About us
For over 15 years, a unique partnership of special educational needs/disability (SEND) leads across the region has been collaborating to run the National Award for SEN Coordination, the follow-on SENCO Masters Suite programmes and a range of level 3 and 4 courses for SEND practitioners in schools and settings.
The Eastern Partnership UK (SEND) (part of the HFL Education family) works in collaboration with Local Authorities, schools, Multi-Academy Trusts and Teaching School across the eastern region and beyond, to provide SEND professionals access to a comprehensive suite of training programmes.
The programmes enable nationally recognised courses to run successfully in local areas, ensuring leaders of SEND achieve the required learning outcomes whilst building local knowledge and developing effective support networks.
The Eastern Partnership UK (SEND) also offers an innovative audit and planning school improvement tool focusing on SEND known as the aptGO. In addition, it is the home for the Eastern Partnership UK (SEND) Information Centre, through which the latest educational news and research is shared and a platform for discussion is provided.
If you would like to contact Angela Scott or any of the Eastern Partnership UK (SEND) team then please don’t hesitate to call 01438 544469 or email easternp.send@hfleducation.org
Eastern Partnership UK (SEND) National Lead
Angela Scott
Angela Scott has an Advanced Diploma in SEN, an MA in specific learning difficulties (dyslexia) and over 37 years’ experience as a teacher and lecturer working in a variety of leadership roles across all phases of education, nationally and internationally. She is a Visiting Fellow in Education at the University of Bolton. Between 2015-19 she was commissioned to work with the Education Bureau in Hong Kong on an innovative, ground-breaking SENCO project. She maintains a professional working relationship with colleagues there giving advice and guidance when required as they move this initiative forward.
She has developed and led a range of educational teams and services focusing on improving outcomes for children and young people both as Head of the Specialist Services in Cambridgeshire and within a range of other roles. Her time as SEN HUB coordinator for the National Strategies enabled her to lead on a series of high-profile projects working in partnership with school and SEND leads from Local Authorities across the region.
Angela has continued to build this work and is the lead for a wide range of accredited professional development initiatives including the previous National Award for SEN Coordination qualification for SENCOs, the new NPQ for SENCOs and the well-established SENCO Masters Suite programme.
She is author of a number of innovative self-evaluation tools for improving leadership of SEND in schools and settings, regularly contributes to journals and podcasts and leads training and professional development events working in partnership with regional and national bodies. Most recently she has begun engaging with colleagues in early years settings, schools and the post 16 sector to explore the use of generative AI as a tool to level the playing field for children and young people who have a range of SEND profiles.
“A big thank you; your organisation has been excellent from start to finish
and I’ve felt supported by all.”
Eastern Partnership UK (SEND) Admin team
Julie Grimwade
Julie is the Administration Manager for Eastern Partnership UK (SEND) (EPUK).
She has a long track record of guiding the work of administrative teams within an educational organisation. This included a local authority health and wellbeing team from which she moved in 2013 to co-ordinate the administrative aspect of Appropriate Body work for the Newly Qualified Teacher programme.
In 2016 Julie added the administrative aspects of the SENCO Masters Suite into her growing portfolio of work. By 2017 EPUK’s programmes and geographical spread had grown to such an extent that Julie became the manager of the admin team needed to support it. Her ability to mix many complex administrative operations whilst supporting and developing the professional skills of colleagues in her team has enabled the work of EPUK to thrive and grow.
When Julie has time away from work she enjoys walking, baking and spending time with family. She is also a committed church bellringer and enjoys travelling to places round the country with others from her local groups to ring in different churches.
Sarah Saunders
Sarah is Senior Administrator SEND for Eastern Partnership UK (SEND) (EPUK).
She has worked in the education sector for over 20 years, firstly as senior exams administrator at the Royal Veterinary College then moving to a key role in the EPUK admin team in 2017. Sarah has focused mainly on the administration elements of the SENCO Masters Suite and has utilised her knowledge and skills to develop positive working relationships with colleagues at the University of Hertfordshire and more recently with the master’s programme lead at the University of Bolton. She enjoys having contact with the tutors, supervisors and markers of the various programmes and has been a fount of knowledge for the many participants who have studied with EPUK over the years.
Sarah’s work focus is now broadening and she will be more actively involved in the NPQ for SENCOs as this new mandatory qualification for SENCOs comes on-stream in autumn 2024. She is also looking forward to becoming more familiar with the level 3 and 4 accredited programmes as these continue to grow.
Outside of work, Sarah enjoys running and is proud to have completed the London marathon in 2022. She also enjoys time with her family and more recently has developed a real interest in gardening.
“Thank you for an inspiring course. The Tutor’s knowledge never ceased to amaze me!”