Nicole Dempsey
@ndempseyinco14.bsky.social
Director of SEND and Safeguarding
Dixons Academies Trust
Deputy Regional SEND Lead
Whole School SEND
Dixons Academies Trust
Deputy Regional SEND Lead
Whole School SEND
It seems like it’s human nature to polarise, but solutions with depth are unlikely to be either or when it comes to complex challenges. This isn’t about standards or support; it’s standards and support - there isn’t a child that isn’t entitled to both. Great, as always, @mrjlauder.bsky.social
Finally got round to writing about this. We're not making enough progress with challenging educational disadvantage. We should pick key areas that face wicked problems, suspend how we normally do things, and try radical collaboration:
open.substack.com/pub/jimlaude...
open.substack.com/pub/jimlaude...
November 11, 2025 at 1:22 PM
It seems like it’s human nature to polarise, but solutions with depth are unlikely to be either or when it comes to complex challenges. This isn’t about standards or support; it’s standards and support - there isn’t a child that isn’t entitled to both. Great, as always, @mrjlauder.bsky.social
Reposted by Nicole Dempsey
Well done Nicole Dempsey (is she on here?) ‘The Sendco role is certainly bureaucratic, but it is paperwork with purpose, and involves administrative tasks that require a high level of knowledge and expertise - for example, by knowing the child, the setting, the local landscape and the national
The exclusive findings in @johngroberts.bsky.social story make clear that, whatever comes out of the education white paper & broader inclusion push, it mustn't simply heap more tasks onto overworked sencos.
Only 6 per cent of Sendcos can complete their tasks in work hours
The government’s SEND reforms must ensure that special educational needs coordinators get better support, say experts, as exclusive data reveals their ‘unsustainable’ workload
www.tes.com
October 12, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Well done Nicole Dempsey (is she on here?) ‘The Sendco role is certainly bureaucratic, but it is paperwork with purpose, and involves administrative tasks that require a high level of knowledge and expertise - for example, by knowing the child, the setting, the local landscape and the national
Reposted by Nicole Dempsey
The exclusive findings in @johngroberts.bsky.social story make clear that, whatever comes out of the education white paper & broader inclusion push, it mustn't simply heap more tasks onto overworked sencos.
Only 6 per cent of Sendcos can complete their tasks in work hours
The government’s SEND reforms must ensure that special educational needs coordinators get better support, say experts, as exclusive data reveals their ‘unsustainable’ workload
www.tes.com
October 10, 2025 at 6:43 AM
The exclusive findings in @johngroberts.bsky.social story make clear that, whatever comes out of the education white paper & broader inclusion push, it mustn't simply heap more tasks onto overworked sencos.
Reposted by Nicole Dempsey
A focus on teachers teaching, silos being broken down and lessons being made accessible are all key features of the Dixons approach. Read the case study in full here: inclusioninpractice.org.uk/wp-content/u... (2/3)
inclusioninpractice.org.uk
October 3, 2025 at 9:52 AM
A focus on teachers teaching, silos being broken down and lessons being made accessible are all key features of the Dixons approach. Read the case study in full here: inclusioninpractice.org.uk/wp-content/u... (2/3)
Reposted by Nicole Dempsey
🔎 Friday Focus 🔍
This week we wanted to share more about Dixons Academies Trust's approach to inclusion. In this case study Nicole Dempsey @ndempseyinco14.bsky.social talks about how it is possible to avoid creating a segregated, two-tier teaching system if inclusion is everyone's business. (1/3)
This week we wanted to share more about Dixons Academies Trust's approach to inclusion. In this case study Nicole Dempsey @ndempseyinco14.bsky.social talks about how it is possible to avoid creating a segregated, two-tier teaching system if inclusion is everyone's business. (1/3)
October 3, 2025 at 9:50 AM
🔎 Friday Focus 🔍
This week we wanted to share more about Dixons Academies Trust's approach to inclusion. In this case study Nicole Dempsey @ndempseyinco14.bsky.social talks about how it is possible to avoid creating a segregated, two-tier teaching system if inclusion is everyone's business. (1/3)
This week we wanted to share more about Dixons Academies Trust's approach to inclusion. In this case study Nicole Dempsey @ndempseyinco14.bsky.social talks about how it is possible to avoid creating a segregated, two-tier teaching system if inclusion is everyone's business. (1/3)
Inclusion isn’t a bolt-on. It’s the measure of whether our education system is working at all.
Banning lifejackets to reduce drownings.
As the conversation around SEND reform continues, it increasingly feels like we are trying to solve problems by tackling symptoms and not causes; choosing the immediate over the impactful. We might not have time on our side, but the long game is the only…
As the conversation around SEND reform continues, it increasingly feels like we are trying to solve problems by tackling symptoms and not causes; choosing the immediate over the impactful. We might not have time on our side, but the long game is the only…
Banning lifejackets to reduce drownings.
