We’re delighted to share that Treloar’s Head of College, Ben Bastin will join the government's expert panel to oversee the development of National Inclusion Standards and Specialist Provision packages for the Department for Education.
Ben Bastin, Head of Treloar College and Chair of Natspec, said:
“I am excited to join the panel at such a pivotal time for SEND reform. I look forward to bringing both my personal and professional experience of specialist provision and the transition to adulthood to ensure these changes support children and young people in a more inclusive 0 to 25 system.”
We’re proud that in joining the panel, Ben Bastin will be in position to influence government policy from the inside, sharing his lived experience and expertise beyond Treloar’s for the benefit of more children and young people with SEND.
The panel brings together leading figures from mainstream and specialist education, health, academia and parental engagement to oversee the development of National Inclusion Standards and Specialist Provision Packages.
Co-chaired by Tom Rees and Dr Anne Gordon, it will ensure reforms are informed by the best available evidence and expertise from across education, health and care.
Tom Rees, CEO of Ormiston Academies Trust, said:
“I’m delighted to be co-chairing this panel alongside colleagues who bring such deep experience and expertise from across the education and health sectors.
We want to build better, more evidence-informed approaches to support children and young people, and to give confidence to parents and practitioners. The panel’s work will help to make this a reality.”
Anne Gordon, Head of Clinical Innovation Research, New Hospital Programme, NHS England, said:
“I look forward to working with expert colleagues to support children and young people get the support they need to thrive. Bringing health and education closer together, and working in partnership around what works, is a really exciting opportunity to lay the groundwork for continuing to build best evidenced services.”
The panel will also engage with stakeholders to make sure their recommendations are informed by a wide range of views and lived experience.
The news was announced today by the Department for Education alongside a new offer, Experts at Hand. The aim is to help more children and young people with SEND to get specialist support without needing a diagnosis.
Every local area will now begin to expand access to speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, specialist teachers and educational psychologists who will work alongside mainstream schools, early years settings and colleges, helping staff identify needs earlier and put support in place more quickly.
The new Experts at Hand teams will bring specialist expertise into the communities where children learn, ensuring families can access support closer to home rather than having to navigate a complex system before help becomes available.
Parents and carers can find out more on the government website: