Are you a leader in a mainstream school wondering how to provide more support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)? Our Leading Enhanced Provision programme can help you provide the offer that is right for your pupils.
This article explains what the programme includes, why it’s important, what you’ll learn and how.
What is the Leading Enhanced Provision programme?
Leading Enhanced Provision is a professional development programme that helps you meet the complex needs of your pupils in a mainstream setting.
This unique programme builds on the knowledge and experience of schools who have created and led high-quality enhanced provision. They shared these insights through our Enhanced Provision Community of Practice. The community exists to explore and define the features of high-quality provision with those practising in this space.
As well as drawing on sector expertise, the programme brings together models of emerging practice and the latest available evidence, giving you a chance to learn at the cutting edge of research in this domain.
What is enhanced provision?
Mainstream schools use enhanced provision to provide an enhanced offer for pupils with SEND. This usually happens in a separate, dedicated space integrated within the school’s mainstream offer. Pupils receive support for a period of time and staff integrate them into the rest of the school when appropriate.
Enhanced provision looks different in each school. It may include smaller classes, teachers trained in meeting a range of needs, and classrooms that are better adapted to pupils’ needs. Other names for enhanced provision include resource provision, specialist resource provision, alternative resource provision, resource bases or SEN or SEND units.
What will you learn on Leading Enhanced Provision?
On this programme you’ll develop the skills to design, oversee and improve your enhanced provision. You’ll explore what it looks like, reflect on your aims and adapt what you learn to your setting and pupils’ needs.
The programme helps leaders think deeply about aspects such as:
- Modelling inclusive leadership and establishing a culture where enhanced provision may have a strong, positive impact.
- Designing intentional learning environments, both in dedicated spaces and across mainstream settings.
- Deploying qualified teachers and teaching assistants effectively, engaging your wider staff team, and providing targeted professional development.
How will you learn on Leading Enhanced Provision?
Whether you’re considering how best to set up an enhanced provision, or build on your existing practice, the programme can help. It’s structured to help you implement what you learn across the school year so you can build continuous improvement and long-term change.
Over 12 months you’ll learn through:
- One in-person conference day.
- Five one-hour online twilight sessions, facilitated by our experts to learn and discuss new approaches and ideas.
- Six one-hour online sense-making twilight sessions to discuss what you’ve learned and how to adapt it to your setting.
- Two one-to-one calls with a peer to help you solve a challenge in your setting.
- Engaging with research, current models of practice and case studies – and adapting them for your setting to help you avoid common pitfalls and maximise impact.
How can Leading Enhanced Provision benefit pupils and schools?
- It increases your understanding of whole-school inclusive educational practices and what enhanced provision can look like.
- It supports you to think deeply about how you can drive change and improvement so that every pupil gets access to high-quality support.
- It strengthens your school’s capacity to design, implement and monitor an enhanced provision.
- It provides models of how different schools offer effective, targeted and timely support with a view to improving wellbeing, attainment, mental health and emotional regulation.
Why is effective resource provision needed?
Supporting the needs of all pupils means every child can have the best start in life. Enhanced provisions have the potential for positive impact. When schools design and implement enhanced provision well, it can be one way to overcome barriers to learning and support meaningful inclusion in schools. This can help staff feel more equipped to address these challenges.
Setting up an effective enhanced provision is complex, so it’s important to have a space to reflect on your approach with others.
The number of schools with SEN units and resourced provision on the rise. Many mainstream schools are trying to support pupils with complex needs by implementing forms of specialist interventions or provision arranged intentionally. However, teachers and school leaders tell us that they are looking for support in how to meet these needs.
Is Leading Enhanced Provision right for you?
If you’re a leader in a mainstream school who has already set up, are piloting or plan to set up an enhanced provision, Leading Enhanced Provision is for you.
Suitable roles include:
- Executive headteacher
- Headteacher
- Deputy headteacher
- Vice principal
- Assistant vice principal
- SENCO
If you’d like to discuss whether your school’s provision makes you a good fit, call 020 3846 5828 or email [email protected] for advice.
What does Leading Enhanced Provision cost?
The programme costs £1,200 plus VAT per participant.
Learn at the cutting edge
If you’re ready to strengthen your school’s approach to enhanced provision and inclusive education, or you want to find out more, visit our Leading Enhanced Provision programme page.
