Who is the SSAT Special Schools and SEND network membership for?
The SSAT Special Schools and SEND Network supports dedicated special school leaders, teachers and mainstream SEN coordinators to enhance their skills and understanding of specialist provision.
Speak to an ambassador school to find out more about the benefits of SSAT’s Special schools and SEND Network membership. Get in touch with us today.
Why join the SSAT Special Schools and SEND Network?
Our independent network is a national forum that shares ideas, models good practice, supports professional learning and facilitates the development of creative approaches to improve outcomes for children.
We help school leaders and their teams to transform student aspirations into achievement. Member benefits include resources to promote student learning and personal development, as well as offering discounts on SSAT’s CPD programmes and events.
Get in touch with us by email to find out more about the network.
What you can expect from membership:
Collaboration
Engage with our professional online community to network with like-minded schools, share ideas and achievements and receive answers to nagging questions from your peers across the country as well as SSAT national experts.
Membership provides opportunities for you and your staff to network through regional and national events that meet the needs and interests identified by the network, where best practice can be shared and solutions can be co-developed.
An SSAT brokering service is available, connecting members with other leaders and teachers in the SSAT network.
SEND Updates and Radars
You and your staff will receive fortnightly SEND Updates including news, resources and latest opinions from SEND interest groups. You will also receive the SEND Radar half-termly emails which include research outcomes and case studies from other schools facing similar challenges.
Framework for Exceptional Education (FfEE)
Developed with SSAT member schools, the Framework for Exceptional Education helps you to evaluate your practice, identify improvements and celebrate the great work you’re already doing. Use the framework across your whole school to facilitate ongoing school improvement as well as to develop specific departments and teams.
SEND Consultancy
Access to our special education needs and disability consultancy service giving you up-to-date SEND information and applying the latest national policy updates to the context of your school’s performance priorities, tailored to your intended outcomes.
Student and Pupil Leadership Accreditation
Empower your learners with our Student Leadership Accreditation (Secondary) and our Pupil Leadership Accreditation (Primary) – available to all members. This is an innovative way of formally recognising student leadership skills, encompassing all activities students are engaged in – whether it’s in the classroom, across the school or in the wider community.
Discounts on CPD
Get discounts on our top quality CPD programmes and events, including the Leading Outstanding Special Schools programme and our annual event for Special Schools.
Events
All special school members receive a discount on delegate places at the annual SSAT National Conference in December. Be inspired over two days by prestigious speakers and system leaders and a wide range of workshops, including policy updates and school-led sessions. You’ll also have the opportunity to network with peers at our drinks reception and an optional conference dinner.
SSAT Annual Lecture
Brings together school leaders, employers, government representatives and community leaders to discuss the big topics affecting education and the future of young people’s lives.
Have your say through SSAT’s Special Schools Network Ambassador
Our network ambassador, Graham Quinn CEO, The New Bridge group meets on a regular basis with the DfE, Ofsted and other key organisations as part of Special Schools’ Voice (SSV) to discuss issues relating to special education. We feed your views and concerns to Graham to ensure that your voice is heard.
Resources
Access our growing bank of publications and resources to turn innovative ideas into proven solutions for your school. Exclusive inspiration via your termly SSAT Journal, case studies from schools within the network and much more – all accessible in the members-only website, the Exchange.
Download the Special Schools and SEND Network brochure
Success stories
As a direct result of being a member of SSAT, we have been able to visit, learn from and share outstanding practice with some of the best schools and academies across the country. Through collaboration, our school leaders have advanced their own knowledge and skills, our teachers and support staff have been able share practice with others and our school has rapidly improved in terms of the quality of the provision and outcomes for pupils
Clive Lawrence
Headteacher
St. Giles Primary Special School, Derby
Being part of the SSAT network has been a real support. The conferences attended and specific sessions put on, such as 19-25 for SEND, has helped to develop strategic thinking, develop staff and move our schools onwards. More importantly being part of the SSAT is helping to ensure that we are giving our students the best possible life chances.
Kevin Latham
CEO
Creating Tomorrow Multi Academy Trust
Joining the SSAT Special Schools and SEN Network
Membership is for twelve months from the day you join and the annual membership fee is £399 + VAT. Or you can save 8% by joining for 24 months for just £735 + VAT.
If you have any questions, get in touch with us by email and one of our friendly team will give you a call to talk you through how membership works.
