Inclusion
As a Trust, we remain firmly committed to creating an inclusive learning environment in which every learner is supported to thrive.
Our learner profile has changed significantly in recent years, with a substantial increase in the number of learners requiring additional support. These figures now represent 16.8% of our total learner population, which is well above the national average. Over the last three years, we have seen a 15.9% increase in learners with SEND and a 21.8% increase in EHCPs.
We continue to work positively to design a curriculum and provision model that is responsive, inclusive, and impactful.
Key Developments and Achievements
Enhanced Resource Provision (ERP) Development
We have made significant progress in strengthening our five Enhanced Resource Provisions (ERPs), which offer specialist provision for learners with:
- Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs
- Cognition and Learning needs
Improved Attendance and Behaviour Outcomes
The most recent Spring Term government attendance data reflects strong outcomes for learners with SEND across our schools. Suspension rates among vulnerable learners are decreasing across the Trust, supported by the refinement and strengthening of our inclusion and pastoral strategies.
Early Help Offer
Building on the successful launch of our Trust-wide Early Help offer, we have further embedded this model to complement and elevate the work already taking place in our schools. This integrated approach is enabling us to identify needs earlier, provide timely support, and reduce escalation, ensuring better outcomes for learners and families.
Our strategic focus on inclusion is making a measurable difference to the educational experience and outcomes of our learners with additional needs. By working together across the Trust, leveraging areas of excellence, and driving a shared commitment to inclusion, we are creating a stronger, more equitable education system for every learner.
We Are Proud to Be Thrive Schools
At The Consortium Academy Trust, we believe that every child deserves to feel safe, supported, and ready to learn. That’s why all our schools have adopted the Thrive Approach – a research-informed framework that helps children develop emotional resilience and positive relationships alongside academic success.
The Thrive Approach is grounded in neuroscience, attachment theory and child development research. It gives our staff practical strategies to identify and respond to learners’ social and emotional needs, ensuring that barriers to learning are addressed early and effectively. This isn’t an intervention for a few—it’s a whole-school ethos that shapes how we teach, interact and care for every child.
Our commitment to Thrive reflects our Trust vision of Shaping Positive Futures. We put our children and young people first, creating a supportive yet challenging environment where everyone can flourish and believe they have every chance of success. Through collaboration, we achieve more than any one school could alone, and we foster a culture where taking appropriate risks is seen as a strength. Thrive helps us build communities where learners and staff are proud of themselves, their peers, and the schools they represent—because well-being is the foundation for achievement and belonging.
