Dr Alison Ekins

Dr Alison Ekins is passionate about supporting the development of effective inclusive practices and provision to meet the needs of all pupils and has achieved this through direct work in schools as well as through national and international academic research and teaching. Alison has worked in a wide range of school settings, including mainstream primary and secondary schools; Specialist Resource Provisions and special schools.

Alison currently works as Director of SEND for the Valley Invicta Academy Trust- a Trust of 9 schools (5 primary schools- 4 with ASD Specialist Resource Provisions and 4 secondary schools- including 1 grammar school and 3 comprehensive schools). The Trust has a deep commitment to inclusive education and Alison leads the ongoing review and development of high-quality, innovative and effective practices and provision to meet the needs of each individual pupil.

Alison is also an Inclusion Champion for Kent Local Authority and in this role has led work across the sector to develop shared understandings to develop Kent’s new Continuum of Need and Provision.