Winner
Nominated Date - 27-01-2025
Nominee Name - Angy And Claire
Nominee Service - Young Person Special Olympics

Nomination Details
It's the first club that we have found that felt truly inclusive for my son and encourages him to do what he loves, which is sport activities.

They are both shining lights in the club and a huge support for both us as adults as well as children.
It's been an amazing resource for us.

2nd Place
Nominated Date - 17-06-2025
Nominee Name - Charlotte Hardy
Nominee Service - Head Of Senco At Spalding Parish Church Of England

Nomination Details
I am writing to nominate Charlotte Hardy, Head of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) at Spalding Parish Church of England Day School, for the award, in recognition of her outstanding dedication and support for my son, who is autistic.

Throughout his diagnosis and subsequent educational journey, Charlotte has been an unwavering advocate, providing comprehensive assistance tailored to his unique needs. Her involvement encompassed:

Educational Advocacy: Charlotte played a pivotal role in securing a placement for my son at a special needs school, ensuring he received the appropriate educational environment.

Administrative Support: She meticulously handled all necessary paperwork, including letters and documentation, facilitating a smooth transition and compliance with educational requirements.

Extended Commitment: Demonstrating exceptional dedication, Charlotte often worked beyond regular hours to provide additional support, ensuring my son's needs were met promptly.

Family Support: Her empathy extended to our family, offering guidance and reassurance, which significantly alleviated our concerns during challenging times.

Availability and Care: Charlotte's consistent availability and genuine care have been a source of immense comfort, distinguishing her as a remarkable professional in the field.

Parent Support Initiatives: Charlotte organises monthly parent support groups for families with children with special educational needs, fostering a community of shared experiences and mutual support.

Broader Impact: Her efforts have positively impacted numerous other children and families, making her a role model in the SEND community.

In conclusion, Charlotte Hardy's unwavering commitment and exceptional support have had a transformative impact on my son's educational experience. I wholeheartedly recommend her for the award, confident that her contributions exemplify the highest standards of excellence in SEND support.

Thank you for considering this nomination.

3rd Place
Nominated Date - 20-03-2025
Nominee Name - Pilgrim School, Amber Hill
Nominee Service - Pilgrim School, Amber Hill

Nomination Details
Our child has been registered with Pilgrim School since year 7 and is now in year ten. When first joining Pilgrim my son was a mainstream school refuser and had suffered a serious Autistic/Sensory processing crisis that has resulted in them being unable to leave the house.

Their first two years at Pilgrim (year 7 and 8) were spent being home schooled. Their Home Support and Reintegration Officer, Lynda Martin, was phenomenal, engaging with my child in a compassionate and patient way over the months and years she worked with my child. Linda was key in helping to slowly build my child's ability to access first his home learning and eventually, during year 9, to access school-based activities on a full time basis.

Over the last eighteen months, they have thrived attending base. The staff truly listen to them and support their various and complex array of needs. Every single member of the school staff I have been in contact with have been extremely supportive to both my youngster and us as a family. Pilgrim is a special place, one that has helped develop their resilience, enabling them to attend school full time. The level of support in place within school is exceptional, and my youngster values and trusts the staff there; they knows that staff have their best interests at heart.

Every single staff member at Pilgrim’s Amber Hill base (and beyond, with staff at Baumber base and his home teacher Susan Williamson) has had a significant impact on their confidence in school and ability to navigate their education. I would particularly like to mention a few specific staff by name though:

Jaimee-Leigh Burn - Pastoral Support & Welfare Specialist
Scott Archibald – Academic Link
Lynda Martin - Pastoral Support and Welfare Officer
and Susan Williamson (Pilgrim home tutor for two years of home schooling)
All four have been key in providing my youngster with the educational and pastoral support they have needed to begin to fully access their education.

That said, the entire staff at Pilgrim have provided key support to them in a wide range of ways and we are very grateful for their support. I really cannot express how grateful we are as a family for all the support Pilgrim School has shown, and for the continuing and exceptional efforts of the entire team at Amber Hill.

