Tracey Patterson

Tracey’s passion for inclusion is borne from educating young people facing adversity, inequality and challenge in their daily lives.  As a reflective practitioner, she strives to enable and empower educational staff to identify and break down barriers to learning resulting in improved outcomes for all learners, particularly those with special educational needs.

Tracey benefits from a rich and varied exposure to inclusion, equality and special educational needs in a variety of roles including secondary teaching, SEND leadership and local authority SEND management.  Delivering the National Award for SEN Coordination to an early years, primary, secondary and FE audience ensures that her knowledge and understanding remains broad, current and relevant.

Tracey began work as a Maths teacher, Head of Year and then SENCo in a 16 year teaching career within secondary provision.  She also has experience as a local authority SEN Manager working across all educational sectors to support settings and families to meet the needs of children and young people with special educational needs and disability.  Tracey joined the University of Chester in 2016 as a visiting lecturer and was appointed to a senior lecturer position in 2020.  Tracey teaches on a range of modules at both undergraduate and postgraduate level with a focus on SEND and improving outcomes for all learners.

Tracey represents the University on the NASENCo Provider Partnership Community Interest Group and is involved in discussions with the DfE relating to the national SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan (2023).  She has presented at SEND conferences and worked with local authorities to develop knowledge, skills and confidence of the workforce in fulfilling their SEND responsibilities under current legislation.