The role of an educational consultant is crucial in the progressing field of education, advancing effective teaching methodologies and fostering environments conducive to student success. These experts bring extensive knowledge and experience to schools, offering invaluable insights and guidance on improvement initiatives.
By meticulously analyzing current practices, identifying areas for enhancement and crafting targeted action plans, teaching and learning consultants drive meaningful change. Through tailored training sessions and workshops, they empower educators with modern techniques and strategies, equipping them to deliver impactful learning experiences.
Educational consultants facilitate measurable improvements through strategic reviews, coaching and mentoring providing effective support for schools as well as organizations across diverse educational sectors.
Led by CEO/Director Kate Whittlesey—an education professional with over two decades of experience across education, leadership and Inclusion, The SEND Advisory Team is dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations in the field of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Kate is renowned for her commitment to excellence and consistency and collaboration.
Collaborative Success with Customized Solutions
The organization offers comprehensive services, including acclaimed external SEND reviews and personalized coaching and mentoring for leaders, providing empathetic support to navigate complexities and achieve lasting positive outcomes. Upholding rigorous standards of professionalism, confidentiality and ethical practice is paramount at the SEND Advisory Team.
Kate promotes a supportive and collaborative approach in every engagement, ensuring bespoke services are tailored to meet each client’s unique requirements. Whether partnering with large Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs), local authority schools, or independent providers, her team delivers professional, high-quality support designed to foster positive, sustainable changes across all facets of SEND provision.
Overcoming Adversity and Embracing a Calling
Long before Kate’s career in education began, it was apparent to those around her that teaching would be her destined path. Throughout her schooling, teachers often remarked that she was a ‘teacher in the making,’ a sentiment that became a familiar joke within her family.
Defeating Early Challenges
Despite this early indication of her future path, Kate initially pursued a degree in Geography, dreaming of a career in the great outdoors. Yet, the pull towards teaching was undeniable and persistent. Eventually, Kate recognized that teaching was the career she was passionate about and committed to with all her heart.
However, a significant challenge stood in her way – dyslexia – one that some professionals at that period in time deemed a ‘problem.’ Although Kate was outgoing, enthusiastic and skilled at sharing her knowledge verbally, she could not articulate this through written work. As Richard Branson and his Charity, The Big Change put it recently Kate was successful but “….a square peg” when “the education system is full of round holes.” (https://www.virgin.com/branson-family/richard-branson-blog/square-pegs-in-round-holes-why-the-education-system-needs-a-shake-up)
This difficulty, linked to her dyslexia, was not widely understood by many teachers at the time. When Kate shared her aspiration to become a teacher, she faced discouraging remarks from colleagues: “You shouldn’t continue training—you can’t be a teacher if you’re dyslexic.” These words only strengthened Kate’s resolve to prove them wrong.
On successfully becoming a teacher, Kate was determined to support students facing similar challenges, with Kate eventually delving into Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND), marking a pivotal shift in her career towards making a meaningful impact on the lives of those often told they couldn’t succeed.
Cultivating Leadership and Inclusion
Kate’s journey into a SEND career pathway wasn’t solely influenced by her personal learning experiences. Instead, it was shaped by a transformative experience at an inner-city school where she began her teaching career. Despite facing significant challenges and a demanding environment, the school stood out for its exceptional culture of leadership and inclusion.
With a growing interest in SEND and subsequent specialized training, Kate quickly became known for working closely with students who had the most complex needs. These included students who struggled with basic literacy and a student with intricate behavioral challenges freshly released from police custody shortly before Kate’s lesson.
Others faced daunting circumstances, such as one student who habitually carried a knife due to their surroundings. Amidst these difficulties, Kate encountered a remarkable student who, despite significant challenges, expressed a profound outlook on life: “I can’t control the set of cards I have been dealt in life, but I sure can change the order and outcome.” This student eventually progressed to university, reflecting a triumph of resilience and a testament to Kate’s impactful guidance.
These experiences deeply resonated with Kate, reinforcing her conviction about the need for systemic change within educational environments. She became determined to foster a culture where every student could thrive and where their individual needs or barriers did not define their potential for success.
Enhancing SEND Practices Nationwide
Kate’s career path has never been defined by conventional 9-5 hours but rather by a commitment to driving meaningful change. Balancing her role as Director at The SEND Advisory Team, where she leads a dedicated team enhancing SEND practices nationwide, as well as a trustee for a multi academy trust and a governor for a local secondary, Kate finds fulfillment in strategic leadership.
Her work is marked by engaging tasks such as speaking at national conferences, advising on innovative projects and working with SENCo’s, Headteacher/ principals, SEND trust leads, Directors, and CEOs to elevate educational standards and ensure inclusive, sustainable practice. Celebratory moments, like schools achieving ‘outstanding’ inspections with exceptional SEND outcomes, underscore Kate’s dedication to fostering impactful educational environments.
Leveraging Professional Networks
Kate emphasizes that collaboration is indispensable for achieving optimal outcomes for young people. She advocates for an open-door approach to enhancing educational offerings and sharing effective practices, prioritizing the student’s well-being above concerns of idea appropriation. In her role, Kate leverages her extensive professional network to cultivate relationships between local authorities and schools.
She facilitates visits among schools to various provisions nationwide, provides advisory services to multi academy trusts and local authorities on effective practices and connects stakeholders to foster cohesive partnerships. She recognizes the growing number of organizations in the UK promoting collaboration among multi-academy trusts and hopes that this trend will continue so that pupils can be supported in the best possible manner.
