Supporting inclusive practice and SEND

Why SEND matters at Charter

Every child and young person deserves access to the support they require to learn, thrive and belong and that commitment underpins our collaborative work across the Trust.

A female teacher smiling and holding papers and a marker while engaging with a student who raises their hand in a classroom.

A teacher sits in front of four small blue chairs and explains something with her hands to three young children sitting and facing her in a classroom decorated with children's drawings and crafts on the wall.

Smiling young girl with curly hair playing with colorful wooden animal toys on a white table in a bright room.

Top view of a diverse group of children sitting in a circle on green grass, each showing a peace sign with their hands towards the center.

Collaboration that strengthens practice

How we work together on SEND

We support school leaders and SEND practitioners through a Trust-wide SEND network led by our Trust SEND lead. This network brings colleagues together to share knowledge, reflect on practice and build capacity across schools.

Our centrally developed SEND policies and systems help schools focus their capacity on what matters most: the needs of individual pupils. Each school benefits from a biennial review carried out in partnership with our SEND team and external specialists.

This is not about uniform solutions, but about building confident, responsive practice that works in each context.

Building confidence and expertise

What this means for schools

We know that strong, evidence-informed practice grows from professional learning and shared understanding.

Understanding individual needs

Ensuring pupils’ needs are clearly understood and supported, so they can access learning, feel included and thrive in their school community.

Building confident practice

Helping schools deploy time and expertise where it has most impact, supporting leaders and practitioners to reflect, learn together and strengthen practice.

Sustaining inclusive approaches

Supporting SEND practice that is consistent, shared and sustainable across the Trust, while remaining responsive to each school’s context.

Schools that excel

Inclusion as a foundation

Close-up of a hand placing the last white puzzle piece into a partially completed four-piece white puzzle on a red background.

SEND is part of wider inclusive practice across the Trust.

We align SEND with areas such as behaviour, wellbeing and curriculum design to ensure that all pupils can access learning and participation. This holistic approach supports schools to meet diverse needs without separating SEND from the core work of teaching and learning.

Gathered Provisions

We work closely with our schools to develop inclusive practice that reflects our trust vision. This includes supporting the implementation of Inclusion Support Bases, currently running at Loughborough, Charles Dickens and The Belham Primary Schools, and The Charter School Bermondsey. Our approach is evidence-informed and draws on Department for Education (DfE) guidance.

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SEN Special Provision at Charter East Dulwich

We are proud to host an Autism Resource Base at Charter East Dulwich - known in DfE terms as a "specialist base.", providing specialist support for autistic pupils within a mainstream setting.

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SEN Support, Including SENCo Networks

We hold half-termly SENCo network meetings across the trust, bringing together SENCos to share information and expertise, and to collaboratively plan projects. These meetings form a key part of our CPD offer and are central to collaboration between schools.

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Inclusive Practice CPD

This year we have launched a trust-wide, year-long CPD programme open to all staff, based on the EEF guide to inclusive teaching. The programme equips staff with evidence-based strategies to support the full range of learners in their classrooms.

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Central Team Capacity

Our Trust SEND Lead works closely with SENCos and school leaders across the trust to support the development of inclusive practice and SEND best practice, and to connect schools working on similar projects.

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TA Professional Development

We have developed an accredited CPD programme for Teaching Assistants, delivered through our Teaching School, and open to TAs across the trust and beyond.

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NPQ SEND

In partnership with the London South Teaching School Hub, we run NPQ SEND (National Professional Qualification for Leading Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) courses, led by our Trust SEND Lead.

A female teacher in a yellow sleeveless top is helping a smiling young boy with glasses, seated at a desk with his writing materials in a classroom.

Want to talk to us about

SEND and inclusion

Talk to our team