Specialist SENd & Student Support Consultancy for International Schools
Building, refining, and sustaining high-quality inclusive education requires both strategic vision and operational expertise.
Drawing on over 35 years of senior leadership experience, SENDCO and Head of Learning Support, I provide international and UK schools with expert consultancy, department development, and inspection preparation. Whether you are establishing a new provision from scratch, training your staff, or preparing for rigorous accreditation, I help schools build compliant, effective, and deeply supportive learning environments.
Strategic Consultancy Services
1. Turn-Key Department Development
From Initial Concept to Fully Operational Support
Establishing a dedicated Special Educational Needs (SEN) or Student Support Department requires robust systems, skilled staff, and clear policy.
Complete Department Builds: Designing and implementing Student Support Services from scratch into a fully functioning, turn-key provision.
Policy & Infrastructure: Drafting comprehensive SEN, Inclusion, and Safeguarding policies aligned with local regulations and international standards.
Operational Workflows: Designing screening, identification, baseline testing, and Individual Education Plan (IEP) frameworks.
Staffing & Provisioning: Structuring roles, defining responsibilities, and establishing referral pathways for teachers and specialists
2. Accreditation & Inspection Preparation
Ensuring Inclusion Meets International Standards
Navigating inspections demands clear evidence of progress, compliance, and inclusive practice. I work with school leadership teams to prepare student support provisions for major accreditation bodies:
British Schools Overseas (BSO)
Council of International Schools (CIS)
Middle States Association (MSA) & NEASC (American Curriculum Accreditation)
International Baccalaureate (IB) Evaluation
3. Comprehensive SEN & Inclusion Audits
Pre-Inspection Reviews & Strategic Action Plans
Before facing formal accreditation, an independent audit provides vital clarity on your school’s readiness.
Gap Analysis: Evaluating your current provisions against BSO, CIS, or accreditation benchmarks.
Documentation & Evidence Reviews: Ensuring IEPs, provision maps, and tracking data meet external inspectorate standards.
Classroom & Provision Observations: Reviewing differentiated instruction, learning support assistant (LSA) deployment, and accessibility across campus.
Actionable Reporting: Delivering clear, prioritised recommendations to guide leadership teams ahead of official visits.
4. Continuous Professional Development & INSET Training
Empowering Teaching Staff to Support Every Learner
Inclusion succeeds when classroom teachers feel confident and equipped. I design and deliver tailored CPD workshops and INSET sessions for international school faculties:
Practical Classroom Differentiation: Equipping subject teachers with high-impact, everyday strategies for neurodivergent learners.
Understanding ADHD & Executive Functioning: Moving beyond awareness to practical, classroom-based support.
Maximising the Impact of Teaching Assistants: Structuring TA deployment to foster student independence rather than dependency.
5. Examination Access Arrangements
Securing Fair Assessment Accommodations
Navigating access arrangements across international exam boards requires meticulous evidence gathering and compliance.
Assessment & Documentation: Coordinating screening and formal paperwork for extra time, readers, scribes, or technological accommodations.
Board Compliance: Ensuring applications align seamlessly with JCQ (UK), IB Assessment Centre, and College Board standards.
6. Interim Leadership & Strategic Advisory
Mentoring Teams & Guiding Governance
Senior leadership teams and boards often need targeted support during transitions or complex policy reviews.
Interim SENDCO & Department Leadership: Providing experienced coverage and stability during recruitment periods.
Mentoring & Supervision: Supporting newly appointed SENDCOs and Learning Support Coordinators to build confidence and effectiveness.
Governance Guidance: Advising School Boards and Governors on embedding inclusive policy into long-term strategic plans and budget allocations.
Curriculum Expertise
I provide seamlessly tailored guidance across major international educational frameworks:
UK National Curriculum: SEN Code of Practice integration, EHCP management, and access arrangements.
International Baccalaureate (IB): PYP, MYP, and DP inclusive education frameworks and candidate accommodation requests.
International Primary Curriculum (IPC): Embedding differentiated learning within thematic units.
American & Common Core Curricula: Aligning accommodations, 504-style plans, and IEP structures with US accreditation expectations.
Partnering with Your Leadership Team
Sustaining an effective inclusion framework requires more than high-level policy—it demands practical alignment between senior leadership, middle management, and classroom reality. Drawing on 35+ years of international educational leadership, I work directly alongside Governors, Headteachers, and SLT to build inclusive provisions that are strategically sound, culturally responsive, and operational from day one.
How We Work Together
Board & SLT Advisory: Translating inclusion standards into clear strategic priorities, realistic staffing structures, and sustainable budget models.
Middle Leadership Mentoring: Coaching SENDCOs, Heads of Faculty, and Pastoral Leads to manage complex case reviews, lead difficult conversations, and build trust across teaching teams.
Whole-School Inclusion Culture: Establishing a shared language around neurodivergence that aligns senior leadership vision with day-to-day classroom practice.
Cross-Departmental Integration: Bridging the gap between Student Support, Admissions, Pastoral Care, and Academic Leadership to ensure early identification and smooth transitions across key stages.
