Unlocking new approaches with ETF’s SEND Centre of Excellence to support teachers, boost parent and student participation, and build community connection
A college providing critical SEND services, committed to “not standing still”
The demand for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) services at Barnet & Southgate College was accelerating when Julie Murphy was appointed as director of specialist provision in 2022. The college was already serving 200 students with profound needs from 14 different local authorities. The diversity and complexity of learner needs created a high-pressure environment; teacher support and retention were a challenge, with 70 per cent of staff coming from an agency.
“As a college, we have an ethos of growth and never standing still,” Julie explains. “I wanted to ensure what we were providing fulfilled the needs of our community, our students and their families as effectively as possible. We needed to understand whether what we were delivering and the way we were doing it was what our young people needed to progress.”
Looking to a trusted source for perspective
Julie had worked with ETF before and reached out to see if ETF’s evaluation frameworks or community could help. ETF spotted an opportunity for peer connection and learning and introduced Julie to the team at City College Norwich, one of ETF's four Centres for Excellence in SEND.
The City College Norwich team then conducted a comprehensive peer review. They spent time in classes, spoke with teachers and examined the therapy provision. They also talked with students, including those who are non-verbal or use eye gaze assisted technology to communicate.
"We started with the peer review because we wanted to have some ‘critical friends,’ Julie reflects. “One of the strengths of the Centre for Excellence team is their understanding of SEND and the needs of SEND students. They were able to engage with the full range of our students in ways that didn’t make them feel uncomfortable or overlooked.”
Transforming SEND provision from the bottom up
Following the peer review, Julie and her team implemented several significant changes to enhance the college's SEND offering – starting with changing the name from the “Learners with Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities” Centre. They rebranded to the Supported Studies Pathway Centre, a name that stemmed from active involvement from the students who relished the chance to take more ownership of their educational environment.
Next, the team expanded qualification pathways, creating more diverse opportunities aligned with students' unique skills and aspirations. Rather than removing students from the classroom for therapy, they also pioneered an integrated approach that brought therapeutic support directly into learning spaces.
Parent involvement became a cornerstone of this new approach through comprehensive training programmes, workshops and an induction process that welcomed families as valued partners. At the same time, students were given a greater voice in curriculum design and planning, ensuring learning experiences truly reflected their needs and interests.
Conscious of the ongoing challenge of staff retention, the team developed a 'grow your own' teacher training programme for Study Support Assistants (SSAs). They also established clear career progression structures for support staff, including high-level teaching assistant positions and study support leadership roles.
A happy place for teachers and learners
The transformation has yielded impressive results – including high praise from Ofsted. In fact, other colleges now visit to learn from Barnet & Southgate’s approach to complex needs provision.
Teaching staff refer to the centre as a “happy place” – a reflection of the positive atmosphere that supports teachers and students. Staff proactively suggest and contribute to improvements and innovations, creating a dynamic learning environment where they feel valued and heard. Impressively, staff retention has significantly improved, with the ratio of permanent to agency support staff shifting from 30:70 to 70:30.
Connecting for continuous learning
True to its ethos of “never standing still”, Barnet & Southgate College has become an active participant in ETF’s SEND 'Communities of Practice'. These collaborative peer networks provide opportunities for knowledge sharing, professional development and meaningful connections with other institutions, creating a strong base for continual improvement and innovation.
"The Communities of Practice have become a core part of our day-to-day approach. says Julie. "Working in this sector can sometimes be isolating. The Community of Practice brings you together with people in similar situations. We've changed so many things just by talking to others, which has saved hours of time and effort.”
Sharing success across the college and wider sector
The success of the Supported Studies Pathway Centre has boosted staff confidence and prompted them to take an active role in influencing practice beyond their centre. For example, the college is now implementing peer groups where SEND specialists share adaptive teaching strategies with non-SEND colleagues.
"The programme has given us the confidence to take it further," Julie says. "We feel ready to say we're doing a good job, and here’s how you can work with us to make it even better."
Enduring relationships benefit students, staff and the community
Julie’s experience has prompted her to confidently recommend ETF’s SEND offer to other providers.
"I would definitely recommend the ETF SEND offering. The enduring relationships we've created through the programme have been a huge help in strengthening our SEND provision and delivering tangible benefits to our students, our staff and to the wider college community,” says Julie.
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