Commissioning a Special Educational Needs (SEND) review can provide numerous benefits for a school.
Firstly, it can (and generally does) challenge the school’s SEND ‘accepted norms or practice’. These are generally accepted ‘truths’, assumptions, practices, and other things that have become ‘that’s just how we do it.’ Which can often be holding back the practice in the school.
A comprehensive SEND review should obviously help the school to identify its strengths and areas where improvement is needed, and the guidance given should be based on both compliance. But equally it should be based on what is best practice. Why? Because commissioning a SEND review should not be a ‘race to the bottom’ but support schools to raise the ambitions of all professionals; to ensure that that it is always about providing an exceptional (not just compliant) SEND provision.
The review Backdrop Leadership Group starts with you and listens to your needs. We know that often you know your school better than anyone else and that you will already have a good idea of where the strengths and weaknesses you have.
So why commission an external review in this case? Because by being listening to staff, it includes and reassures, increases their confidence and can help springboard the required action that the students with SEND need but are often finding it difficult to achieve. Not forgetting, it often helps get to the nub of the issue quicker.
The external review also brings capacity, objectivity, and challenge. In every setting there is a hierarchy, which is required, but the reviewer can fearlessly give suggestions because they have the benefit of expertise, guidance, and examples of best practice to support their opinions.
‘Backdrop has helped us to develop our content to support raising standards for our education … As well as providing value for money they are extremely knowledgeable and professional. CEO of a Multi Academy Trust
A good review not only looks at the OfSTED reports, school data, and the key policies and documents that relate to SEND. It also checks how the culture of SEND across the school. Checking to see how the website promotes inclusivity and if the SEND practice has permeated into other policies like the ‘Behaviour Policy’. This is because a SEND review should champion an inclusive environment across the school community and schools should and can work towards creating a more welcoming and inclusive learning environment where all students feel valued and supported.
‘The day included productive discussions around SEN provision that was developmental and professional. Solutions were suggested based around lines of enquiry that were revisited throughout the day, including the debrief. This focus ensured clear and realistic targets could be set.’ Headteacher, Middle School.
I would recommend that, when commissioning a SEN review, all schools should think of it as being part of a strategically planned programme, which also includes regular reviews to monitor the progress, evaluate the impact of the review.
‘An excellent process. Challenging but very supportive…a good experience’ Executive Headteacher
This is why the Backdrop Leadership Group review document is designed to be referred back to at least three times and includes an easy-to-use system to demonstrate progress since the last visit. The review is also now generally commissioned to include a series of ‘support and challenge days.’ These days do as ‘it says on the tin’ but also provide stepped feedback on how the school is progressing.
Overall, commissioning a SEN review demonstrates a commitment to providing high-quality education for all students, regardless of their individual needs, and can ultimately lead to better outcomes for students with special educational needs .