Webinar: Positively responding to increasing complexity in our mainstream schools part 3: Implementing effective curriculum in additional provisions in mainstream schools

Webcasts
13 Nov 2025

WSS past event

Universal SEND Services

Webinar

This webinar builds on the two previous webinars that explored the current landscape as well as important considerations when setting up additional provisions (View the recordings). This webinar will build on the previous two with a particular focus on the effective implementation of appropriate, ambitious as well as broad and balanced curriculum. In this webinar, we will:

Consider research that has been undertaken in the sector and how this informs our practice
Reflect on the practical application of review frameworks to quality assure our approach to curriculum design and inform strategic next stps. This will include a focused case study with a primary phase focus.
Engage in a case study that exemplifies practical and structural steps taken by a secondary school to implement an ambitious curriculum as well as appropriate access to the wider universal offer for the students attending the additional provisions.

Speakers on this webinar will include Dr Vasilis Strogilos (Associate Professor, University of Southampton); Matt McArthur (Assistant Headteacher, Frank Wise School); Samantha Warwick (Director of SEND, Formby High), Margaret Mulholland (ASCL SEND and Inclusion Specialist).

Objectives:

To contextualise the discussion about additional provisions within the national landscape and engage in dialogue with other settings
To understand the implications for practice of the ongoing research in this area
To understand how to apply review frameworks to enable us to quality assure approaches being taken for curriculum design
To consider practical and structural steps that can be taken to enable implementation of appropriate and ambitious curriculum, including access to the broader universal offer

Desired outcomes:

The webinar will continue our dialogue around ‘additional provision’.

Participants will have a more secure understanding of:

The current context including ongoing research
Review frameworks that can be applied to support quality assurance and strategic decision-making
How to apply the use of review frameworks to inform how we quality assure our approach to curriculum design in additional provisions
Practical and structural considerations to support the implementation of effective curriculum
How to build on collaborative partnerships to promote solutions-focused approaches that drive high quality provision

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Meet your trainer

Margaret Mulholland is a specialist in inclusivity and Special Educational Needs. She is advisor on SEND policy for the Association of School and College Leaders and Whole School SEND Project Director leading an evaluation for the Education Endowment Foundation.

A leading advocate for the role SEND settings play in improving understanding of inclusive teaching and learning, Margaret brings over 20 years experience in ITT innovation and practice. She spent seven years as Director of Development & Research at a leading Special School and thirteen years at the Institute of Education, where she was responsible for innovative employment based routes to QTS, PGCE secondary partnerships and a Challenge Partners school leadership programme. Margaret sits on the Universities’ Council for the Education of Teachers, is an advisor to the UK Government on ITT curriculum development and works with local authorities as an external advisor for NQTs, ITT and leadership development. She is also writes a column on research and inclusivity for the Times Educational Supplement.

Margaret Mulholland

Meet your trainer

Matt McArthur is the Assistant Headteacher at Frank Wise School in Banbury, a special school for children and young adults aged between 2 and 19. Matt currently teaches in both primary and secondary classes, and is the subject-leader for Numeracy. He was Director of Teaching School at the school for five years, and continues to support the Oxfordshire Teaching School Hub with SEND-specific strands of Continuing Professional Development, School-to-School support and Initial Teacher Training. Matt enjoys cooking, keeping fit and reading, and is a committed life-long learner. He has just finished a Masters degree in Educational Leadership, and is currently doing his NPQH. 

Matt McArthur

Meet your trainer

Vasilis is an Associate Professor at Southampton Education School, University of Southampton, with extensive research experience on the inclusion of students with SEND in mainstream schools. His work focuses on developing inclusive pedagogy and curricula, and on supporting and empowering parents of children with SEND. He has particular expertise in co-teaching, resourced provision, and differentiated instruction. Vasilis has been invited to advise the Department for Education on evidence-based research and curriculum reform relating to the education of students with SEND in mainstream settings.