Nominated Date - 18-05-2025
Nominee Name - Amy Rebecca Hunnings
Nominee Service - Inspire Dance- Dance Teacher

Nomination Details
My daughter, began dancing when she just two years old.

From the age of three, we began our journey, after it was suggested she may have Autism. Now, aged 10, she has lots of challenges, but these have been made easier by her passion for dance. Amy has been like a member of our family, supporting her and being an inclusive and welcoming dance school.

Whilst many professionals involved with children with additional needs, come from school, counsellors and SENCo, my daughter finds dance- an extra curricular activity- her safe place, where she’s truly understood.

After struggling all day to fit in and comply, she gets to be her true self and express her built up frustrations, her overloads and masking, her social anxieties and lack of understanding, in her true haven of dance and performance.

This is supported daily through Amy, who has been there to be the counsellor, the mediator, the teacher, the friend, the good guy- and the bad guy when it is needed.

She’s accommodated her needs alongside others in the classes, and has helped her thrive, giving her direction, goals and to be her absolute best self, pushed her and supported her, and answered many messages- well out of working hours.

She’s gone above and beyond just dance classes to allow my girl to become a confident, understanding and motivated young girl, who aspires to be just like the older dancers, and a role model for the younger children.

Nominated Date - 17-01-2025
Nominee Name - Christine Hawkes
Nominee Service - Bythams School Deputy Safeguarding Lead - Thrive Practitioner

Nomination Details
Christine first joined The Bythams School last year when my daughter was in Year 1.
She is now in Year 2 and during this time Christines support has helped my daughter and my family so much and has gone above and beyond. She is thoughtful and caring which is demonstrated by her quick thinking to implement practical support and access all resources available to really help families in need.

She has helped in creating a wonderful environment for the children at The Bythams School. The "Thrive Hive" is the name of the sensory support room and a place my daughter attends at the school where Christine is able to help regulate my daughters emotions.

I feel Christines support with my daughters emotional regulation has helped her to engage in her learning as she's come on amazingly this year. The way Christine is able to spend time with the children to understand what is really going on is vital to the children's wellbeing and helps them to process emotional challenges and help them to feel secure in themselves and regulated to learn.

I'm amazed by the range of resources and techniques she uses to achieve this, all with the purpose of helping the children to thrive. Christine used her initiative to set up a food bank at the school as she noted some rural families struggled to get supplies in also due to the cost of living.

As my village has no transport to the school, on days when I'm unwell to drive due to my own health conditions, Christine takes my daughter to school and has used provisions to fund breakfast and after school club for my daughter when needed at short notice which has been a lifeline for myself. Her empathy towards the children and families at Bythams is life changing. She knows when things aren't ok and acts quickly to support in any way she can.

Christine goes above and beyond in her role on a daily basis and without her I fear my daughter would have not been able to cope being in a mainstream school. Another example being that, my daughter was very attached to her school coat she'd had for years, but sadly the zip had broken and it was becoming too small for her.

Christine kindly offered to use the furry hood to create a keepsake toy for my daughter which she absolutely adores and I'm so grateful to Christine for taking the time to do this for my daughter which was extremely thoughtful of her. Her support following my daughters community paediatrician referral has been outstanding.

Christine has met with myself and my daughter for both of my daughters appointments even on her days off. She genuinely cares and her support, initiative and professionalism helped both my daughter and myself. Her dedication to understanding the process of the referral is truly admirable and her initiative to take my daughter out of ear shot when the community paed asked some personal and adult questions was very much respected and appreciated. I fear, my daughter would have absorbed inappropriate information or I would have been unable to answer appropriately otherwise.

I simply cannot commend her enough which is why I feel strongly about nominating her for this award after everything she has done and continues to do in her role at The Bythams School assisting my daughter, myself, all the children and families and even the wider rural community doing all she can to help others.

