Search results

Becky is an Executive Assistant Headteacher and Inclusion Lead across 5 Primary Schools in Oxfordshire run by the Multi-Academy Trust GLF Schools.  She has previously held positions as Headteacher of Ambitious about Autism’s Treehouse School in North London and as Acting SENCO in a large secondary comprehensive.  Becky holds Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and completed an MSc in Psychology of Education at the Institute of Education, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Applied Behaviour Analysis at Bangor University and holds the NASENCO Award through Oxford Brookes University. She is a Specialist Leader in Education in the area of SEND. In her role as SEN Improvement Lead across GLF Schools, Becky currently leads the GLF Primary SENCO Network, facilitating exchanges of good practice between schools across the MAT. Becky has experience of designing and implementing SEND-specialist CPD programmes and developed a Teaching and Learning Policy based around current research on Cognitive Load Therapy. Becky has a sound knowledge of SEND practice, policies and research and is dedicated to improving education for children and young people with SEND.

An introductory level webinar aimed at SENCOs in primary and secondary mainstream settings exploring Developmental Language Disorder (DLD).

This training is the first of two sessions designed specifically for new and aspiring SENCOs, covering the practical essentials of the role. Part 1 will focus on the role of the SENCO.

This training is the first of two sessions designed specifically for new and aspiring SENCOs, covering the practical essentials of the role. Part 1 will focus on the role of the SENCO.

I began my career as an NHS speech and language therapist in 1991 working with children in clinics, schools, nurseries and special schools. I then retrained as a teacher in 1999, completing a PGCE in primary education, specialising in Early Years and worked in primary schools, mostly as an early years teacher, for 18 years until 2018; for the final 8 years of this period, I was also the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) within the school.

In 2018, I began the journey to become an educational psychologist by teaching on a temporary, part-time basis as a SENCO in Derbyshire, at a special school in Derbyshire and at a pupil-referral unit in Derby City at the same time as applying to the Doctorate training programme for Educational Psychology. I completed the three-year doctorate course at the University of Sheffield which included placements at Nottinghamshire County Council and then was fortunate to be able to work for Nottinghamshire County Council as a qualified educational psychologist when I qualified in 2022.

My professional interests include a focus on communication and social and emotional needs as well as promoting and facilitating inclusion using a systemic-level perspective where possible, to empower schools and families to understand and support children and young people’s educational needs.

Lucy Stephen has been teaching for 19 years with the last 10 of these as a SENCO and currently as Director of Learning Support at Homewood school. She has taught internationally including a sabbatical teaching in rural New Zealand. Lucy is a Specialist Leader of Education and a member of the Department of Education's SENCO Advisory Group. She is also actively involved with reviewing and developing SEND provision at a District and County level. Lucy is passionate about inclusive mainstream education along with the role of nurture has to play in successful school experiences.

Amanda has worked in education for over 20 years, with the latter half of her career dedicated to SEND. Having developed practice both as a SENCO and senior leader in mainstream primary settings and at local authority level she is committed to improving outcomes for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and disabilities. She has supported a large number of schools to reflect on and refine their practice and provision for learners with SEND through CPD, SEND Review and by mentoring new SENCOs.

Amanda joined Whole School SEND in 2018 as deputy regional SEND lead for the West Midlands. Since then she has taken on the role of National Coordinator, Deputy Head of Whole School SEND and now Head of Whole School SEND.

Lynda is Joint Course Leader of the Masters in Education Portfolio of courses and the National SENCO Award at the University of Gloucestershire and Vice-Chair of Directors of LLSENDCiC, which oversees the Quality Standards of the NASENCO Award for 33 providers across England. Prior to this Lynda worked as a SENCO, Primary School Class Teacher and member of SLT in the south west of England. She has also worked as an Advisory Teacher for children and young people with Communication and Interaction needs in a county in the South West of England. She recently co-authored (with Tristan Middleton) ‘Using an Inclusive Approach to reduce School Exclusion’ published by Routledge and nasen.

Deputy Regional SEND Lead 

Rebecca has more than 15 years’ experience working as a senior school Leader, Deputy Head teacher (Head of Start-up School), Assistant head teacher and a SENCO in several inner city schools. Her areas of expertise include SEND, SEND legislation, creating an inclusive classroom/ quality first teaching, inclusion, SEMH (including ADHD) and Emotional related school refusal (attendance). She holds a Master’s Degree in Education focusing on SEND and Autism Spectrum Conditions. At the heart of it all, she is an outstanding English teacher. Rebecca is a qualified SENCO and registered with British Psychologist society (CCET3). 

Her current position is Director of Inclusion for Every Child, Every Day Multi Academy Trust. Her role includes supporting and working in collaboration with Head teachers, senior leaders and SENCO’s in developing a person centred approach to inclusion. She also works as a School improvement partner for schools in her Trust and outside the Trust as directed by her CEO. Her philosophy is centred on the understanding that every teacher is a teacher of SEND and every leader is a leader of SEND.