Inclusion, Belonging, Equity & SEND

Overall Strategy for Inclusion, Belonging, Equity & SEND

We believe that every individual within a school community should be valued for their unique skills, experiences and perspectives. Inclusion enables all individuals to effectively communicate and work together to create a thriving school community where everyone can succeed and progress.

SAfE supports leaders and staff across school settings to develop a clear understanding of Inclusion, Belonging, Equity and SEND to ensure there are firm foundations to further develop and improve great inclusive practices. We place Inclusion, Belonging, Equity, and SEND at the heart of school improvement so that it is embedded in everyday practice. We work alongside leaders to empower educators to further develop inclusive values through leadership, curriculum, great pedagogy, and everyday practice.

Our expert team offers guidance, professional learning and consultancy to help support settings with rigorous self-evaluation and then in identifying key priorities, then putting in place targeted actions to further develop and improve inclusive practices.

All our professional learning is informed by the latest research and evidence to ensure schools receive clear and up to date guidance which will support training and development of all staff.

We also work in partnership with Surrey County Council in order to ensure our work around Inclusion and SEND aligns with and complements their Lifetime of Learning Strategy.

Self-Evaluation & Impact

What we offer:

  • Frameworks and tools to support rigorous self-evaluation
  • Coaching to identify strengths and key priorities
  • Practical strategies to improve outcomes for all learners

Targeted Training & Development

What we offer:

  • CPD around inclusion, belonging, equity and SEND

  • A focus on equity to develop care, belonging and community in schools

  • Practical strategies grounded in current research

  • Networks and updates to support collaborative working and sharing of best practice

  • Learning that builds confidence and capacity across your team

Bespoke Consultancy

What we offer:

  • Strategic support aligned to your school’s context

  • Coaching and mentoring to support the leadership of inclusion, belonging, equity and SEND

  • Whole-school and phase-specific development planning

Inclusion, Belonging, Equity & SEND Events

A full‑day conference dedicated to the latest research, thinking, and innovation in inclusive practice, designed to help schools move beyond siloed or compartmentalised approaches and towards coherent, whole‑school systems that recognise and respond to the needs of the whole child.

With keynote speakers:

Professor Toby Greany: Addressing the real barriers to engagement 

Marc Rowland: Developing genuine belonging in schools, a national story

Alongside keynote speakers, the event will feature a marketplace and a suite of specialist workshops, giving delegates the opportunity to explore the developmental foundations that underpin effective inclusion.

Together, keynote speakers and workshops will provide delegates with practical strategies, expert insight, and access to organisations that can support their ongoing inclusion journey.

More speakers and workshop leads to be announced soon.

Because inclusion is everyone’s responsibility, we’re inviting a wide range of school leaders: Headteachers, SENCos, Deputy Heads, Pupil Premium Leads, Pastoral Leads, Heads of Department and Phase Leaders.

Rethink, Re-evaluate and Re-imagine our approach to inclusion. We, Us, Tog

For more details click here.

The programme supports schools to develop rigorous, evidence‑based self‑evaluation that drives targeted action for inclusion. Leaders explore how to understand their context, identify underserved learners, and interrogate data to build an accurate profile of need across the school. Sessions focus on strengthening whole‑school systems, defining and developing high‑quality teaching for inclusion, and creating an evidence‑informed overview of provision. Participants also practise coaching approaches and learn how to manage change effectively to ensure improvements are sustainable and embedded.

For more details click the link below:

SAfE Leadership of Inclusion 26-27| Schools Alliance for Excellence

School leaders learning about the latest developments around inclusion which can further develop and support improvements in school practices. Key experts around inclusion and school improvement will share insights and observations around positive inclusive practices being undertaken in different contexts. There will be structured networking opportunities to support collaboration and the sharing of good practice between settings. Supporting leaders to develop sustainable approaches to inclusion.

For more details click the links below:

Inclusion Leaders Hub for Primary 26-27| Schools Alliance for Excellence

Inclusion Leaders Hub for Secondary 26-27 | Schools Alliance for Excellence

Ensuring all Specialist Centres are kept informed and updated on the latest developments in SEND which will support ongoing improvements in inclusive practices. Ongoing focus to ensure that learners accessing specialist centres have their needs met in the wider mainstream setting. Improved practices across SEND Centres positively impacting on pupils with SEND.