In the space of time she's been at the school, she has helped on countless times, certainly too many to list in this typing box! Thank you Christine

Nominated Date - 04-04-2025
Nominee Name - Long Bennington Academy
Nominee Service - Long Bennington Academy

Nomination Details
I wanted to nominate Long Bennington Academy for their supportive approach to helping children with additional needs.

From the start they have been supportive of me as a parent and my son. They go above and beyond to ensure that strategies are implemented to make it comfortable for him to attend school and ensure that he is supported to participate in lessons. They are open to suggestions and experimenting with different approaches and strategies and they always ensure that anything relevant is fed back to me.

His IEPs are reviewed on time and any relevant referrals are submitted quickly.
I know that from observing the work of the staff with other children with identified disabilities that they are positive and friendly in their interactions and share with the wider school awareness raising campaigns to support children who have disabilities or are neurodivergent.

They also have an 'Equalisers' group of children who raise awareness and share awareness days with the wider school, bringing to life what it is like to live with differences.

My son regularly uses the mantra 'Not weird, just different' which is something he carries with him as a result of attending the school.

Nominated Date - 31-01-2025
Nominee Name - Mrs Forster & Mrs Webb
Nominee Service - Baston Ce Primary School

Nomination Details
Hi I moved from Bourne with my family to Baston, had to get my daughter into a school and she got into Baston primary school . The staff welcomed her with opened arms and I had spoken to the staff head teacher Mrs Forster and SENDCo Mrs Webb.

My daughter was happy but very shy at times but settled very well. I then had a call saying to have a meeting with Mrs Forster about her and her background and in the conversation I was told that my daughter was really lacking hardly any social Skills, reading and writing in fact she had learnt nothing at her previous school and the school was concerned so we arranged a meeting with the SENDCo teacher and got the ball rolling with a plan straight away.

After meeting Mrs Forster everything was so positive, after a day I saw and met Mrs Webb and we had sorted a plan out for my daughter to get her started they took it out of their time to give her one to one time and support she so much needed without any worry at all there was no funding at this time but the teachers needed to get her started and gave her the strategies, learning basic skills she so desperately needed .

After time myself and teachers had regular meetings to catch up on her progress and she was still struggling but the Mrs Webb stuck to her and got her to where she needed to be, we then put in for her EHC plan so we could then give her targets which is was doing well with and with a lot of distraction and very slow progress she was getting them she did have a lot of set backs but Mrs Webb and Mrs Forster got her back at her own pace slowly.

After 3 yrs of having my daughter at Baston primary school she has been a happy content child she loves school her teachers and Mrs Forster and Mrs Webb the school never gave up on my child, the will power in the teachers abilities are amazing Mrs Webb never ever left my daughter without anything and worked with her constantly, same with Mrs Forster.

My girl now has been diagnosed with ADHD and without the help of the named teachers that pushed and fought for her to get her where she is now god never knows where she would be. She has now got all the help from her hours from her EHC as well as her diagnosis she gets so much help in school it’s really bringing her on in life.

I cannot thank Mrs Forster the head teacher and Mrs Webb enough for all the amazing hard but stressful work they have done with my daughter they have brought a little girl that has gone through trauma in her life, lack of any abilities of learning or skills, writing or reading and have got her back in her life to a little girl that is loving life and school.

I hope they get this reward as I cannot recommend this school enough Mrs Forster (Head Teacher)and Mrs Webb (SENDCo)thank you so much for what u have achieved in the last 3 yrs with my daughter ?

Many thanks from a very grateful parent

Nominated Date - 24-02-2025
Nominee Name - Mrs Zoe Dixon (teacher) And Mrs Naiome Ritchie (teaching Assistant)
Nominee Service - Teacher And Teaching Assistant

Nomination Details
My son has a diagnosis of Autism, dyslexia and is awaiting an assessment for ADHD. He is affected hugely on a daily basis, struggling with other health issues on top of ASD.