As the conversation around SEND reform continues, it increasingly feels like we are trying to solve problems by tackling symptoms and not causes; choosing the immediate over the impactful. We might not have time on our side, but the long game is the only game that will work - the current system is undeniably struggling, but reform must be built on honesty, insight, and a clear understanding of what will genuinely make things better for children, families, and the professionals who serve them.
inco14.wordpress.com
July 19, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Inclusion isn’t a bolt-on. It’s the measure of whether our education system is working at all.
Classroom paramountcy - not classroom at all costs, but classroom first and foremost for every child. Being present, being known, being planned for as part of the main, and being able to contribute. No one is better off with any less than the best offer.
July 19, 2025 at 7:17 AM
Classroom paramountcy - not classroom at all costs, but classroom first and foremost for every child. Being present, being known, being planned for as part of the main, and being able to contribute. No one is better off with any less than the best offer.
The importance of time, interaction, thinking and decision making in inclusion.
July 19, 2025 at 7:16 AM
The importance of time, interaction, thinking and decision making in inclusion.
Banning lifejackets to reduce drownings.
As the conversation around SEND reform continues, it increasingly feels like we are trying to solve problems by tackling symptoms and not causes; choosing the immediate over the impactful. We might not have time on our side, but the long game is the only…
As the conversation around SEND reform continues, it increasingly feels like we are trying to solve problems by tackling symptoms and not causes; choosing the immediate over the impactful. We might not have time on our side, but the long game is the only…
Banning lifejackets to reduce drownings.
As the conversation around SEND reform continues, it increasingly feels like we are trying to solve problems by tackling symptoms and not causes; choosing the immediate over the impactful. We might not have time on our side, but the long game is the only game that will work - the current system is undeniably struggling, but reform must be built on honesty, insight, and a clear understanding of what will genuinely make things better for children, families, and the professionals who serve them.
inco14.wordpress.com
July 18, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Banning lifejackets to reduce drownings.
As the conversation around SEND reform continues, it increasingly feels like we are trying to solve problems by tackling symptoms and not causes; choosing the immediate over the impactful. We might not have time on our side, but the long game is the only…
As the conversation around SEND reform continues, it increasingly feels like we are trying to solve problems by tackling symptoms and not causes; choosing the immediate over the impactful. We might not have time on our side, but the long game is the only…
Reposted by Nicole Dempsey
Reposted by Nicole Dempsey
Thread ⬇️
I cannot understand why the people in power consistently fail to understand that giving each and every child, including those with SEND, the very best start in life is literally an investment in the future. It benefits children, families, the NHS, the economy and society generally.
I cannot understand why the people in power consistently fail to understand that giving each and every child, including those with SEND, the very best start in life is literally an investment in the future. It benefits children, families, the NHS, the economy and society generally.
A big part of the challenge for m/s schools is unavailability of specialist places for children who need them, & the biggest contribution to the DSG deficit is specialist places & use of private placements, why is so little of the talk around solutions about building special schools?
July 13, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Thread ⬇️
I cannot understand why the people in power consistently fail to understand that giving each and every child, including those with SEND, the very best start in life is literally an investment in the future. It benefits children, families, the NHS, the economy and society generally.
I cannot understand why the people in power consistently fail to understand that giving each and every child, including those with SEND, the very best start in life is literally an investment in the future. It benefits children, families, the NHS, the economy and society generally.
Reposted by Nicole Dempsey
Absolutely this. Excellent thread. I’m not sure there is currently an understanding in government of the sheer diversity of needs and how provision needs to differ. The current discussion seems to assume that with the right adaptation/unit mainstream could work for all. It can’t.
A big part of the challenge for m/s schools is unavailability of specialist places for children who need them, & the biggest contribution to the DSG deficit is specialist places & use of private placements, why is so little of the talk around solutions about building special schools?
July 13, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Absolutely this. Excellent thread. I’m not sure there is currently an understanding in government of the sheer diversity of needs and how provision needs to differ. The current discussion seems to assume that with the right adaptation/unit mainstream could work for all. It can’t.
Reposted by Nicole Dempsey
Specialist provision is not a fiscal burden. It is a vital public asset. Our new discussion paper calls for a confident, collective vision that places special schools and alternative provision at the heart of an inclusive education system.
Read more: https://twp.ai/9PTMX4
Read more: https://twp.ai/9PTMX4
July 11, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Specialist provision is not a fiscal burden. It is a vital public asset. Our new discussion paper calls for a confident, collective vision that places special schools and alternative provision at the heart of an inclusive education system.
Read more: https://twp.ai/9PTMX4
Read more: https://twp.ai/9PTMX4
One change I am hoping for, that I’m not seeing much mention of in all the conversations about SEND, is a new, better written SEND Code of Practice. Not just to reflect any changes or to update language, but to really promote inclusive culture, shared ownership, high quality SEN support stage etc.
