SEND
“You can’t change the direction of the wind, but you can adjust the sails to always reach your destination”
Every child has the right to a first-rate education and we cater for each individual through our SEND provision. The team of SENCOs at Tudor Grange Academies Trust is passionate about supporting the children and young people in our care; to make the best possible progress; and make sure they leave our schools with pride. This includes academic outcomes and personal outcomes, for confident, mature, rounded individuals with a strong sense of self-worth.
We are continually developing a central team of expertise that offers support, advice and assessment to schools within the Trust. Support and advice is also available from the Executive Trust Lead SENCO regarding anything – from quality first teaching and interventions to implementation of staff and requests for statutory assessment.
A robust quality assurance process is in place to support schools in evaluating the effectiveness of their SEND provision. This may include raising attainment, improving progress, ensuring inclusive practices are in place, increasing attendance, reducing exclusions and understanding the wellbeing of children with SEND. The cycle of quality assurance activities and audits assists the SENCO at each academy in implementing effective SEND practices by evaluating measures currently in place and identifying any potential for improvements.
With a number of primary and secondary schools within the Trust, the sharing of good practice is facilitated through face-to-face Trust SENCO meetings, via an email group and on Transform, the Trust’s secure online platform. Training opportunities for staff are also offered through the Trust, including external agency training, SEND conferences, INSET training and sessions led by Educational Psychologists.
Clare Waterhouse
Director of Inclusion
As Director of Inclusion, Clare Waterhouse is responsible for ensuring that SEND, safeguarding, attendance and behaviour policies and practices across the Trust are inclusive, promote belonging and improve outcomes for all learners. She ensures the Trust’s monitoring, reporting and evaluation systems are focused on outcomes for disadvantaged and vulnerable learners, and that academy leaders receive information, guidance and training to improve these outcomes.
Clare provides clarity of Trust expectations for school leaders, staff, parents and external agencies to enable all stakeholders to work together to create a safe, supportive and nurturing environment for all pupils.
Clare started her teaching career as a teacher of modern foreign languages. She has been with Tudor Grange Academies Trust since its inception in 2009, where she led on the implementation of a foundation programme, determining curriculum and individual learning programmes designed to support the most vulnerable learners on transition to secondary school.
Following this, Clare was part of the senior leadership team at Tudor Grange Academy Worcester in a role that incorporated SENCO and DSL, before taking on a Trust Lead role in 2016. In addition to supporting schools with SEND and safeguarding matters, she has been involved in the development of several enhanced mainstream SEND bases for children with communication and interaction needs and social, emotional and mental health needs. Clare has a degree in French and German Studies, the National Award for SEN Co-ordination, is a trained Designated Safeguarding Lead, has previously supported other schools as a Specialist Leader of Education and has recently completed an NPQH.