My child's experience of school so far has been very difficult. He has particularly struggled with self esteem and self worth. We have regular melt downs due to autism overwhelm and overload, as well as ongoing serious health issues with asthma.

Since he started year 3 in September, Mrs Dixon has worked so hard to gain trust, build his confidence and self worth. My son has jumped leaps and strides academically, due to her dedication, though and care.

Despite ongoing serious health issues and not being unable to do sports because of this, Mrs Dixon has gone the extra mile to accommodate and help him, supporting him to voice how he feels and express how he feels.

Mrs Dixon has listened to him and advocated for him where it has been difficult for him to express himself. She has made his learning environment as tailored for him as possible, with as few sensory triggers as possible and has provided so much emotional support, security and helped to make him feel safe at school.

With any activity Mrs Dixon carefully pre-plans how this may affect my son and puts in strategies to help him achieve.

Mrs Ritchie is an outstanding TA who has worked with my son for two years both in and out of school. Mrs Ritchie has helped him both academically, finding innovative and exciting ways to help him learn, making learning fun and turning homework in to something he actually enjoys.

Mrs Ritchie has provided him with stability, security and safety on days where he has found the school environment really difficult. Mrs Ritchie shows huge empathy and understanding for my son and advocates intuitively for him.

Both Mrs Ritchie and Mrs Dixon have impacted so positively on my sons everyday lived experience at school, which until this year is something he has found increasingly difficult and anxiety provoking.

Recently my son's asthma has been particularly unstable, greatly affecting him and impacting on both his health and well being, triggering his sensory issues, exhaustion levels and affecting his ability to manage and cope at school. Without Mrs Dixon's support allowing time every morning for him to enter class on his own, without the other children and acclimatise to the class environment and also her emotional support, my son would have missed large chunks of learning time and found getting in to school, much, much more difficult.

Equally, without Mrs Ritchie taking time and trouble to greet my son in the morning, check on how he is throughout the day, provide emotional support and care, he would have struggled far more than he has done.

Knowing that he can pop and see Mrs Ritchie to help choose a reading book makes his day much brighter. My son has had 1:1 help outside of school for over a year with Mrs Ritchie now and she has changed the way he sees homework. Mrs Ritchie has also provided a link between home and school, which has made transitions easier on a daily basis.

Nominated Date - 06-06-2025
Nominee Name - Emma Johnson
Nominee Service - Faldingworth Primary School

Nomination Details
Emma works at my son’s school as his TA/1:1. She is absolutely incredible and the transition to primary school has been seamless all thanks to her.

My son absolutely adores her, and he has gone from being non verbal to constantly saying her name! She hasn’t had any specialist training, but goes out of her way to constantly learn about autism/pda/adhd/gestalt learning processors/pica.

My son is 5 and has SO much energy, and will regularly try to abscond; Emma spends most of her day running after him and she always has a smile on her face.

Whilst we are currently waiting for a specialist place, I am so happy knowing that he is ok and happy at school, all thanks to Emma!

Nominated Date - 29-01-2025
Nominee Name - Ms Edwards
Nominee Service - Senco

Nomination Details
Poppy has really helped my son, he is dyslexic and she has arranged his assessment and put interventions in place, brought reading books especially for him as he had a very mature attitude but very poor reading ability and was getting upset with the schools books.

She has arranged for him to have therapy as he is struggling to process his emotions and his frustrations at the fact he can't do things his friends can.

She is doing all she can to help, making me as a parent feel better about the future.

Nominated Date - 26-02-2025
Nominee Name - Carole Allen
Nominee Service - St Andrews School Leasingham

Nomination Details
Mrs Allen has been such as amazing support for my twin children who joined the school only a few months ago. She identified very quickly with their teacher the immediate needs and put a plan of care in place.

My children and I are so thankful for all the kindness, care and compassion she has provided to our whole family, through such a challenging educational experience.

