Award Win Recognises Chichester College Group’s Exceptional SEND Support  

The Chichester College Group is excited to announce that it has been awarded the Best Use of External Special Needs Professionals award at the National SEND Awards.  

The award highlights the work that staff do day in and day out, which goes above and beyond to support a wide range of students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).  

After being shortlisted twice before, in 2021 and 2023, the award recognised the group’s unwavering commitment to ensuring every student is supported in their access to learning and empowered to thrive.  

The achievement reflects a truly collaborative approach to inclusion, with colleagues across the group working together to put learners at the heart of every decision and opportunity.  

Following the group’s nomination earlier this year, the award also reinforces its close relationship with the West Sussex Post‑16 SENAT and Special Needs Officer (SNO) team.  

This further reflects the high value the group places on approaches to education which amplify the voices of young people and reduce barriers to support practitioners, allowing them to deliver responsive and inclusive support.  

Run by national educational consultants The Root of It, the awards shine a spotlight on positive inclusive practices for a variety of young people in schools, colleges and in employment across the UK.  

Simon Brown, Director of SEND and Additional Learning Support at the Chichester College Group, received the award on the evening alongside Paul Morrison, SEN Post-16 Officer at West Sussex County Council. Simon said:  

“I would like to thank everyone who has shared their congratulations with both myself and the team. This award reflects the dedication, passion and hard work of colleagues across the Group and our valued external partners.”  

“Collaboration was at the heart of this achievement, and Inclusion is not the responsibility of one team or one individual; it is a collective commitment that brings together support services, curriculum teams and stakeholders, all with the learner at the heart of everything we do.  

“As a college group, those partnerships are vital to securing the best possible outcomes for our learners, and we look forward to building on that success in the years ahead.”