Group of professionals sat at a table having a discussion, there is water and note pads on the table with one person taking down notes.

Peer Mentoring for School Leaders

Sector News

Whole School SEND’s peer mentoring project offers support to leaders in schools that have received a judgment of Requires Improvement (RI) at their last Ofsted inspection and where SEND was identified as an area for improvement.

To date 16 schools have benefitted from the support on offer – expert mentoring delivered by National and Regional SEND Leader, which walks participating settings through a four-step process of information gathering, planning, implementation and evaluation.

Despite initial scepticism – due to the amount of ‘support that had been offered since becoming double RI – one participating primary school told us that the programme had been the most beneficial intervention they had received. For them, it led to noticeable changes in practice, increased confidence in the headteacher and SENCO, and a clear action plan which focusses on

A block colour of navy blue

“The process has, not only enabled us to tap into the expertise of WSS but has forced us to reflect and concentrate on what it is we need to improve and provided us with pathways to achieve this.  The support has enabled us to develop a clear plan.”

Headteacher​

“You don’t know what you don’t know.  And this has enabled us to improve things.  Following OFSTED inspection, I was destroyed.  Following this support from WSS RSL I am ready to go again.”​

SENCO

Find out more about the programme

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