Mrs Allen is the best example of how a person loves their job and excellent in making children with SEND feel comfortable and safe to be who they truly are.

Such an impact in such as short space of time and we will never forget how she has improved my children’s education journey.

Nominated Date - 05-03-2025
Nominee Name - Mrs Sara Gascoigne
Nominee Service - Senco/ Class Teacher

Nomination Details
I would like to nominate Mrs Sara Gascoigne, SENCO and Year 5/6 teacher at Donnington on Bain Primary School.

Sara Gascoigne has been my daughter's teacher for nearly two years and the support she has provided to my daughter and to me as a parent has really made a difference to all our lives.

My girl has flourished as an individual under her care both academically and emotionally. Under her guidance and encouragement she now enjoys learning, takes pride in her schoolwork and her confidence is blossoming.
Sara Gascoigne has supported us as a family when applying for an EHC Plan, making secondary school applications, and seeking additional support for her.

She takes the time to understand her; her passions and her triggers. She understands and notices when she is having a 'bad' day and is curious and enquiring as to what could be the root cause.

Sara Gascoigne is such a passionate and caring teacher and always wants and strives to attain the best for the children in her care.

I cannot thank Sara Gascoigne enough for how she has supported our daughter. We couldn’t have asked more from a professional.
She has gone above and beyond what she is required to do.

Nominated Date - 08-04-2025
Nominee Name - Lisa Parker
Nominee Service - Sutton St James Preschool

Nomination Details
Lisa was my son’s key person during his two years at preschool.
Although he has transitioned over to school, he talks about Lisa and how much fun he had with her.

From a parental perspective, Lisa was in the trenches with me fighting my son’s corner continuously so he could get the support he needed.

Transition is a huge step for my son and Lisa was incredibly accommodating with supporting him and helping him process this change.

Nominated Date - 06-05-2025
Nominee Name - Hannah Clark-darby
Nominee Service - Healthy Minds

Nomination Details
I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the outstanding support provided by Hannah from Healthy Minds.
She went above and beyond to adapt the virtual sessions to meet the specific needs of my older autistic child.

Many of the initial suggestions were more suited to younger children and didn’t quite meet our needs. However, once I explained our situation and that we had already tried those approaches, she showed incredible dedication and compassion by actively seeking out alternative strategies that were age-appropriate and relevant to our circumstances.

Her willingness to go the extra mile made a real difference – not only did it help me better support my child in managing her emotions, but it also made us feel genuinely seen, heard, and comfortable throughout the process. Her personalised approach and empathetic understanding were immensely valuable, and I am truly grateful for the positive impact she has had on our journey.

Nominated Date - 19-05-2025
Nominee Name - Rebecca
Nominee Service - Parent

Nomination Details
Miss Chapman is an awesome teacher at the Lancaster school in Lincoln such a big help.

Very friendly and goes out her way to help others she is one in a million.

Nominated Date - 03-06-2025
Nominee Name - Christine Haslam
Nominee Service - Faldingworth Primary School

Nomination Details
Christine is the SENDCo at my son’s school (Faldingworth Primary). My son is autistic and has adhd.

The whole EHCP process has been an absolute battle to try and get him the appropriate support, and Christine has been absolutely amazing. She has helped me and supported my son every step of the way. She has fought for him when others haven’t.

I couldn’t have gotten through the past year without her. He was diagnosed as being a Gestalt Learning Processor and despite her having no knowledge of this, she has gone out of her way to learn and educate the other staff to support him.

He absolutely loves school and that is all down to her. We know that mainstream is not the right place for him and she has helped me fight to get him the specialist school place he needs.

We have finally gotten the LA to agree and are now awaiting a named setting with a tribunal booked for March.
Christine is incredible and mainstream schools need more like her!!!

Nominated Date - 06-06-2025
Nominee Name - Kathryn Pledger / Carole Allen
Nominee Service - St Andrews School Leasingham

Nomination Details
Mrs Pledger and Mrs Allen are the most kindest and caring teachers my children (twins) have had since their time at school started.

