Exploring Accessibility - How Mindfulness Supports Inclusion in Schools  (The Warrington Project)

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Esther, Emma, and Gary discuss the Warrington project and how the intention of all MiSP-trained teachers (Mindfulness in Schools Project) is to make mindfulness more accessible to every child and young person they work with. They will share how teaching mindfulness to children and young people can offer a way to normalise and celebrate difference as well as our similarities, improving their trust and confidence in who they are and how they relate to the world.

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Gary is now a CEO of a thriving Multi-Academy Trust, known for driving educational excellence and fostering inclusive, high-performing learning environments. With a deep passion for transformative leadership, Gary has championed school improvement across diverse communities, prioritising student achievement, staff development, and innovation in teaching. He has been a school leader for over 25 years and has spent most of his career working in the primary sector in areas of high deprivation and supporting children with significant levels of SEND. His passion for SEND has led him to open and lead specialist provisions for children with a variety of needs including Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. He has been a member of Warrington’s SEND Review Board for over 15 years and has been Chair of Warrington’s Schools’ Forum for the last 5 years.

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In 2019 he formed and opened One Community Trust and became its first CEO. The trust was initially a Multi Academy Trust (MAT) of 4 primary schools but has quickly grown to 7 primary schools and a high school. Within the mainstream schools there are now 10 specialist provisions supporting children and young people with ASD, Cognition & Learning and SEMH needs. He is committed to developing trusting relationships within the MAT where children thrive due to a safe and positive culture.