July 7, 2025 at 5:46 PM
One change I am hoping for, that I’m not seeing much mention of in all the conversations about SEND, is a new, better written SEND Code of Practice. Not just to reflect any changes or to update language, but to really promote inclusive culture, shared ownership, high quality SEN support stage etc.
Reposted by Nicole Dempsey
The suite of @theeef.bsky.social Learning Behaviours guidance reports
How many have you read?
educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/education-ev...
How many have you read?
educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/education-ev...
June 12, 2025 at 5:31 PM
The suite of @theeef.bsky.social Learning Behaviours guidance reports
How many have you read?
educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/education-ev...
How many have you read?
educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/education-ev...
Reposted by Nicole Dempsey
Raising the threshold at which pupils get an education, health and care plan would not solve the problems within the SEND system, experts have warned
Cutting EHCPs ‘treats the symptom not cause’ of SEND crisis
A parliamentary inquiry into solving the SEND crisis heard evidence today from school leaders and research experts. Here is everything you need to know
www.tes.com
June 11, 2025 at 6:05 AM
Raising the threshold at which pupils get an education, health and care plan would not solve the problems within the SEND system, experts have warned
Reposted by Nicole Dempsey
She adds that the "greater inclusivity cannot come from within that segregated space" and adds that a school's main or universal offer needs to expand to be able to embrace greater diversity.
June 10, 2025 at 10:26 AM
She adds that the "greater inclusivity cannot come from within that segregated space" and adds that a school's main or universal offer needs to expand to be able to embrace greater diversity.
Really privileged to be able to share my views with the Education Select Committee today.
The Education Select Committee is holding its penultimate hearing of its Solving the SEND Crisis inquiry this morning. It is questioning sector & research experts and school leaders on ways the Government could improve SEND provision in mainstream schools. I will be posting updates here.
June 10, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Really privileged to be able to share my views with the Education Select Committee today.
Reposted by Nicole Dempsey
The committee is now hearing from a panel from schools: Daniel Constable-Phelps, executive headteacher at St Mary’s, Primary and Nursery School, Southampton, Conrad Bourne, director for SEND at the Mercian Trust and Nicole Dempsey, trust director of SEND and Safeguarding at Dixons.
June 10, 2025 at 10:11 AM
The committee is now hearing from a panel from schools: Daniel Constable-Phelps, executive headteacher at St Mary’s, Primary and Nursery School, Southampton, Conrad Bourne, director for SEND at the Mercian Trust and Nicole Dempsey, trust director of SEND and Safeguarding at Dixons.
Reposted by Nicole Dempsey
In the final instalment of our ethical leadership series, a leader discusses why difficult decisions around behaviour and sanctions must sometimes be made to drive school improvement…
Ethical dilemmas: driving up suspensions to improve behaviour
A leader discusses the dilemma of knowing you are going to dramatically increase sanctions for the greater good – and the positive outcomes this can have
www.tes.com
June 2, 2025 at 5:35 AM
In the final instalment of our ethical leadership series, a leader discusses why difficult decisions around behaviour and sanctions must sometimes be made to drive school improvement…
It is unlikely to be a coincidence that the groups disproportionately impacted by this legitimised and grey non-attendance are the same ones who consistently don’t get the outcomes we would want for all children.
May 17, 2025 at 6:29 PM
It is unlikely to be a coincidence that the groups disproportionately impacted by this legitimised and grey non-attendance are the same ones who consistently don’t get the outcomes we would want for all children.
Reposted by Nicole Dempsey
New blog from our director of SEND and safeguarding @ndempseyinco14.bsky.social just dropped and it's a banger.
Classroom paramountcy.
inco14.wordpress.com/2025/05/15/c...
Classroom paramountcy.
inco14.wordpress.com/2025/05/15/c...
May 15, 2025 at 6:13 PM
New blog from our director of SEND and safeguarding @ndempseyinco14.bsky.social just dropped and it's a banger.
Classroom paramountcy.
inco14.wordpress.com/2025/05/15/c...
Classroom paramountcy.
inco14.wordpress.com/2025/05/15/c...
Reposted by Nicole Dempsey
"It’s not uncommon for a child to misbehave in the first lesson of the day and be kept out of every other lesson that follows. Or for a child with additional needs to miss large chunks of core learning because they are withdrawn for intervention. We rarely stop to ask: is this actually helping?" 👏🏻
May 15, 2025 at 3:38 PM
"It’s not uncommon for a child to misbehave in the first lesson of the day and be kept out of every other lesson that follows. Or for a child with additional needs to miss large chunks of core learning because they are withdrawn for intervention. We rarely stop to ask: is this actually helping?" 👏🏻