The role of the SEND trustee

Mastering your purpose, powers and responsibilities

The SEND trustee role has become steadily more important and is a requirement within the Academy trust governance guide. With year-on-year increases in the number of children with SEND and financial and resourcing pressures on trusts, retaining strategic oversight of SEND practice across a trust is vital. Trusts will also need to be working towards increasing inclusivity in their mainstream provision, as well as considering how to develop resources bases and in-school units.

This seminar draws upon CST’s thought leadership publications A good life and Five principles for inclusion to support SEND lead trustees to develop inclusive culture, receive robust assurance of the trust’s SEND provision, and to champion the needs of pupils with SEND. Together we’ll look at compliance as a starting point and explore how trustees can make sure there is an equitable quality of education for all children within their trust.

Who is it for?

This course is for people in the following roles in trusts of all sizes:

Trustees who have taken on the SEND lead role
Governance professionals
SENDCos, to enable effective partnership working with the trust board
Trustees who wish to increase their understanding of all aspects of governance

What you will gain

We'll learn about the legal and statutory guidance, including the latest developments in SEND, from an expert guest speaker. Seminar leader Jackie Eason MBE will provide guidance and advice on how to deliver the role of being the SEND lead trustee.

The role of SEND lead trustee can be overwhelming and should never be overlooked; this seminar provides the essential support to make the role achievable and rewarding.

This course will give you:

Insight on the relationship you need to build with the trust SENDCo
Guidance on the information you need that will provide assurance of standards
Ideas for the communication pathways that will allow you to hear the voice of your families and communities
An understanding of the risks and opportunities you’ll need to tackle to deliver your vision and values

Meet your seminar leader

Jackie Eason MBE, Governance Consultant