"I Want To Create Systemic Change in SEND." Interview With a SEND Consultant

In this blog, you will learn:

• How strong systems, clear processes and confident staff are essential to improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND.
• How meaningful change in SEND can start with supporting the adults around the child.
• Where the latest SEND jobs are and how to apply for them.

In this interview, we speak with an experienced SEND Consultant whose career spans nearly four decades across schools and local authorities. From classroom teaching to senior leadership, this SEND Consultant offers an insightful perspective on how SEND services function and how they can be improved.

Throughout her career, this SEND Consultant has focused on strengthening systems around children and young people with SEND. From improving statutory processes and workforce stability to designing clearer pathways, this SEND Consultant is passionate about providing genuine support for families and professionals.

In this interview, this SEND Consultant reflects on the moments that shaped her career, the challenges facing the SEND sector today and her vision for a future where support is proactive, stable and effective.

Can you start by telling us a bit about your career background and how you got into the SEND sector?

I’ve spent more than 38 years in education, but my work in SEND began when I realised how much difference the right support makes for children who often don’t have a strong voice in the system.

My early years as a Teacher and later as a SENCO showed me how pivotal good provision, clear systems and confident staff can be. That led to roles in special schools, then local authority work and later senior leadership across many local authorities.

Over time I moved into consultancy, taking on large-scale projects such as restructuring SEND services, improving statutory performance through transformation and designing more effective pathways for children and young people.

What’s kept me in the sector all these years is simple; I want to create systemic change in SEND. I want children with SEND to have every chance to thrive and I want the adults around them, families, schools and professionals, to feel supported and confident in their decisions.

What does a typical day look like for you as a SEND Consultant?

There’s no ‘typical’ day, but the common thread is problem-solving. One morning I might be reviewing the quality of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) ahead of an inspection, analysing data trends, or moderating cases with a local authority team.

Later that day I could be supporting managers with complex situations, leading training sessions, or working on wider strategic developments like banding models, Quality Assurance (QA) frameworks, or improvement plans.

In Derbyshire, for example, my days were spent balancing advisory work, workflow analysis, moderation, dashboard development, multi-agency engagement and operational coaching, often all in the same week.

At the centre of everything is making processes clearer, improving outcomes for young people and strengthening the systems that adults rely on to do their jobs well. 

Can you share a memorable moment in your career where you felt you made a real difference in a child's life?

One moment that has stayed with me came from my time in school leadership. A young Teacher I was coaching had been struggling and the children in her class and many with complex needs weren’t getting the consistency they needed.

Through careful coaching, modelling and steady reassurance, she transformed her practice. The shift in her confidence meant the class began to thrive and one child who had been on a reduced timetable was finally able to attend full-time and make real progress.

Seeing that child’s attitude to learning change made it clear how powerful it is when the adults are supported properly. That belief still shapes the way I lead and advise today.

Can you share an example of a challenging situation you’ve faced in your SEND career and how you resolved it?

A significant challenge came when I joined a local authority where only 25% of the SEND team were permanent staff. The instability affected statutory timelines, consistency and communication with families. 

I led a full review of the structure, workflows and statutory processes and then supported the authority through a staged recruitment and development plan. By focusing on clarity, coaching and succession planning, we increased the permanent staffing level to 80%, stabilised caseloads and strengthened the overall service. 

This experience taught me that SEND services improve fastest when the workforce is valued, well-supported and given the tools to do their job confidently.

What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned in your career?

I’ve learnt that clarity and relationships matter more than anything else. Whether I’m chairing a complex panel, preparing for an inspection, supporting a SENCO, or writing a strategic plan, progress only happens when people understand their roles and trust the process.

You can have the best system on paper, but if people aren’t working together, or don’t feel heard, it simply won’t land. Every project I take on starts with listening and building shared understanding.

How have things changed or progressed in the SEND sector since the start of your career?

The needs of children haven’t changed as much as the system around them. What has shifted is the level of complexity, the expectations on schools and local authorities and for better and worse, the pressures on the high needs system. Data, accountability and multi-agency working play a much bigger role now.

