Pioneer of no SEND exclusions has outstanding contribution recognised in National SEND Awards 2025

Thomas has dedicated his life’s work to ensuring children and young people with SEND receive the very best support, opportunities, and outcomes through education. His passion, vision, and unwavering commitment to real, authentic inclusion continue to transform lives across the UK.

The Outstanding Individual Contribution to SEND award celebrates the devotion to children and young people shown by an individual in education.

Thomas, who attended the online awards ceremony last night said: “I was humbled and surprised to hear my name read out as the winner. The TCES Group has been my passion for over 25-years with every decision I make as CEO dedicated to transforming the lives of our amazing, talented SEND students.

“I have long been outspoken on wanting to see an end to SEND exclusions, every day we see the trauma and damage excluding children with disabilities has on the child but also on their family. This award isn't about me, it is about the amazing team at TCES who work tirelessly to never give up on a child.

“I am honoured to have received this award and will ensure that we continue to fight for a truly inclusive education system where SEND children are celebrated not labelled and are given the right support to help them thrive and reach the potential many don't even know they have.”

Thomas established TCES as a Social Enterprise in 1999 to provide one-to-one education packages for excluded and non-attending pupils. By working with Local Authority education departments, Thomas was able to offer earlier intervention to excluded young people to positively increase their take up of education and from those early day over 90% of TCES young people graduate into employment, education or training. ,

Under Thomas’ nurturing, inclusive leadership, TCES have never excluded a single pupil in their 25-year history. Thomas’ pioneering non-exclusionary ethos is all the more impressive when considering that TCES pupils have an average of three permanent exclusions or managed moves prior to coming to TCES.

The award follows an exciting 12months for TCES which has seen their North West London school in Ealing being graded outstanding by Ofsted and the launch of their new Great Minds Training and Therapy services, offering a National Therapeutic Training and Therapy Service across the UK. TCES also celebrated their quarter century birthday marking the milestone of 25-years without a single exclusion.

Upon accepting the award Thomas spoke about his new ‘Reach Out Inclusion project’, which was launched earlier this year at TCES Group’s London Conference bringing industry professions together to explore increasing attendance and reducing exclusions. Thomas’s upcoming plans include offer inclusion training for mainstream staff, online support for children with emotionally based school anxiety through the DfE Accredited National Online School.

Talking about the work of Thomas and TCES earlier this year, TCES Patron Dame Esther Rantzen commented: “I’m delighted to be Patron for The Complete Education Solution and to champion these young people having seen first-hand how this unique formula for authentic therapeutic education works. Throughout my time as Patron to TCES, I have been particularly impressed by the excellent outcomes TCES have achieved, through their policy of ‘never giving up’ on their young people, no matter how challenging.

“The fact that between 90% and 100% of their pupils go onto education, employment or training is for me conclusive evidence that TCES’ approach works and works well, and I believe that its policy of never permanently excluding, along with other interventions, could and should be used as a template for the educational sector as a whole”.

To find out more about TCES visit the website: The Complete Education Solution: We Never Give Up!