Fellow based in the Centre for Inclusive Education, UCL Institute of Education, and is an experienced SEND lecturer.