North West
The Regional SEND Leadership team in the North West work to promote and celebrate the effective and exciting SEND practice across our region.
The North West is a large geographic area with a huge amount of excellent practice and incredible SEN and SEND expertise already present and active within our schools and communities. Currently we are working to connect with and, where needed, develop professional networks to best support all schools in prioritising SEND within their practice.
We encourage people to connect with us by emailing us, joining the Whole School SEND Community of Practice, attending our regional events and join us in sharing good SEND practice locally and regionally.
Meet your Regional SEND Leads
Dawn Cranshaw
Dawn is the West Midlands Regional Lead for WSS. She is a qualified teacher and been in education for 25 years. She has extensive knowledge of Early Years, Primary and Secondary phases of education where she has lead on a range of curriculum areas, projects and leadership positions. She has been a SENCO for 12 years where she has worked in RP and mainstream and been a lead SENCO for her cluster of schools. She is currently a Specialist SEND advisor for Local Authority where she provides strategic advice and support to settings and is involved in a number of collaborative SEND strategies. She also delivers NASENCO in conjunction with MMU and is an Area SEND Ofsted Inspector.
Regional Lead
Jo Ellis
Jo is currently the Acting Head of School at Lord Derby Academy which forms part of The Dean Trust MAT. She started her career as an MFL Teacher and has enjoyed more than 20 years experience in mainstream secondary education. Jo is deeply committed to inclusive education and believes that every child has the right to an education free from barriers. She is particularly focused on strengthening mainstream provision to ensure that young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) are fully supported, empowered and able to thrive. Her leadership is rooted in equity, high expectations and a determination to ensure that no child is left behind. She holds the NPQH, serves as Deputy Regional Lead for Whole School SEND and sits on the Knowsley SEND Partnership Board, reflecting her ongoing dedication to advancing inclusive practice at both school and system level.
Deputy Regional Lead
Nicola Cassidy
Nicola currently works as the Trust SEND Lead at The Blessed Edward Bamber Catholic Multi Academy Trust, supporting schools across Blackpool, Fylde, and Wyre. She began her teaching career in 2002, where her passion developed for supporting children with Special Educational Needs. Nicola has held senior leadership roles, including Assistant Headteacher, SENCO, and Designated Safeguarding Lead, in both mainstream and special schools. She has also worked as an advisory teacher for Blackpool Council and holds a postgraduate diploma in Specific Learning Difficulties. Nicola is also an Elklan tutor and has helped many schools achieve Communication Friendly Setting status, demonstrating her commitment to improving provision for children with speech, language, and communication needs. In her current role, Nicola works with school leaders to develop inclusive environments and strengthen SEND provision to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND. She believes that every child deserves the opportunity to be the best that they can be and have a sense of success and belonging. Nicola is committed to empowering staff by sharing knowledge and developing their skills to support pupils with SEND.
Deputy Regional Lead
Local authorities in this region
- Blackburn with Darwen
- Blackpool
- Bolton
- Bury
- Cheshire East
- Cheshire West and Chester
- Cumbria
- Halton
- Knowsley
- Lancashire
- Liverpool
- Manchester
- Oldham
- Rochdale
- Salford
- Sefton
- St Helens
- Stockport
- Tameside
- Trafford
- Warrington
- Wigan
- Wirral