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Mainstream inclusion

In the Mainstream inclusion team, we have an experienced inclusion adviser working with both primary and secondary schools across Kent and beyond.

Working in conjunction with the KCC SEND Strategy Team, we are committed to supporting teams in developing their knowledge and understanding of whole school inclusive practice; whilst embedding the principles of the SEND mainstream core standards across the county.

We are extremely passionate about supporting schools to create robust inclusive offers for all children and young people, quickly responding to the needs of staff and leaders as they arise.

Our support is bespoke to the needs identified by schools, comprising of individualised advice, guidance and training delivered to a very high standard.

Who do we support?

The mainstream inclusion team are available to work with all mainstream primary and secondary schools across Kent.

All the work we do with our schools is based upon supporting children and young people to access the right support, at the right time, in their own community. We do this by:

  • being readily available to offer expertise and guidance with regards to inclusion and SEND
  • planning and coordinating in school reviews and providing key recommendations & resources for future development
  • providing bespoke face to face training sessions created for individual schools
  • offering SENCO support, staff mentoring and whole school strategic SEND development
  • coordinating and leading the county wide SENCO forum for all Primary and Secondary provisions
  • Delivering key messages to all stakeholders: SENCOS, teachers, governors and school leaders
  • working closely with KCC to ensure that schools are receiving the most up to date local information and in turn supporting schools to adapt their approaches and embed the key principles for SEND improvement.
  • providing core standard face to face, E-learning modules and virtual training opportunities for teachers, SENCOS, teaching assistants and governors
  • keeping up to date with all national SEND developments so that the support we provide is current, relevant and specific to those we collaborate with.

We want all staff in mainstream schools to feel confident, knowledgeable and fully experienced in supporting all needs within their classroom and school environment.

We can work with you to enhance and improve your inclusion offer and work collaboratively to engage all staff in becoming teachers of SEND and leaders of SEND

We provide statutory guidance, tools, ideas and strategies to engage schools in securing the inclusive offer with confidence.

Some examples of the services we offer:

  • full SEND reviews

  • learning walks with immediate feedback

  • SEND development plan support

  • information, advice and guidance

  • bespoke in-school training

  • virtual training for SENCOs, governors and school leaders.

Contact us for more information

Meet the team

as a subject lead, pastoral lead, school leader, SENDCO and more recently as the senior leader for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Specialist Resource Provision (SRP).

Ruth has led the development of a high-quality inclusive model in a school with a large SRP that enables all pupils supported by the SRP and SEND to access their education. She has been responsible for leading strategic school improvement, training and developing inclusive practice.

Alongside her senior leadership role, she has supported the Kent Inclusion Leadership Programme as an Inclusion Leader of Education which has provided her the opportunity to work with a number of primary and secondary schools across Kent.

Over recent years, Ruth has delivered training sessions to trainee teachers on the Culture of an Inclusive Classroom and Practical toolkits to support pupils with SEND.

Ruth has a Master of Art specialising in SEND. Her research focussed on inclusion ensuring that pupils with SEND supported by a SRP are afforded an environment and education that they can successfully access and make progress academically, socially and emotionally.

Ruth believes that every school can provide high-quality inclusive education for all pupils irrespective of whether they have SEND or not enabling every pupil to thrive socially, emotionally, and academically.

Her main role within The Education People is SEND specialism providing support and advice for school leaders, SENDCOs, teachers and stakeholders to review and develop their SEND policy, provision and inclusive practice.