Join us for a conversation with Philippa Stobbs OBE.

Philippa’s professional background is in teaching and school inspection work. Working with the Council for Disabled Children, in 1992 she founded the Special Educational Consortium to champion entitlement for children with SEN in the Education Act 1993. Since then, she has led a growing policy consensus that has championed disabled children and young people and those with SEN in parliament and with national government. She has designed and created highly successful partnership projects developing inclusion with local authorities, parent carer groups, the voluntary sector, schools and early years settings. She has produced a wide range of guidance and materials explaining complex legislation in practical terms. She designed, developed and led a multi-level, DfE-funded Early Years SEN and Disability national partnership programme 2016-2022.

Philippa was seconded to the DfE as SEN and disability professional adviser from 2008-2010 and, since then, has continued to advise DfE on a wide range of policy areas including funding, assessment and disability discrimination. She was appointed as the National Coordinator for England with the European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education 2014-2022.

Philippa has nationally recognised expertise and, until her recent retirement, led the education work at the Council for Disabled Children (CDC), as Assistant Director, based at the National Children’s Bureau (NCB). She continues to work on a number of projects as a CDC Associate and independently for other organisations. She recently completed a series of six guides on the disability duties in the Equality Act 2010, for early years settings, schools and FE colleges. The guides were commissioned by the DfE and are published on the CDC website.

In 2022 she won the NASEN Person of the year award and, in 2023, was awarded an OBE for services to disabled children.

A guide for schools

Disabled Children and the Equality Act 2010: What teachers need to know and what schools need to do

Disabled children and the Equality Act 2010 What teachers need to know and what schools need to do.pdf

A guide for school governors and trustees

Equality Act 2010 and disabled pupils: a guide for governors and trustees

Equality Act 2010 and disabled pupils: A guide for governors and trustees

Accessibility planning for schools

The Equality Act 2010 and accessibility planning: a handbook for schools

Accessibility plans and the Equality Act 2010 A handbook for schools.pdf

Training for schools

Training for schools on the disability duties in the Equality Act 2010

Guides and training packages for schools on the Disability duties in the Equality Act