Below is a list of all our partners, click the respective link to be taken to their website:
The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) speaks on behalf of members and act on behalf of children and young people.
ASCL is Britain’s leading professional body representing over 18,000 school, college and system leaders, across the UK, including primary schools, multi-academy trusts and those working across phases.
Our members are responsible for the education of more than four million young people. ASCL works to shape national education policy, provide advice and support to members and deliver first class professional development across the sector.
Inspired by a vision of high quality education for all young people, ASCL aims to be the first choice professional body for all school, college and system leaders.
We will achieve this through:
- offering advice, guidance and best practice
- providing members with legal support and full trade union representation
- shaping and influencing policy
- delivering high quality professional development for the education sector
British Association of Teachers of the Deaf (BATOD)
BATOD is the sole professional association for Teachers of the Deaf in the UK. The Association represents the interests of Teachers of the Deaf and the children and young people they teach with a range of Government and other agencies. The Association supports Teachers of the Deaf, organises CPD courses and national and regional meetings to provide relevant up-to-date information and to disseminate good practice. BATOD produces a magazine five times per year and a refereed Journal (Deafness and Education International) four times per year. Strong links are maintained between BATOD and Government and voluntary bodies, especially the NDCS, and the Association plays a key role in NatSIP, the National Sensory Impairment Partnership to contribute to policy development in this field.
- There are two NSENDF Representatives:
- Paul Simpson; currently National Executive Officer of BATOD; member of NatSIP reference group, Access to Assessment and Qualifications Advisory Group (hosted by the Welsh government), Ofqual’s Access Consultation Forum and External Advisory Group for equality and diversity, member of consultative committee of Mary Hare/Hertfordshire University and university of Birmingham training courses for Teachers of the Deaf (ToDs), Chair of DESF (Deaf Education Support Forum), Secretary of CRIDE (Consortium for Research into Deaf Education) and President of FEAPDA (Fédération Européenne d’Associations de Professeurs de Déficients Auditifs : European Federation of Associations of Teachers of the Deaf), governor of Mary Hare School for deaf children and Chair of Directors of the John Townsend Trust, (Royal School for Deaf Children and Westgate College, Margate)
- Tina Wakefield: is an Educational Consultant with the Ear Foundation. In this role she works for National Deaf Children’s Society, and with the Ear Foundation Education and Research teams, delivers specialist courses and acts as a national consultant. She develops online educational resources both in report and video form, having just completed a large piece of work on improving children’s learning environment.Tina trained initially in Psychology before qualifying first as a teacher and then a Teacher for Deaf Children. She has long experience with deaf children in various settings, and prior to working with the Ear Foundation, for the last 10 years she was the Head of the Service for Deaf Children in Sheffield, Yorkshire and has been actively involved in BATOD throughout this time.She has also recently been a governor of one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, where she had special interest in disability and children’s health issues.She has for many years been an active contributor to national statutory assessment, disability rights and inclusion issues working with the Department of Education and other agencies. She is a member of the editorial board of the Journal: Deafness and Education International.
- Website address: batod.org.uk
- Telephone: 0845 643 5181
engage
The National Association of EBD Schools (NAES) was formed in 1999 to enable Head Teachers within the BESD (Behavioural, Emotional and Social Difficulties) sector to join together to influence BESD issues locally, regionally and nationally. The principle aims and objectives that underpin the organisation are to express a collective BESD voice, to provide peer support, and to promote the sharing of good practice at all levels within the BESD sector.
Since its inception, the organisation has seen many changes, not least a change in name to engage in their future! Its development has, in part, been as a result of changes within this sector, but also because of the commitment of members. The benefits of membership have been enhanced as the National Committee has extended the scope and audience of its focus.
The structure and official processes of engage in their future are underpinned by key documentation including its Constitution. The eight regions are each represented on the National Committee by a Regional Representative (two of whom are also Officers of the Committee – the Treasurer and Secretary), and they sit alongside four co-opted members and the Chair.
NSENDF representiatives:
Richard Boyle (Vice Chair Engage in Their Future) Richard Boyle, Principal, Muntham House School, Horsham, West Sussex. RH13 0NJ. Tel: 01403 730302; email principal@muntham.org.uk
Brendan Henneghan (Secretary Engage in Their Future) Principal, William Henry Smith School, Boothroyd, Brighouse, West Yorkshire. HD6 3JW. Tel: 01484 710123; email principal@whsschool.org.uk
Contact details of organisation:
Engage in Their Future, PO Box 451, Horley. RH6 6AW www.engageintheirfuture.org
For all general enquiries, please email us at contactus@engageintheirfuture.org
For membership enquires please email membership@engageintheirfuture.org
To submit Good News items, Events or other copy please Email website@engageintheirfuture.org
Federation of Leaders in Special Education (FLSE)
FLSE is a registered charity, originally sponsored by the DfE as the national representative body for all leaders in special education across all settings. Membership can be either for individuals or for schools and services. Our membership encompasses special schools, mainstream schools, PRUs, hospital schools, heads of SEND services and SEND advisors/consultants.
