Your role as a SEND trustee

What the lead trustee for SEND needs to know and do

The SEND trustee’s role is of vital importance. The Academy Trust Governance Guide makes clear that boards must retain responsibility for strategic oversight of SEND practice across their trusts. This oversight has become essential in the context of soaring numbers of SEND children, financial and resourcing pressures on trusts, changing policy requiring greater inclusivity in mainstream settings, and the potential development of resource 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.

Future course dates

If you can't make autumn's session, we're also running this course in the spring term and summer term.

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 or sit on committees with oversight
• 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

Course leader

Samira Sadeghi

Director of Trust Governance

Samira Sadeghi

Director of Trust Governance

Samira is Director of Trust Governance. She has been involved in school governance for over a decade. Prior to joining CST, she served as Head of Governance and Company Secretary at Academies Enterprise Trust, a trust with 57 schools. She started her career in governance with Ark Schools, as a regional governance officer.

Guest speakers

Amelie Thompson

Assistant Director of Education – SEND and Special Provision, Greenshaw Learning Trust

Amelie Thompson

Assistant Director of Education – SEND and Special Provision, Greenshaw Learning Trust

Amelie is Assistant Director of Education (SEND and Specialist Provision) at Greenshaw Learning Trust. She is also a trustee at Leo Academy Trust and is its safeguarding and SEND trustee. Amelie has extensive leadership experience and is passionate about strong system leadership, including governance, that challenges and enables all leaders to deliver on distributed leadership for SEND. Amelie has worked in several roles, including as SENCO, head of inclusion, and headteacher.

Richard Freeth

Partner, Stone King LLP

Richard Freeth

Partner, Stone King LLP

Richard has over 23 years’ experience in advising schools and local authorities on a wide range of education issues including admissions, exclusions, SEN, disability discrimination and other Equality Act issues. His advice has covered both state funded and independent schools. Richard also has significant experience in SEND law and other local authority education issues such as transport, school re-organisation, legal challenges and complaints.