About Take Your Place
This project supports National Framework Enabler 3, National Framework Outcomes 1,2,3,4 and What works in SEND Enabler 5. Please click here for more details
SESLIP has developed this programme to support future leaders in Children’s Social Care, Education, SEND, Early Help and other aspects of children’s services. It is supported as Project #5 in the 2026-2027 SESLIP Regional Improvement Plan.
What is the Future Leaders Programme?
There is a range of flexible learning opportunities for leaders and managers who may be interested in moving to more senior roles. This includes experiential learning, workshops and other opportunities. Participants are free to pick and choose which elements they would like to take part in.
Who is the Future Leaders Programme for?
It is open to people who want to progress to more senior roles and also those who would like to improve their leadership skills. Our market research for setting up this programme identified considerable ambivalence about applying for senior roles in our current workforce (less than 40% of those asked had active plans to apply).
How much does the Future Leaders Programme?
All are free at the point of access and have been paid for by your authority as part of their SESLIP subscription. We may ask authorities to help us prioritise applicants if course become oversubscribed.
Take Your Place Leadership Development Programme 2026-27
A flyer for the 2026-2027 offer is here
This is a free to access CPD leadership programme for third tier managers. The course starts with a residential on 14th and 15th January 2027, followed by in person workshops on 15th February and 18th March 2027 and a final session on 16th April 2027.
The sessions will be held in Reading at venue with good public transport links.
Each SESLIP large authority (population over 400,000) had two places and small authorities (population under 400,000) a single place (we will also take names for reserves as last year not all authorities took up their full allocation). Nominations close on 9 December 2026. Your final nominations need to be endorsed by your DCS and details sent to mark@markevansconsulting.co.uk
Black and Asian Leadership Initiative (BALI)
As part of our Future Leaders Programme we have also secured access to the Staff Colleges BALI programme. The BALI: Unlocking Hidden Talent programme was established in 2012 to explore the obstacles and barriers global majority leaders face within the public sector. It provides a psychologically safe space to acknowledge challenges and explores ways to support growth, knowledge, and strategies to overcome challenges. It is a 4 day programme with day 1 & 2 running concurrently and day 3 & 4 approx. 2/3 months later to allow reflection and learning to be applied into practice.
Each SESLIP authority can access one funded place. More information about the programme can be found at: https://thestaffcollege.uk/programmes/black-and-asian-leadership-initiative-bali/unlocking-hidden-talent/
Your nominated person needs to apply directly to the Staff College (using the link above) and once they have secured a place let mark@markevansconsulting.co.uk to arrange for the cost over the programme to be picked up by SESLIP.
Leading in Uncertainty (For more details see Leading in Uncertainty)
We are working with The Staff College to deliver the Leading in Uncertainty programme with provisional dates planned for 14 & 15 April – 20 & 21 May 2027. Closing date for applications is 26 February 2027. For more details please contact Mark Evans (details below) od visit our Leading in Uncertainty page