Elevare Civic Education Group welcomes today’s publication of the Schools White Paper - Every Child Achieving and Thriving. We know that families and schools have been waiting some time for this and we are encouraged by the clear ambition to strengthen outcomes for children and young people. Throughout this period of change, our focus remains on the wellbeing, development and success of our staff, learners, schools and communities.

As a civic education group, comprising a mixed Trust with mainstream, special and alternative provision schools and a further and higher education college, we know that education is not a one-size-fits-all model. Every day staff see the complexity of need across our communities. Our aim is to ensure that every learner is supported by skilled professionals who are themselves supported to deliver the highest standards of education and care.

Over the past decade we have seen a rising level of SEND across all our settings and see first-hand the reality of the challenges parents, their children and our staff face. Ensuring every child has access to the right setting at the right time is our priority, enabling them to engage with education and fulfil their potential. Supporting our workforce to meet our learners’ needs effectively is central to that mission.

No one school or Trust can do this alone. Therefore, the government’s aim for all schools to be part of a strong group is something we very much support, based on our own experience. This is not simply about growing the size of Trusts, but about educators working together.

As civic institutions rooted in our communities, we are committed to system leadership that prioritises partnership over competition through clear local partnership frameworks with other Trusts and schools, such as associate and affiliate pathways and reciprocal outreach arrangements.

Through these structured, locally-led approaches, we can share insight and best practice to support more seamless progression for young people at every stage of their education, regardless of need or background.

Wider collaboration is also needed with local authorities, parents, agencies and support services because schools alone can’t fix the system. This must be underpinned by shared accountability, a clear sense of purpose and a collective commitment to purposeful change and transforming lives.

The White Paper highlights these ambitions and rightly flags the importance of strengthening place-based partnerships, as well as those with parents and carers. We look forward to hearing more detail and will be responding to the consultation on the SEND proposals in the coming weeks.

We remain committed to continuing to work closely with our local partners to secure the very best outcomes for the children and young people – while ensuring that our staff are supported to deliver for them every day.

Read the full Schools White Paper here

Read the SEND reform proposals here