The SEN School Network

SEN School Network

Established in 2023, the SEN School Network is a networking group for specialist schools and provision to discuss, share and brainstorm all things Maths For Life related. There is a dedicated and private space on the community forum for the network and we meet online via Zoom every half term, with days and times varying to make it accessible to all. If you represent a SEN school and use the programme (or are thinking about it), please request to join the network and be part of a powerful collaboration.

Request to join the SEN School Network

The next SEN School Networking Session is 3.00-4.00pm, Monday 7th December 2026.‍ ‍

All sessions are recorded and available to watch on the community forum. Watch interviews with those using the programme below.

SEN School Network Session 13 on 10th December 2025

Abisola Idowu, Maths Lead from The Village School in Kingsbury, northwest London was interviewed and answered the following questions:

  1. How did you find out about the Maths For Life programme?

  2. Did you have any challenges getting the SLT / MAT to buy into the programme?

  3. How did you go about introducing the programme?

  4. What has been the feedback from staff / students?

  5. Would you do anything differently?

  6. What’s on your Maths For Life Wishlist… an ingredient you would like to see added?

Watch a recording of the interview or read a transcript here.

SEN School Network Session 14 on 10th February 2026

Nicky Ashby-Guest from The Gallery Trust joined me as a guest speaker. Nicky was the Oxfordshire County Council programme manager for the Maths For Life schools’ pilot and then joined The Gallery Trust as the Trust Lead: Inclusive Practice,  Research and Outreach.

  1. How did you first come to know about the Maths For Life programme?

  2. What was your key takeaway from the OCC pilot?

  3. You are now Trust Lead: Inclusive Practice,  Research and Outreach at The Gallery Trust.  What is the key focus of your role?

  4. How is the Maths For Life programme helping achieve The Gallery Trust’s objectives?

  5. What has been the feedback from staff / students?

  6. What’s on your Maths For Life Wishlist… an ingredient/improvement you would like to see?

Watch a recording of the interview or read a transcript here.

SEN School Network Session 15 on 20th March 2026

Ailish Lavelle, the Maths Lead from Charlton Park Academy was our guest speaker this month.  Together with Laura Parker, Curriculum and Assessment Lead, they have rolled out Maths For Life throughout the school.

  1. Tell us about Charlton Park Academy and the profile of the students you support.

  2. How did you discover the Maths For Life programme?

  3. Explain how your school has implemented / uses the Maths For Life programme?

  4. What do you see are some of the key benefits of the programme?

  5. What do staff think of the programme?

  6. If you could add an extra ingredient or improve an aspect of the programme, what would it be?

Watch a recording of the interview or read a transcript here.

SEN School Network Session 16 on 18th May 2026

Donna Hall, Maths Lead and Head of Key Stage 3 at St. Andrew’s Academy in Derby was our guest speaker this session.  She piloted and supported the roll out of the Maths For Life programme throughout the school and will be joining us to share her insights.

  1. Tell us about St. Andrew’s Academy and the profile of the students you support.

  2. How did you discover the Maths For Life programme?

  3. Explain how your school has implemented / uses the Maths For Life programme? Did you face any challenges when implementing the programme?

  4. How does Maths For Life fit within your curriculum model?

  5. What do staff think of the programme?

  6. If you could add an extra ingredient or improve an aspect of the programme, what would it be?

  7. How have you adapted Maths For Life for students with PMLD?

  8. You started with baseline assessments—how did you manage that process?

Watch a recording of the interview or read a transcript here.

SEN School Network Session 17 on 2nd July 2026

Sian Hughes is the Maths & Numeracy Lead for Ysgol Y Gogarth in Llandudno, North Wales. She set up the North Wales Maths & Numeracy network and recently attended the first Maths For Life conference in Ellesmere College.

  1. Tell us about Ysgol Y Gogarth and the profile of the students you support.

  2. How did you discover the Maths For Life programme?  

  3. Explain how your school has implemented / uses the Maths For Life programme?

  4. Have you had any challenges / made adaptions?

  5. What do you see are some of the key benefits of the programme? 

  6. What do staff think of the programme?

  7. You have recently attended the first Maths For Life conference, what did you think of it?  Any key takeaways?

Watch a recording of the interview or read her answers here.

SEN School Network Session 18 on 6th October 2026

Chris Butler, Maths Co-ordinator for Treloar’s School and College in Hampshire was our guest speaker this month. Now in their 4th academic year of using the Maths For Life programme, he brings insight and experience of both the implementation and evolution of the programme in a SEN school.

  1. Tell us about Treloar's and the profile of the students you support.

  2. What prompted Treloar’s to look for an alternative maths curriculum?

  3. What was your approach to implementing the Maths For Life programme?

  4. You are now about to start your 4th academic year using the programme, how have things developed over the years?

  5. What are some of the key benefits you have seen for students? And for staff?

  6. Maths For Life is still developing, what would you like to see as our next step?  What ingredient (if any) are you missing?

  7. And Treloar’s have recently agreed to host the next Maths For Life conference on 2nd December; what’s on the agenda?

Watch a recording of the interview or read a transcript here.