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SEND practitioners change lives and empower young people.
This award recognises individuals or teams who have developed inspirational inclusive practice and created transformational learning opportunities that lead to sustainable, long-term improvement in the lives of SEND pupils, families, schools, and the wider community. Their work must reflect a deep commitment to creating environments where all learners, regardless of their background or needs, can thrive. This award celebrates those who champion not only academic success but also emotional and social development, embedding inclusive practices that inspire future generations.
Who can enter?
- Open to all staff working in alternative provision (including Pupil Referral Units, and hospital schools), and special and additional needs environments that enable students to thrive. The category is open to teams or individuals.
- Nominees must have worked in this area for a minimum of three years and be able to show clear evidence of the impact their efforts have had.
- They do not need to hold QTS.
- We welcome entries from state-funded and independent settings.
Nominator Guidance
SEND and Inclusive Practice – Nominator Guidance.
What makes a good entry?
Thank you for taking the time to nominate your colleague for SEND and Inclusive Practice. Please note this category is opem to individuals and teams. Where we use the term nominee, this refers to the individual or team you are entering.
Awards criteria
A well-structured entry is key. Start with a brief summary that highlights the main reasons for the nomination. Use clear, jargon-free language, and ensure each criterion is addressed thoroughly. Organise the content with headings and sub
headings.
Include details about how the nominee overcomes the most challenging aspects of their role. It’s important that the entry is written by someone who truly knows the nominee, or that the nominator has consulted with those who do.
Evidence and impact
Evidence of impact is the most important aspect of your entry. Our judges look for clear, concise examples that demonstrate the nominee’s impact on students, colleagues, and the broader education community—whether on a regional or national scale. If, for instance, a Headteacher is credited with turning a school around, it’s important to show exactly how this was achieved.
Impact on Learners: Provide specific examples of their direct influence on learners. Highlight practical evidence of high-quality, inspirational teaching that encourages a love of learning and demonstrates excellent classroom skills. For
teaching assistants and school leaders, include evidence of inspirational support, leadership, and creative approaches that engage and motivate both children and staff.
Impact on Colleagues: Describe how the nominee has positively influenced their colleagues. Have they supported others or helped them improve? Consider their role within the staff community beyond the classroom or staffroom. Have they boosted morale or consistently uplifted those around them in some way? Our judges love hearing about these contributions, no matter how big or small.
Impact on the Wider School Community: Highlight the nominee’s overall contribution to the life of the school and the community.
Wider Impact: Where a nominee has shown impact further afield, locally or nationally, please detail this and the impact of that work.
Personalised details are what make your nominee truly stand out.
Bring the entry to life
Written statements and quotes provide a much more compelling narrative than data – especially comments from parents or pupils whose lives have been positively impacted by the nominee. These are most effective when they reference something specific, for example, ‘Ms X made a huge difference to me when she… the effect this had was …’
Where relevant, you could include supportive quotes from a broad range of sources, such as senior leaders, businesses, health or social care agencies, and local community voices. These perspectives highlight the nominee’s impact beyond the classroom.
It’s essential that someone who knows the nominee well writes the entire entry, not just detailing what they do but also providing specific examples and the impact of their work. Personalisation is key.
That special something
Put simply, if your nominee isn’t shortlisted, what would our judges be missing out on? Share the values and truly unique examples of practice that set your nominee apart—something related to their role that has made a real difference to children’s lives. Our judges are particularly keen to see initiatives or approaches that are unprecedented in the school or unlikely to be found elsewhere, especially when they demonstrate innovation and determination, rather than just long
working hours. What makes this nominee a National Award winner, and how could showcasing their exceptional practice inspire and benefit other educators across the UK?
Wider contribution
Highlight how your colleague has made a significant contribution beyond their core responsibilities. Consider areas such as their involvement in extra-curricular activities, community engagement, or initiatives that enhance the wider school
environment.
You could examples such as:
- Leading or supporting clubs or events
- Organising or participating in fundraising activities or community outreach programmes or any achievements they have contributed to that reflect their broader impact within the educational community
- Championing eco-friendly initiatives, such as Eco-Schools or sustainability projects or contributing to the development of children through other enrichment activities
Provide clear examples to demonstrate how their efforts have gone above and beyond, enriching the school experience and making a positive impact.
Personal journey and inspiration
To help our judges understand the nominee as a whole, beyond their role, please share what has shaped their personal and professional journey. Were there key influences from their own education, a significant person, or a defining event in their life? What inspired them to pursue a career in education? Your insight into their motivations and background will help our judges appreciate the individuals behind the educators.
What to avoid when writing your entry?