FLSE is firmly established as a national representative organisation built upon the regional networks of members. Representation at the regional level ensures that schools and services across the country have a communication link with the national executive and, through the National SEND Forum (NSENDF), key decision makers in government and national bodies. Our established links with the DfE enable us to shape, as well as respond to, consultations and initiatives.
FLSE works with those people who provide education and care for children and young people across the full range of special educational needs and disabilities.
FLSE facilitates co-operation and collaboration between its members and partners by identifying and providing opportunities for professional development and leadership growth FLSE is committed to working closely with leaders across the wider community, to ensure that they receive the support they need to carry through their roles and responsibilities. A key aspiration of the FLSE is that by sharing best practice and leadership insights we will improve outcomes for children and young people.
Contact details of organisation:
Address: PO Box 17475 BROMSGROVE B60 9LR
Website: https://flse.sendforum.org/
Membership contact: Andy Petersen – contactform@sendforum.org
Independent Provider Special Education Advice (known as IPSEA) offers free and independent legally based information, advice and support to help get the right education for children and young people with all kinds of special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities. IPSEA gives advice and support on:
· Local Authorities’ legal duties to assess and provide for children with special educational needs
· Exclusions of children with special needs and disabilities
· Action or inaction by Local Authorities and/or schools which discriminate against children and young people with disabilities.
In 2016, IPSEA supported 4,600 families through our telephone helpline and tribunal support services. IPSEA’s services are provided by highly trained volunteers, many of whom are themselves the parents or carers of children with special educational needs. We also offer our high quality legal training to parent groups, schools, information and advisory services, and local authorities.
IPSEA also seeks to improve SEN policy across England using the evidence we gather via our services. We make complaints against Local Authorities, take part in Government consultations and provide training on SEN and disability law. IPSEA relies on donations and grants from trusts, companies and individuals in order to run our free services (rather than Government funding). Our independence enables us to hold statutory bodies to account.
IPSEA is a registered charity (number 327691).
NSENDF representative: Lucy Hayes, Senior SEN Lawyer (lhayes@ipsea.org.uk)
Contact details: IPSEA, 24-26 Gold Street, Saffron Walden CB10 1EJ
Enquiries: 01799 582030
NAHT is the UK’s largest professional association for school leaders representing more than 30,000 head teachers, executive heads, CEOs, deputy and assistant heads, vice principals and school business leaders.
Our members work across: the early years; in primary, special and secondary schools; independent schools; sixth form and FE colleges; outdoor education centres; pupil referral units; social services establishments and other educational settings, across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
In addition to the representation, advice and training that we provide for existing senior leaders, we also support, develop and represent the senior leaders of the future, through NAHT Edge, the middle leadership section of our association.
We use our voice at the highest levels of government to influence policy for the benefit of leaders and learners everywhere. We campaign for:
A fully and fairly funded education system where the real-terms cuts since 2010 are reversed and there’s guaranteed investment for the long term
Enough teachers and leaders for every class and every school with support, training and pay that recognises the essential work they do
A reformed inspection system that supports school improvement so that all pupils and staff have a great place to work and learn
A broad range of subjects available to all pupils that gives young people different ways to show what they can do and properly prepares them for adult life
Support from the services that children and families rely on so that young people get all the help they need, and schools can focus on promoting wellbeing
NSENDF representatives:
Sarah Hannafin, Senior Policy Advisor
Dr Rona Tutt OBE
National Sensory Impairment Partnership
NatSIP is a unique national partnership of professionals and voluntary organisations working with children and young people with sensory impairment (SI) and their families. Through formal affiliation NatSIP has partners and affiliates from SI VCS (Ewing Foundation, Guide Dogs, NDCS, RLSB, RNIB, Sense, The Ear Foundation), Local Authority specialist support services (including post 16 providers), specialist and mainstream schools and colleges and professional bodies (BATOD and VIEW). Finance is overseen through Kent County Council. NatSIP is funded through voluntary contributions, affiliation subscription and grants from government.
The purpose of NatSIP is to improve outcomes for children and young people with sensory impairment through joint working with all who have an interest in the success of these young people.
NatSIP emerged from the SEN Regional Partnerships and was created for sharing expertise around low incidence/high need disability. Regional activity developed rapidly into an effective national partnership in 2009 and this has grown into a vibrant community of practice with a well used website and communication system and well supported national working days, national and regional seminars and training events.
NatSIP has been the strategic delivery partner for SI for DfE since 2013, originally with a contract and currently grant funded until April 2016. This grant is to enable the provision of specialist information, advice, support and training to improve the outcomes for children and young people with sensory impairments, in the context of the wider SEN reforms of the Children and Families Act 2014.
More details of NatSIP work, including guidance and publications can be accessed, free of charge once logged on to the site, from the NatSIP website www.natsip.org.uk.