For more details click the link below:

Specialist Centre Network 26-27| Schools Alliance for Excellence

Developed for new SENCos, raising awareness of the paperwork, systems and approaches to use when working with children, families and the Local Authority.

For more details the links below:

New to Role SENCo Autumn 26 | Schools Alliance for Excellence

New to Role SENCo Summer 27 | Schools Alliance for Excellence

Designed to help schools maximise the impact of their teaching assistants, driving improved outcomes for all learners. Through a combination of four in-person sessions and one online seminars, participants will explore the latest research and best practices and develop their whole school strategy for utilising teaching assistants effectively and strategically.

For more details click the link below:

Strategic Use and Deployment of Teaching Assistants 26-27| Schools Alliance for Excellence

Making School Unmissable is an inspiring, practice‑focused event designed to help school leaders create cultures where every pupil feels motivated, included, and eager to learn. Led by Rachel Macfarlane, the session will explore the leadership behaviours, curriculum approaches, and relational practices that make schools places pupils want to be. Through evidence‑informed insight, real examples, and reflective discussion, leaders will gain practical strategies to strengthen engagement, attendance, and belonging. This event equips participants with the tools and confidence to build schools that are joyful, purposeful, and truly unmissable for every child.

For more details click the link below:

Making School Unmissable 26-27 | Schools Alliance for Excellence

School leaders are invited to a practical, insight‑rich session exploring what high‑quality parental engagement really looks like in light of the White Paper’s raised expectations. With a focus on developing a coherent whole‑school strategy, the session will unpack clear communication standards, meaningful opportunities for parents to participate in school life, and effective support for home learning. Facilitated by Rachel Macfarlane, this event blends evidence, real‑world examples, and contributions from Surrey leaders who are modelling exceptional practice.

For more details click the link below:

Effective Parental Engagement 26-27 | Schools Alliance for Excellence

A practical and evidence informed course designed to help school leaders use Pupil Premium funding strategically and effectively to improve outcomes for disadvantaged pupils in line with national guidance.

For more details click the link below:

Closing the Gap: Strategic Planningand Monitoring Impact 26-27 | Schools Alliance for Excellence

Whole school SEND reviews can take place over 1-2 days focusing on policies,
practices and putting systems in place to support SEND and Inclusion. Joint
learning walks are undertaken to help share views and support leadership
development. Reviews are tailored to the needs of each setting but can
include the following:
Review of the school website along with key SEND documents
Analysis of SEND data and tracking to understand the impact of additional
provision
Focus on SEND paperwork to understand how all staff use it and how
learners use it to develop self-advocacy and ongoing independence
Staff, student, governor and parental voice to provide a holistic insight
into practices in each setting
Working with key staff to identify key areas for development
For more information contact us at
admin@schoolsallexcel.com

*SEND/Inclusion Review one-day £925 +VAT
**SEND/Inclusion Review two-day £1635 +VAT

The Rethinking Inclusion Framework

The Rethinking Inclusion Framework has been developed as a tool for supporting accurate and robust self-evaluation around inclusion. This helps lead to schools identifying focused areas for development reflecting a holistic understanding of just how well the needs of learners and the wider school community are being supported and met.  We know that inclusion is not a destination but an ongoing process which presents schools with different challenges every year. We see the Rethinking Inclusion Framework as a great tool for supporting discussions and planning around meeting the needs of your school communities now and for years to come.

Rethinking Inclusion Framework

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The Rethinking Inclusion Framework focuses on the following 8 dimensions:

  • Leadership including Governance

  • Culture & Belonging

  • Pedagogy including TAs

  • Curriculum
  • Assessment & Tracking
  • Professional Development

  • Engaging External Agencies

  • Families & Learners

Free access for all – Evaluate My School

Every school is able to have free access to the Rethinking Inclusion Framework. We see this as a fantastic opportunity for leaders to engage in discussions with a range of stakeholders, using evidence and facts which gives an accurate reflection of school performance and practices around inclusion. We firmly believe that effective self-evaluation ensures that the right areas of inclusion receive focus and attention, so they further develop and improve.

Get your login and free access to the Rethinking Inclusion Framework by e-mailing admin@schoolsallexcel.com