Mrs Pledgers patience and understanding for children with SEND needs is outstanding. She is thoughtful and has improved my children’s experience of school and enhanced their future possibilities. Working closely with the schools SENDCo (Mrs Allen) and supporting in obtaining all the resources my children and others in her class always need.

With both of these amazing staff members leading their team in supporting my children to always feel included and demonstrating their passion to make every child feel special and important, always going the extra mile and above.

Mrs Allen and Mrs Pledger have not only been supportive of my children, but have been so caring and supportive of our whole family going through the EHCP process not once, but twice, back to back, during so many challenges each has encountered.

With their help my children and others will have the opportunity to have a greater education moving forwards and potential opportunities for their whole futures with their advocacy for supporting children with SEND needs is outstanding and admirable.

I don’t know of any two people who deserve to be nominated and recognised for their hard work and compassion to the children in their care everyday with and without SEND needs.

Nominated Date - 05-07-2025
Nominee Name - Lincoln Carlton Academy
Nominee Service - School

Nomination Details
Since my daughter started this school in September she has made incredible progress with her meltdowns/outbursts.

The school has worked hard and to make sure she understands her own emotions so that she can be safe around others and herself.

They have also shown her that there are different outlets for her if she needs them instead of going to hit or attack, which has improved so much since starting.

They go above and beyond for parents and are always there to listen to me crying or rambling on about how my weekend has been or what she's been doing.

Nominated Date - 10-07-2025
Nominee Name - Ronnette Gray
Nominee Service - Teaching Support Worker Send

Nomination Details
Mrs Gray simply put makes the lives of my children better!

She thinks of necessary reasonable adjustments needed before they happen meaning I never have to worry about my children being faced with a situation they cannot handle. She has gained the trust of my year 9 son not an easy feat and now he knows she will make everything better in her power to do so.

The SEND team as a whole are strong advocates for inclusivity and bringing the best out in my children but the support I as a parent feel from Mrs Gray and how she treats both of my children is priceless.

She deserves recognition for her common sense, caring approach and I wholeheartedly put my trust in her that she will and does do the very best for both of my SEN children. Thank you!

Nominated Date - 20-08-2025
Nominee Name - Vanessa Hobart And Lee Hextall
Nominee Service - Lincolnshire Music Service

Nomination Details
I would like to nominate Vanessa Hobart and Lee Hextall from the Lincolnshire Music service.

Vanessa and Lee organise and co-ordinate the Boston Wind Youth Orchestra and Boston Pop Choir – just two of their groups which my daughter goes to each week after school.
Both Vanessa and Lee are warm, kind, welcoming, and enthusiastic about music and the wonderful impact it has on all the children who attend.

I cannot tell you how much they have supported and helped my daughter’s confidence in many ways. At school she struggles as a neurodivergent young lady.

Vanessa and Lee appear to have thought of everything and even when my daughter has had a bad day at school, she feels wanted and safe knowing what the routine and roles.
She loves the inclusivity, challenge, fun and teamwork which the groups provide.

The groups are free (even better!) made possible through their regular performances and fundraising which, for a child with a additional needs to then perform on stage with such confidence is amazing.

Nominated Date - 23-09-2025
Nominee Name - Helen Taylor And Emma Houlton
Nominee Service - The Bluecoat School Stamford

Nomination Details
The Bluecoat School is a very inclusive primary school that goes above and beyond for parents and families. They have supported my children and me every step of the way and encouraged us to use the services around us to support us.

My son has progressed in all aspects of his development, and nothing is too big an ask. the communication between the schoolteachers and my son and me is exemplary and I wish that every family could receive such care.

The class teachers are so supportive and review care and development regularly which always keeps me in the loop and prevents issues before they become a problem. My son feels listened to and understood, there could not be a more attentive team. Thank you!