Is Your School Ready for the New RISE Programme? A Leader's Guide

If you are a school leader looking to strengthen your SEND and literacy provision, you can access targeted support through the Department for Education's Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence (RISE) programme.

To get this support, you must engage with your local RISE regional partnership team. These teams work directly with schools, trusts, and local authorities to identify structural needs and deliver tailored, funded improvement plans.

Here is a practical guide on what the RISE programme is, how the regional hubs are organised, and how you can use this support to improve your school's literacy and SEND outcomes.

What is the RISE Programme and How Does It Work?

The Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence (RISE) programme is a Department for Education (DfE) initiative. It is designed to deliver targeted school improvement support across England.

Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all solution, RISE works through regional partnership teams. These teams collaborate with school leaders, multi-academy trusts, and local authorities.

They look at local data and school performance. Then, they help design and fund bespoke support packages. This support focuses on leadership, curriculum development, and specialised areas like SEND and literacy.

For school leaders, this means access to high-quality expertise without draining your school's existing budget. It is about building long-term capacity in your staff.

The 9 Regional Hubs: Finding Your Local RISE Support

The RISE programme is delivered through nine distinct regional hubs. Each hub has its own regional plan and dedicated partnership team.

To find the specific support available in your area, you can access the official DfE guidance for your region:

• If your school is in the East Midlands, see the RISE: East Midlands Guidance.
• If your school is in the East of England, see the RISE: East of England Guidance.
• If your school is in London, see the RISE: London Guidance.
• If your school is in the North East, see the RISE: North East Guidance.
• If your school is in the North West, see the RISE: North West Guidance.
• If your school is in the South East, see the RISE: South East Guidance.
• If your school is in the South West, see the RISE: South West Guidance.
• If your school is in the West Midlands, see the RISE: West Midlands Guidance.
• If your school is in Yorkshire and the Humber, see the RISE: Yorkshire and the Humber Guidance.

Each of these regional plans outlines how local partners are working together. They show who is leading the delivery and how local schools can get involved.

Using RISE Support to Strengthen Your Literacy and SEND Provision

Many school leaders find that SEND and early literacy are the areas requiring the most intensive staff development. You can align your RISE support requests to target these specific areas.

1. Staff Professional Development

You can use RISE support to fund high-quality training for your teaching assistants and teachers. If you want to run your own internal training sessions to support this work, you can read our guide on how to run in-house SEND and dyslexia training for your staff.

2. Inclusive Classroom Design

Improving your school's physical and digital environments is key to reducing SEND anxiety. If your budget is tight, you can explore our advice on how to design an inclusive classroom without a budget. You can also review your school's technology policies by reading about whether your school's digital setup is safe and accessible.

3. Evidenced-Based Interventions

RISE teams encourage schools to adopt structured, evidence-based tools. For daily, high-impact reading practice, assistive technology can support your classroom teachers.

For example, our app, Lexy, is a multisensory structured literacy tool informed by Orton-Gillingham principles. It helps pupils build reading fluency and practice phonics independently. It is not a replacement for specialist teaching, but it is a highly effective tool for daily classroom management. You can learn more about how it fits into your school on our Lexy for schools page, where we offer free access for up to five students.

Action Steps: How to Contact Your Regional Partnership Team Today

Ready to access this support? Follow these steps to get started:

1. Review Your Regional Plan: Download the specific RISE guidance document for your region from the links provided above. Note the key priorities outlined for your area.
2. Gather Your School Data: Identify your clear areas of need. Focus on specific metrics, such as phonics screening check results, SEND progress measures, or persistent absence figures.
3. Contact Your Local Authority or Trust Lead: RISE support is often coordinated at a structural level. Speak to your trust CEO or your local authority school improvement officer. Ask them to include your school in the next round of RISE regional planning.
4. Prepare an Action Proposal: When you meet with regional representatives, present a clear request. Show exactly how funded expert support will help you build long-term capacity in your teaching team.

By taking a proactive approach, you can ensure your school benefits from this funded national initiative, helping your staff deliver better outcomes for every child.