Day In The Life of a Team Leader for Inclusion

Meet Jenny Garside

At One Education, we’re proud to belong to a team of experienced and talented professionals who share a passion for putting children first. This includes Jenny Garside, our Team Leader for Inclusion, who has worked with us for 3 years. As an experienced SENCo and leader, Jenny is passionate about supporting the most vulnerable children in our community and stepped into her current role in order to shape the educational experience for a greater number of pupils. Outside of work, Jenny is a busy Mum to two daughters and enjoys photography, watching crime dramas, and reading.  

The role of a Team Leader for Inclusion is incredibly varied as Jenny provides advice, guidance and practical support regarding all aspects of SEND to academy trust and school leaders as well as SENCos, classroom staff, and pupils themselves. In this blog, we go behind-the-scenes with Jenny to find out what a typical day looks like.

Morning Routine

My morning routine is probably the only consistent part of my day, as every day in my role is different! I get up at 6.30am and always have breakfast, drop my daughters at breakfast club, and head out on the way to school for 7.45am.  

In the schools that I visit regularly, I usually start the day by checking in with the Inclusion team, checking the specific inbox I have for that school, and reminding myself of meetings or tasks set for that day. In schools where I am completing a shorter piece of work, my day normally starts with a briefing with the SENCo and Headteacher, and we will discuss the agenda for the day ahead.  

Workday Insights

Like most education-based roles, no two days are ever the same and I have to work flexibly in order to respond to the unique needs and demands of the setting. 

The desired outcomes for the piece of work I am completing are usually decided in advance, but then I am often left to manage my time and meet the deadlines set. This might be a distinct process over a couple of days, such as a behaviour or SEND review; alternatively, it might be a longer piece of work intended to implement and embed systems to support the SENCo, or improve scaffolding and quality of teaching in classrooms, for example.  

I mostly work with SENCos, Inclusion Leads, and school/trust leaders – but can also work with individual classroom teachers or pupils. My job is about supporting schools and academy trusts to work as efficiently and effectively as they can to support the needs of all pupils in their communities. I like to really get to know every setting as they all work differently and have unique challenges, and so require individualised suggestions and solutions.

I might be involved in creating tracking systems, responding to EHCP consultations, observing interventions, adapting curriculums or working directly with pupils- the list is endless! It can be a challenging task but my approach is always empathetic as I truly believe the role of the SENCo is one of the most challenging roles in school! 

Balancing Work and Wellbeing

It can be really challenging to balance work and wellbeing whilst in school, but I find the small rituals are the things that can really make a difference. I always try and spend 30 minutes having a set lunch break with colleagues in the school, as this is so important for staff morale. Also, I don’t check or answer emails from other settings whilst I am in school to avoid feeling overwhelmed and to ensure that the school I am in gets my full attention!  

Wrapping Up the Workday

Once my work within the school has been completed for the day, I always finish the workday by checking up on emails and admin for One Education, for example, responding to enquiries from new schools. I am rarely in the office during busy periods as I spend so much time in schools, so it’s important to keep up with what is going on with the company. Finally, I begin the journey home. My commute is usually 30 minutes at least and I use this time to listen to podcasts or the radio as a way of switching to ‘home mode’. 

Why I Love What I Do

I absolutely love what I do. I never wanted to progress along the school leadership path as it would mean taking time away from the classroom – so I feel very lucky to be able to focus my whole working day on what I am most passionate about without distraction! My days are varied and I have never completed exactly the same piece of work twice! I recently received an email from a SENCo to thank me for my support and share with me all the progress within school since we worked together, which is the best job satisfaction I could hope for.  

To learn more about our SEND Support for schools, explore our services or contact our team for more information.