WHAT WILL BE YOUR PRIORITIES AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF NASEN?
It is an exciting time to join the charity as it starts to mark its 30th year. We want to make it a standout year in our UK and international work.
It is a challenging time for the workforce as we tackle the long-term impacts of the pandemic on our children and young people, which continues to disproportionately impact those with SEND and learning differences.
Looking outwards, acknowledging and responding to the long-awaited outcome of the SEND review will be crucial.
I will be meeting nasen’s members and advisory groups, as well as working closely with our trustee board. Connecting with key partners in the sector will be a focus for me.
Expanding our work in the early years, including providers across all sectors, is a priority of mine. With the new statutory EYFS framework, those leading education in the early years will be looking for practical support and guidance.
The dedicated team at nasen will have my full support as they tackle a busy autumn calendar, including sharing the learnings from last month’s (September) flagship event nasen Live 2021. We will also be launching new resources, including Level 3 training for early years SENCOs working in PVI settings. This will be delivered as part of a Department for Education (DfE) funded project, in conjunction with School Improvement Liverpool.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACHIEVE?
I want nasen to continue to grow its reach so that we can connect and support more early years settings, schools and wider settings that will link practitioners and teachers together.
The ultimate goal is to influence how SEND is supported as everyone’s business. Whether you are a teacher in school, an early years practitioner or a commissioner of local services, early identification of needs is crucial along with mobilising the support needed.
Making real change happen for children and young people, that improves life chances and outcomes, is my vision and this is directly underpinned by having a good education. Making change happen for those with additional needs is top of the tree and if we get education right for those with SEND, we will ultimately get it right for all children.
THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER, WHAT HAVE BEEN THE STAND-OUT POINTS AND YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES?
What stands out for me is that children and young people have always been at the heart of what I do, particularly harnessing their voices. I see parents and carers as partners, particularly in education where the contribution of the home is too often underestimated.
At a time when the workforce is going to be feeling burnt out, organisations like nasen can play a key role in facilitating and fostering collaboration and identifying the opportunities and challenges the sector faces going forward.
I am particularly pleased that we will be taking forward the organisation’s milestone State of SEND campaign in 2022, that will embody the voice of the workforce and the children and young people we serve. I am passionate that this explores the practical solutions that are required in policy and practice so that we can champion our members nationally.
HOW WILL YOU UTILISE YOUR EXPERIENCE?
I have worked right across children’s services, in all sectors over four decades including having experience in children’s services and residential and social care. I worked as an early years specialist in local government and have had the opportunity to deliver national programmes that span the public and private sector. Often this has meant leading services that are more varied than my professional heritage and this inevitably comes with the territory of leading at a strategic level. I believe that learning is a lifelong journey and I know that nasen shares this ethos. I remain curious, open to fresh ideas and seek to listen and learn about what others are doing.
GOING FORWARD, WHAT DIFFICULTIES DO YOU ANTICIPATE IN YOUR NEW ROLE?
It’s been an unprecedented time for us all through the pandemic and even more so for children and young people.
Digital considerations have been firmly brought to the fore, which has been a different and challenging approach for some people that has resulted in numerous learnings, particularly for those with SEND and learning differences.
I feel it is vital to make sure our members, networks and stakeholders continue to feel closely connected. This is important as we find a ‘new’ normal for how we engage going forward, especially when collaboration is at the heart of nasen.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ONE WISH FOR THE EDUCATION SECTOR?
I would have to say the gift of time. I want teachers, practitioners and the wider workforce to have the opportunity to collaborate on the key features of inclusive practice and to share what is working well.
There is too often negative rhetoric and while we will always acknowledge the challenges being faced, we also need to raise awareness of what works in classrooms and staffrooms across the country. That’s why initiatives such as nasen’s awards are important to me as they are all about championing this best practice.
I would love to see an increase in action research that focuses on the can do and brings the perspectives of parents, carers, children, and professionals to the fore.
More investment for additional needs must also be a priority and we know that acting early to support children and young people makes economic sense in the long-term.
For further information, visit www.nasen.org.uk or follow @nasen_org on Twitter