Engaging Stakeholders in the Improvement Process
Kate emphasizes the transformative impact of the SEND review process on school improvement. She notes that while various models, such as peer reviews and local authority-led assessments, exist, an external consultant-led SEND review has proven particularly effective.
Consultants—with their extensive experience in diverse school environments—offer detailed assessments and customized recommendations, recognizing that each school has unique needs. Kate highlights how these reviews foster open dialogue and build trust among stakeholders, often leading to lasting professional relationships.
She underscores the value of a well-executed SEND review in creating a comprehensive action plan that engages all stakeholders throughout the academic year to drive improvements. This strategic approach enables schools to refine their practices quickly, implement robust quality assurance processes as well as reinforce the assessment, plan, do, and review cycle, ultimately enhancing student support and outcomes.
Amplifying Stakeholder Voices in Education
Kate accentuates the importance of incorporating stakeholder voices into educational practices to ensure effective support for students. She advocates for providing pupils with platforms to express their wants, needs and preferences, underscoring the critical role parents play in this process.
She encourages educational providers to actively seek feedback through various channels such as parent advice sessions, informal meetings and transition events. She focuses on the necessity of overcoming reluctance to solicit feedback, emphasizing the collaborative effort required to address concerns early and in the best interest of the child or young person.
She also stresses the importance of promoting a holistic approach to student support and educational enhancement and the importance of developing constructive, open working relationships with local authorities to ensure that pupils sit at the heart of practice.
Overcoming Educational Barriers with Technology
Kate recognizes the transformative power of technology in supporting young people, especially those facing barriers in traditional school environments. While she acknowledges the mix of excitement and apprehension surrounding technological advancements, she emphasizes their critical role in preparing students for a successful adult life.
She points out the challenges that have been magnified by the pandemic, particularly for students with social, emotional and mental health needs. She expresses enthusiasm for innovations like the AV1 Robot by No Isolation, which facilitates remote interaction within classroom settings and is a massive advocate for new technology across education.
According to Kate, technologies such as AV1 enable students to engage actively in educational activities from alternative locations and supports inclusive practice. This technology fosters peer connections, maintains relationships and promotes a sense of belonging, helping students overcome barriers to participation and integration.
Creating a Personalized Approach
Kate advocates for a personalized approach to understanding and addressing students’ needs, stressing the importance of actively listening to pupils and parents to cultivate a sense of value and belonging within the school community.
She believes that genuine inclusion requires a nuanced understanding from all stakeholders, including CEO, Principals and SENCOs. These individuals often receive reports on student needs but may struggle to translate these into effective, inclusive practices. Kate notes that while inclusion is widely promoted as a core value, its implementation can vary significantly and may not always align with students’ diverse needs.
In Kate’s view, true inclusivity is about understanding the pupils needs and ensuring that the pupil has access to provision that can meet pupils needs effectively, allowing the pupil regardless of difficulties to excel in education and leave with skills required for their next phase of life. We need a culture of high aspirations but remembering that achievement should not solely be placed on achieving ‘top grades.’ We need to ensure that our education system is not a ‘one fit model’ and instead supports all pupils develop their strengths, taking into account special educational needs/ disabilities with Inclusion sitting at the heart of our education practice.
The Art of Proactive Knowledge Seeking
Kate maintains a continuous engagement with various sources of information, including articles, news, government research, social media platforms and collaboration across her network. With a robust professional network, she stays well-informed about upcoming changes, challenges and developments within her field.
She trusts that the best practices emerge from firsthand experiences, where she visits a diverse range of educational provisions. Through these visits, she listens attentively to understand both effective strategies and areas needing improvement, including evolving needs, financial constraints and systemic challenges.
Acknowledging her reputation as an expert in her field, Kate remains committed to ongoing learning and seeks knowledge proactively, even when confronted with unfamiliar topics. She values the insights gained from her professional interactions and remains open to asking questions to deepen her understanding further as an ‘expert’ never stops learning.
Understanding the Vulnerability of Educators
Kate emphasizes the importance of listening, patience and empathy in her role, essential for establishing trust, nurturing professional relationships and facilitating challenging conversations. She understands firsthand the vulnerability educators may feel when consultants arrive during overwhelming times, burdened by heavy workloads and apprehensive about feedback.
Reflecting on her own experience with improvement consultants, Kate recalls initial anxieties that proved unfounded. She believes that demonstrating empathy and understanding through active listening is crucial to showing her human approach and commitment to supporting rapid improvement. Kate values the opportunity consultants bring to enhance educational practices while ensuring educators feel supported throughout the process.
Aspiring SEND Consultants to Gain Reassurance
If you are passionate about making a difference in the lives of young people and their families, Kate advises putting yourself out there by sharing good practices, advice and support. She underlines the importance of seeking feedback from your professional network.
For those looking to start as SEND consultants, Kate recommends reaching out to others in the field. This can help reassure you that you have the experience to make a difference or guide you in building up experience across a range of provisions and organizational levels.
According to Kate, the more experience you have, the better equipped you will be to support diverse educational needs effectively. She believes in the power of collaboration and continuous learning, encouraging aspiring consultants to immerse themselves in the field and leverage their network for growth and development. By doing so, they can significantly impact the educational landscape and improve outcomes for students and their families.
