What people are saying;

I have worked with Keith for many years, his knowledge and skill of understanding children’s behaviour and empowering staff to manage the challenges they present is second to none. He has supported myself and staff with a number of pupils with SEND or experience of trauma. His humour and straight forward training methods and approachability enable him to quickly understand the issues of behaviour and make helpful suggestions to our staff. Building strong relationships with children who struggle with the school day and de-escalation strategies are at the heart of Keith’s method. I would unreservedly recommend him to any school who needs support in this area.

Keith has been an instrumental system leader for inclusive education and helped to share the vision for Children’s Services in Norfolk County Council. I have had the privilege of working with Keith for the last 5 years and I have witnessed their remarkable contributions to the development and implementation of an inclusive offer including with Norfolk Steps and our approaches to meeting the SEND needs, particularly SEMH. Keith has demonstrated an exceptional ability to triangulate the complex nature of children’s needs, family support and systemic requirements to shape an inclusive offer that meets the diverse and individual needs of learners and their families; been a key driver of the Norfolk Steps approach, which is a positive behaviour support framework that promotes the wellbeing and resilience of children and young people with social, emotional and mental health needs; been a strong advocate for the SEND agenda, ensuring that the voice and participation of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities are at the heart of decision making and service delivery; supported various initiatives and projects that have enhanced the quality and impact of inclusive education; established and maintained effective partnerships and collaborations with a range of stakeholders, such as schools, parents, carers, health and social care professionals, voluntary and community organisations, and local and national authorities; shown a high level of professionalism, integrity, and commitment to their role, as well as a continuous drive for learning and improvement; kept positive outcomes for children and young people at the heart of everything he has influenced. Keith has proven to be an invaluable asset and a positive influence on the lives of many children and young people.

Opening a brand new school is both exciting and daunting and requires a wide range of expertise to ensure it is successful. Opening a brand new SEMH residential school requires the same x 1000000. I will be eternally grateful to Keith for being the executive headteacher, SEMH guru and my absolute rock throughout the early months / years of my school’s inception. Keith’s experience of running a successful and outstanding SEMH residential school for a number of years made him my weekly (sometimes even daily) “phone a friend” for any dilemmas I found myself quandering. Keith has vast experience of working with young people who present with the most complex behaviours that challenge and harm, an extensive back catalogue of anecdotal solutions to any problem which arises and the integrity and drive to work relentlessly to ensure young people in his care have the best possible outcomes. Not only does he have the ability to make the most difficult situations feel manageable, he actively promotes self-efficacy in everyone he works with, pupils and staff. This approach comes from years of gaining on the ground knowledge and experience of SEND and applying it successfully to all he has worked with.

Keith’s ongoing work has had a significant impact on the culture and knowledge of staff at the schools. The combination of cultural process questioning, practical solutions, and guidance on how to work with children who are finding mainstream a challenge, has empowered all staff members to work as a team for all needs.