East Kent College Group expands quality SEND programs as a critical component of its four-year inclusion strategy

Tapping into ETF’s SEND support and resources generated fresh thinking and built skills across a diverse workforce spanning six colleges and nine training centres

Taking a strategic approach to inclusion for education in East Kent 

For the East Kent Colleges Group (EKC Group ), it was essential the entire senior leadership team was engaged and empowered to deliver its four-year inclusion strategy. Starting in July 2024, EKC Group’s four-year action plan is rooted in its mission to support the economic and social prosperity of its community. The Group delivers a wide range of academic and vocational education programs – spanning all the way from nursery age all to higher education, serving more than 12,000 learners.

For Jo Campbell, Director of SEND, this moment presented both a challenge and an opportunity: how could they deliver a cohesive inclusion strategy that met the evolving needs of learners with SEND, while ensuring consistent practice across all sites?

Turning to a trusted community of SEND expertise

Jo had a long-standing relationship with the Education Training Foundation (ETF) and its Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) support. She saw an opportunity to deepen EKC Group’s work with ETF to generate fresh thinking and deliver organisation-wide training.

"My involvement with ETF and its SEND offering goes back a long time," explains Jo. "We were keen to develop our own knowledge, learn from the experiences and ideas of other SEND specialists and be more informed about what's happening in similar centres."

The collaboration started with City College Norwich (CCN) – an ETF Centre for Excellence in SEND. CCN colleagues delivered in-person workshops with the EKC Group leaders and educators , to share best practice and spark ideas for innovative approaches. For example, CCN’s approach to Recognising and Recording Progress and Achievement (RARPA) structured programmes was particularly enlightening.

"Two EKC Group staff visited CCN to focus on their approach to RARPA structured programmes," says Jo. "They came back full of exciting ideas that informed change within our own provision."

Derby College, a previous ETF SEND Centre for Excellence, also provided training for over 150 EKCG colleagues on inclusive methods of support for all students within the classroom.

"The information sharing and good practice from the Centres for Excellence has fed into our existing culture of continual development and learning, which in turn helps to instil a mindset of continual review and reflection," says Jo.

From the classroom to local industry 

Another piece of inspiration came from learning more about CCN’s approach to employer engagement. This led EKC Group to develop a training package for its Industry Liaison officers – focusing on meaningful engagement and supported internships. 

Jo explains, "CCN inspired us to look at our Industry Liaison Officers approach when initiating discussions with employers to establish placements for learners with needs. We delivered training for staff using and adapting the ideas that had been shared from Norwich."

A culture that never stops learning 

For Jo, the value of ETF’s SEND offer goes beyond specific techniques – it is about influencing a culture that constantly questions and improves its practices to be inclusive and mindful of SEND.

"Education is continually moving," she says. "We need to look at how we do things – are we offering the best practice? Are our systems working in the most effective way?"

This reflective approach particularly benefits SEND students, who often need tailored support that evolves with changing circumstances. By connecting with other colleges through ETF-led Communities of Practice, EKC Group has ensured that it is taking a truly inclusive approach to SEND education.