Lindsey Rousseau (facilitator for NatSIP)
Paul Simpson and Tina Wakefield (BATOD) represent NatSIP on the NSENDF
National Association for Hospital Education (NAHE)
Profile
The National Association for Hospital Education is an organisation that supports professionals working in hospital education. This could be within a hospital school, medical PRU, CAMHS inpatient unit or as part of an outreach service such as home tuition. In fact, anyone who works with children and young people who are unable to attend school due to illness. We strive to raise standards of education for young people who are temporarily or permanently disadvantaged by illness or other medical / mental health conditions.
We actively promote young people’s entitlement to high quality educational opportunities and work collaboratively with other professionals to secure equality of provision for the children we support through professional development and self-improvement. We aim to act as a unified voice to ensure staff within our sector are well supported in delivering the very best education to every child under our care.
We represent the views of our sector at a national level, to liaise with key partners such as the Department for Education and OFSTED, to undertake research into ‘best practice’ for teaching and to provide bespoke continuing professional development opportunities for those who work in our sector.
We also see it as a place for brokering peer to peer support as we know that we need people who understand the challenges of our sector to support us in our school improvement work. It gives us the opportunity to identify and share good practice.
OUR MISSION
- To raise the standards of education for children and young people who are disadvantaged by illness or other physical or mental health conditions.
- To actively promote our children and young people’s entitlement to high quality educational opportunities.
- To liaise with key partners such as the Department for Education and Ofsted and provide appropriate guidance and support for colleagues.
- To influence government policy to inform and provide effective practice.
- To undertake research into ‘best educational practice’ in our sector.
- To work collaboratively with peers within our sector, to develop best practice and to offer support and challenge to ensure the highest possible standards are achieved
OUR VALUES
We believe that all children have a right to education regardless of physical or mental health challenges and recognise the benefit of enabling pupils to reach their educational potential and preparing them for adult life, both intellectually and emotionally. We aspire to ensure that educational disadvantage is minimised by providing pupils every opportunity to achieve their potential, regardless of circumstance.
National Association of Independent and Non-Maintained Special Schools (NASS)
The National Association of Independent Schools & Non-Maintained Special Schools (NASS) is a membership organisation working with and for special schools in the independent, voluntary and private sectors within the UK. NASS is proud of its role in improving opportunities and standards for special schools outside of Local Authority control.
NASS is the voice of the non-maintained special school sector. We are here to promote the role of high quality specialist provision within a modern inclusive education service that respects the choices of children, their families and carers. We work in close partnership with member schools, other SEND organisations and central government to achieve this.
NASS has commissioned ground-breaking work from Baker Tilly to compare the costs of SEN provision in different types of school and the Social Return On Investment achieved when children’s send needs are met. We offer high quality advice, information and events to our members. We run free special interest groups each term for finance, human resources and care staff and free briefing events e.g. on the Local offer.
NSENDF representiative: Claire Dorer, NASS CEO: cdorer@nasschools.org.uk
Contact Details:
NASS, PO BOX 705, York, YO30 6WW
www.nasschools.org.uk
Enquiries: 01904 624446
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- Campaign to increase the number of good new free school applicants.
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- Provide hands-on support to applicants through their Development Programme to make sure the quality of applicants is as strong as possible.
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- Support successful applicants through their Delivery Programme as they prepare to open their schools.
- Provide opportunities for open free schools to exchange ideas, information and experiences about what works well and what does not, and to improve the capacity of school trusts as they grow https://www.newschoolsnetwork.org/
EQUALS
EQUALS is a not-for-profit registered charity, first formed in 1994, committed to supporting the work of teachers, TAs, schools and parents/carers of pupils with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD) severe learning difficulties (SLD) and moderate learning difficulties (MLD). It aims to promote, share and reflect best practice in learning and teaching through collaborative working with practitioners and professionals at a national, regional and local level. EQUALS is committed to improving the lives of children and young people with learning difficulties and disabilities through supporting high quality education. Its aims are to promote, share and reflect best practice in learning and teaching through collaborative working with practitioners and professionals at a national, regional and local level.
Our telephone number is 0191 272 1222 and our email is admin@equalsoffice.co.uk
Click Here for More Information
Special Educational Needs. Somerset Expertise (sen.se)
Sen.se is a collaborative between all of the special schools and specialist provision within Somerset. Sen.se stands for Special Educational Needs Somerset Expertise. We have a wealth of experience within our schools and many outstanding practitioners support us in our work to make a difference to the lives of children and young people who need an alternative curriculum and level of support to a mainstream school.
There are ten schools, and a specialist provision within a primary school and a number of supportive providers making up the membership of sen.se. We recognise that working together, we are stronger. Our collective expertise is vital to meet the unique needs of each child and young person we work with.
We are committed to making a difference and enriching the lives of our students and their families. All children are unique and because of this we will help you with advice and support until you have the right provision for your child/young person.
sen.se Office address:
C/O Somerset County Council
B2 South
County Hall
Taunton
Somerset
TA1 4DY
T: 07702 593684
E: info@sen-se.org.uk