I’ve seen improvements in inclusion, transitions planning and the use of data to inform decision-making, especially through work such as EHC hubs, banding models and more structured QA frameworks. However, demands have grown and the system is still catching up.

Reform in the SEND sector continues to be a huge topic of discussion. What changes would you like to see happen in the SEND sector and why?

I would like to see reforms that focus on consistency and sustainability. That means national clarity around expectations, more investment in early identification and shared language around needs and funding.

I’d also like to see stronger alignment across education, health and social care so that EHCPs truly reflect joined-up practice rather than three separate systems trying to meet in the middle. 

Much of my recent work, such as developing local QA frameworks, creating all-through banding models and reshaping transition pathways, has been about building that alignment at a local level. Children and families deserve a system that doesn’t depend on where they live or who they speak to.

What’s your vision for the future of SEND services?

A system where support is proactive rather than reactive. Where schools feel confident and equipped, families feel listened to and local authorities have structures that are stable, transparent and financially sustainable.

I want SEND services to be rooted in clear processes, high-quality data, thoughtful planning and genuine collaboration. The more predictable and trusted the system becomes, the more energy we can redirect to what really matters; helping children learn, develop and feel proud of who they are.

How can someone preparing to enter the SEND field gain the right experience and understanding before stepping into a role?

Start by spending time with children and young people across a range of settings, including special schools, resource bases and mainstream classrooms. Shadow SENCOs, talk to families, read EHCPs and learn how statutory processes work in practice, not just on paper.

It also helps to understand the local authority perspective including panel processes, transitions, annual reviews and the wider pressures on the system. 

A lot of SEND work is about joining the dots, so the more of the system you’ve seen, the better prepared you’ll be.

What advice would you give to someone looking to become a SEND Consultant?

I would say build a strong grounding first. Work in schools and local authorities, lead change, handle complex cases and learn how to speak confidently with a wide range of professionals. Consultancy relies on credibility and credibility comes from experience.

When you do step into consultancy, stay flexible, stay curious and stay people-focused. Every authority, school or organisation you work with will have different strengths and pressures. 

Your job is to listen, analyse and help them find solutions that are realistic, sustainable and rooted in improving outcomes for children.

Spencer Clarke Group educational psychology report 2025

As specialists in local authority SEND recruitment, we work alongside hundreds of Educational Psychologists throughout the UK and are mindful of the challenges they encounter as the sector evolves.

In the SCG Educational Psychology Workforce Insights Report 2025, we explore funding challenges, industry trends, policies and legislation, and the future of educational psychology.

Read the SCG Educational Psychology Workforce Insights Report 2025 here. 

SEND jobs

If you’re searching for your next local authority SEND job, why not take a look at the latest vacancies, or simply upload your CV to be notified when a relevant position becomes available. 

Local authority recruitment services

As specialist local authority SEND recruiters, we support local authorities nationwide with their temporary, interim and permanent staffing needs. We can supply SEND staff for service redesign, tackling annual review backlogs and SEND/EHC Case workers to amend plans or hold annual review meetings. 

If you’re struggling to fill a vacancy, why not get in touch with one of our team on 01772 954200 to see how we can help?

Share your experience

Every individual brings a unique set of experiences, thoughts, and insights to the table. We believe in giving a voice to a community of professionals to inspire positive change and champion reform in the SEND sector.

If you work in the SEND sector and would like to share your own personal and professional experiences, we’d love to hear from you. Perhaps you have a different perspective, could offer a fresh angle, or want to challenge assumptions. 

Simply reach out to our Head of Content, Nicole Sherwood, to discuss a collaboration which makes your voice count.

Who is Spencer Clarke Group?

Established in 2017, we’re an award winning and progressive recruitment agency based in the heart of the North West. Our reputation is built on trust, expertise and an unwavering commitment to exceed expectations. 

In 2025, Spencer Clarke Group was awarded Best Public/Third Sector Recruitment Agency and Best Temporary Recruitment Agency at the Recruiter Awards. In 2024, Spencer Clarke Group was also named Recruitment Agency of the Year.