Local School Recognised Twice in National Awards

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TCES North West London praised for scheme which supports children with SEND

The LIFE Programme team at TCES North West London

TCES North West London school on Old Oak Common Lane has won a national award (and just been shortlisted for another) for its LIFE Programme which supports children with special educational needs.

The 2021 National SEND Awards judged the LIFE Programme (which stands for Leadership, Independence Skills, Future options including employment and Empowerment) the Most Innovative Special Needs Intervention in the country. Separately the LIFE Programme has just been shortlisted in the PSHE category of the nationwide Children and Young People Now Awards.

The LIFE Programme has been developed entirely by teachers and other professionals working within TCES’s two London schools in Ealing and Newham, east London. Most children joining TCES North West London are demotivated and disengaged with their learning having already been excluded multiple times from other schools. LIFE aims to offer them opportunities to be recognised for what they can contribute, to take on new responsibilities such as peer mentoring and have a timetabled space to explore their aspirations. All TCES schools have a zero exclusions policy.

Richard Daniel Curtis, Chair of the National SEND Awards said, ‘The judges felt the embedding of peer mentoring as personal development opportunities for pupils who have so often experienced failure was a very innovative approach and one that has been well thought out as a progression route for their young people.’

Nick, who trained as a peer mentor through the LIFE Programme going on to become the first former pupil employed full-time as an Alumni Learning Mentor at TCES North West London says, ‘I know what a difference the LIFE Programme made to me. I arrived at TCES North West London having been excluded, feeling like I didn’t belong and never thinking I could be someone that people look up to. Training to be a peer mentor let me turn a corner and use my experience to help other pupils who were struggling. My specialism is Sport which gives me a way to relate to pupils, we can practice skills and talk about things that might be bothering them.’

Says TCES CEO Thomas Keaney, ‘It’s an absolute honour to be recognised for these two national awards, because we know what a difference our LIFE Programme makes to our pupils, and how much hard work our staff put into creating opportunities tailored to each and every one of them.

‘For most pupils our LIFE Programme provides the very first opportunity they will have had to gain a positive perception of themselves as someone who can lead change, support others and contribute their talents for the benefit of the whole school community.

‘Where possible roles and responsibilities within the LIFE Programme are linked to qualifications so that pupils build up a portfolio of skills and experience to take through their school life and out to college and beyond.

‘We hope that these national awards prove to employers that children with special needs in our schools are being well-prepared for life after school and they need to be given a chance. Our pupils want to work, and they want to succeed. Employers have as important a role to play in making this happen as our schools do.’

The Complete Education Solution (TCES) is an independent, family-owned group of day schools and services for neurodiverse pupils aged 7 to 19. Based in London, it is funded by Local Authorities. It has worked with over 3,200 children and young people, and never permanently excluded a single child in its nearly 22-year history.

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October 7, 2021