A culture of inclusion: Removing the stigma and mystery of SEND

Creating a culture where students with SEND feel truly included and their differences accepted and celebrated by all stakeholders in a school is every SENCO’s ambition. But what does this look like in reality?

At Henley Bank High School, I am fortunate to be in the position of not only having regular referrals from all staff and parents, but most importantly, from our students themselves. It keeps me and my team very busy but brings daily rewards as we know that what we are doing collectively is making a difference to the lives of our students.

Having worked in schools where students are often reluctant to be seen as needing additional support, I feel true joy when I am reminded by students that they need their coloured exercise books, asked why they did not receive their extra time in an assessment, or asked to check that their teachers are aware of the information on their student passport.