Partnering with early years settings, schools, colleges and trusts to help them understand their legal obligations, manage their risks and build genuinely inclusive practice.
I bring a clear understanding of what educational settings need to do to meet their legal obligations, manage their risk exposure and build the inclusive culture. At the heart of this are children and young people. I want to work with you so that your pupils with SEND get the education they deserve, and their families feel genuinely supported.
Cristina Di Santo
Founder
I have legal practice and risk management experience in City law firms, coupled with a solid understanding of the SEND and disability legal framework, verified through IPSEA (Independent Provider of Special Education Advice) qualifications** and lived experience.
Governor and board-level trustee positions held in special schools and a multi-academy trust, giving me a working understanding of how decisions are made at every level.
I have been through the system as a SEND parent (and continue to do so), giving me an understanding of the reality no textbook can provide. I have also worked for a disability charity supporting families and their loved ones so my understanding comes from more than just my own experiences.
*CDS SEND Inclusion is founded by Cristina Di Santo, a qualified solicitor (non-practising). Services provided are consultancy, training and/or advisory in nature and do not constitute legal advice or legal services as defined by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Educational establishments and trusts requiring formal legal advice should consult a practising solicitor.
** Certificates available to view on request.
My approach
Understand where you are.
I listen first, then give you an honest picture of where things stand: what's working, what's stuck, and where the gaps are. Think of me as a 'critical friend', someone who will tell you what they see clearly and will work with you to bring about change where it's needed.
Know where you're going.
Together we agree a route forward that's right for your setting and aligned to your strategy and priorities.
Make it happen, together.
Helping you to build and embed change so inclusion becomes the way you work, not a project that ends.
And if my commitments sound familiar, it's because they mirror the graduated approach you're using for your pupils: assess, plan, do, review. But instead of being applied to individuals, it is being applied to whole settings.
What I do
Every engagement is shaped around the specific needs of the early years setting, school, college or trust I work with.
An external, evidence-rich look at your provision, mapped directly to the DfE's 7 principles of inclusion, with strengths are celebrated, gaps named, and proposed next steps laid out that fit your setting.
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A flexible session for governors, leaders and all staff, drawing on lived experience to help settings build positive working relationships with SEND families.
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Aligning written policy to meet your legal requirements and reflecting on what happens in classrooms so that policy and reality match.
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Practical sessions for leaders, staff and governors so that they have clarity on their legal duties around SEND inclusion.
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Helping education settings understand what the SEND reforms could mean for them and how they can start planning for the future.
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A monthly retained service where I am available for ad-hoc projects and ongoing support to help meet your SEND policy and practice needs.
Read more hereIN THEIR WORDS
"As a governor, Cristina brought a wealth of knowledge and experience, and even more of her team player attitude. She was never afraid to challenge when required, but did so with kindness, empathy, and solutions. Cristina's legal knowledge, her proactive attitude, and her intellect generally were invaluable to our team."
Partnership working
Getting inclusion right takes more than a one-off training day. I partner with early years settings, schools, colleges and trusts for the long haul, bringing challenge and warmth in equal measure. I can help you improve your current inclusion practice, deal with difficult situations like a SEND Tribunal or an Ofsted outcome flagging inclusion as an area for improvement. I can also help you understand what your legal obligations are in relation to an exclusion decision. Whatever the issue, the starting point is consistently the same: an honest conversation about where you are and what you need.
Let's talk
Drop me an email or use the contact form. Tell me a little about your setting and what you would like my help with. No lengthy forms, no obligation.
I will get back to you to arrange a free, informal 30-minute call. No pitch, just a genuine conversation about your setting and what would be most useful.
If it feels like a good fit, I will send you a clear, fixed-fee proposal tailored to your setting's specific needs and priorities. No surprises.
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