Data
Unless the criteria specifically request this, although we expect to see some pupil progress or attainment data, or recognition by external agencies to show your nominee’s impact on pupils, our judges prefer this to be kept to a minimum. They carry out due diligence if your entry reaches shortlisting stage. At this point they can obtain data / Ofsted reports.
We want to emphasise the importance of submitting unique, personalised nominations that reflect the individual / team you’re celebrating.
Entries that are not unique
Recently, we’ve noticed that AI-generated or AI-assisted entries often contain repetitive or generic statements that simply echo the criteria without offering real insight. These entries lack the personal touch and specific details that make a
= nomination truly stand out. If you choose to use AI for support, please ensure your entry still reflects your own voice, includes specific examples, and offers personalised evidence or testimonials that highlight the nominee’s unique impact. Remember—it’s the details and authentic stories that truly bring your nominee to life!
Links
You can submit up to 3 additional evidence files along with your written entry. Hyperlinks to other documents, videos, social media etc should be classed as additional evidence and not part of the entry.
Specific guidance for this category
1 Learning environment
Use this section to help judges understand what it is like for learners with SEND to be part of this setting.
Strong entries show how anxiety has reduced, confidence has grown, or engagement has improved as a result of the nominee’s approach. As well as listing strategies, explain how their practice has changed daily experiences for learners with a wide range of needs, including those in alternative provision.
2 Students’ Progress
This section is about how the nominee helps pupils move forward from their individual starting points.
Describe how they recognise progress in all its forms and adapt support to remove barriers to learning. You might include examples where pupils have achieved academic, social or personal milestones that previously felt difficult or unlikely. Judges value clear evidence that progress is sustained and supported through close working with colleagues, families or external partners where appropriate.
3 Continuous Development
Use this section to show the nominee’s commitment to learning and improvement in inclusive practice.
Judges are interested in how the nominee stays reflective and informed, and how this directly improves outcomes for pupils. This could include professional learning, engagement with research, adapting practice in response to new insights, or sharing expertise with others. Focus on how their development strengthens inclusive practice beyond their own role and contributes to a school-wide culture of inclusion.
4 Impact Beyond the Classroom
In this section, highlight how the nominee’s influence extends beyond their immediate learning environment/school.
This might include supporting pupils to develop independence, confidence or positive citizenship, or working with external agencies and the wider school or community to improve support for learners with additional needs. Judges want to understand why others see this individual or team as a leader in inclusive practice, and how their work has made a lasting difference to pupils, families or systems beyond the classroom – consider and share where they have had local/national impact.
General tips for a strong SEND and Inclusive Practice entry
- Ensure the entry is written by someone who knows the nominee well. Judges value insight from someone who has seen the nominee’s work over time.
- Show change, not just care. Compassion matters, but strong entries also demonstrate how practice has led to meaningful improvement.
- Keep it specific. Clear examples of impact are more powerful than broad descriptions.
- Think long term. This award recognises sustained commitment and lasting difference.
- Judges will ask themselves
- What difference has this nominee made to the lives of learners with SEND?
How do we know their work leads to real, sustained improvement?
How has their practice influenced others or strengthened inclusion more widely?
What makes this individual or team stand out as a leader in inclusive practice? What is their Unique selling point?
You can download this information here
Award Criteria
Please ensure you address these points in your entry.
Learning Environment:
Describe how your nominee creates an inclusive and inspiring learning environment that is calm, safe, and welcoming for students with a diverse range of needs. What strategies do they use to ensure that students with additional or complex needs, including those in alternative provision, are enabled to reach their full academic and personal potential, developing ambition, optimism, and holistic development?
Students’ Progress:
Outline the skills, characteristics, and methods your nominee employs to support the progress of all students, including those with additional needs, and those in alternative provision. How do they adapt their teaching to engage every learner, inspiring and motivating each child to achieve impressive academic, personal, and social outcomes? Describe how they collaborate with colleagues, families, and external partners to maximise each student’s learning journey and ensure sustained progress.
Continuous Development:
All educators contribute to supporting students with SEND and additional needs. How does your nominee demonstrate a commitment to their own professional development, staying up to date with the latest research, policies, and innovations in SEND and inclusive education? Provide examples of how they have developed their skills and knowledge to better serve students with a range of needs and how they share best practice with colleagues, ensuring an inclusive culture across the whole setting.
Impact Beyond the Classroom:
Explain how your nominee extends their influence beyond the classroom to ensure positive citizenship among their students. How do they encourage students to understand the impact of their actions on their peers, community, and the wider world? On a broader level, describe how they collaborate with other professionals, external agencies, and the wider school community to meet the needs of students with additional or alternative learning needs. Highlight why all stakeholders believe your nominee is a leader in inclusive and transformational learning.
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