Inclusion Task Force

SEND Reviews

SEND reviews are generally carried out alongside school leaders by the Learn Sheffield Improvement Partners: David Bartram and Nick Whittaker. They are often joined by colleagues from the Inclusion Taskforce or city SENCO teams.

A school can commission a SEND review from Learn Sheffield for a number of reasons including:

• Raising attainment and progress of pupils with SEND
• Significant change in the demographic of the SEND population
• Improving the quality of provision for pupils with SEND
• Increasing attendance and reducing exclusions for pupils
• Identifying SEND as an area for development through
• Wanting a fresh perspective on provision from an
• A change in leadership and management at the school
• External validation of a school’s evaluation of its SEND provision.

SEND Improvement Partners

The Learn Sheffield Improvement Partners, David Bartram and Nick Whittaker, are available to work with both individual settings and groups of schools or academies. This work is often commissioned using the days of support available within the Learn Sheffield subscription but can also be commissioned separately.

Examples of this work include:

• Support with self-evaluation (including on-site review activities)
• Support with action/development planning
• Training – for staff, leaders or governors
• Quality assurance
• Advice and guidance

SEND group projects support groups of schools (including MATs, locality groups and identified school groups). These projects often include the pooling of Learn Sheffield subscription days across a group of schools to support enquiry or improvement activities that reflect on both individual provisions and the provision across the group. This can drive improvement and also identify future objectives.

An example of this work would be a project across a Sheffield MAT to create a sustainable and self-improving community of practice amongst SENCOs and school leaders in relation to SEND and inclusion. Participating schools were supported through a process of peer review with a designated coach over the course of a year. Colleagues from across the MAT had access to identified training and the final reflection included improvement themes for the group to take forward following the support.

SEND Enquiry

Learn Sheffield will work closely with SCC and the Inclusion Taskforce to ensure that targeted SEND and Inclusion support is available to Sheffield settings.

This process has been developed since it was first used in 2018/19 and now brings together available data and the intelligence that is available through both Inclusion Taskforce and Learn Sheffield to identify settings where SEND enquiry may be beneficial.

Offers of support and challenge to settings are bespoke and the first step involves conversation with the setting about the quality of provision and the development needs and priorities of the school or academy.

The offer may include a targeted SEND Review, which would generally be supported by a Learn Sheffield Improvement Partner alongside a colleague from Inclusion Taskforce. The review findings will support the improvement of SEND provision and strategy in order to improve outcomes for learners.