By David Young-
A special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) leader is celebrating being made changemaker of the year. for the efficiency with which he has run Newham school rated outstanding by education inspectorate Ofsted.
Thomas Keaney, founder of The Complete Education Solution (TCES), was named changemaker of the year at the 2025 NASEN awards for his work supporting children with SEND in Newham and Ealing. TCES East London provides specialist therapeutic education at sites in Stratford and Custom House.
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Incredibly, a high percentage of pupils at the school suffer with a range of neurodiverse needs, including autism and social and mental emotional needs. The predominant and co-morbid features relate to anxiety, and a significant percentage of pupils present with Tier 3 CAMHS level anxiety or depression.
Most of the neurodiverse students are from 12 to 19 years old, wit its TCES Nurture Primary site at Varley Road, Custom House, educates pupils from 7 to 12 years old, dealing with pupils with a diagnosis of SEMH (social, emotional and mental health needs) and/or ASC (autism spectrum condition) and associated conditions.
Since 2009, TCES East London school has provided an environment where pupils can grow and develop socially, emotionally and academically, using a bespoke level of teachers, therapists, support staff and parents to enhance the progress of the students.
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A vast majority of children sent to the school were perpetual absentees at their former school.However, thanks to the collaborative support of teachers, support staff, social workers and therapists, many of the children have been making remarkable progress., with may of their students returning to sixth form.
The school offers a broad and ambitious curriculum that identifies the important knowledge, vocabulary and skills that pupils need to learn. The curriculum is carefully adapted so that all pupils can work towards achieving their education, health and care plan targets.
The overall training of students involves painstaking and innovative training of children with special needs, including instilling passion and commitment in children who normally have an apathy towards learning and education.
The school educates neurodiverse students from 12 to 19 years old, whilst our TCES Nurture Primary site at Varley Road, Custom House, educates pupils from 7 to 12 years old, dealing with pupils with a diagnosis of SEMH (social, emotional and mental health needs) and/or ASC (autism spectrum condition) and associated conditions.
Since 2009, TCES East London school has provided an environment where pupils can grow and develop socially, emotionally and academically, using a bespoke level of teachers, therapists, support staff and parents to enhance the progress of the students.
Mr Keaney said: “I am grateful and humbled to win the changemaker of the year award but this award really represents the ‘we never give up’ attitude of all our staff who make such a difference.
“It also represents the extraordinary children and young people who we all serve.”
he extraordinary children and young people who we all serve.”
Thomas Keaney celebrates his award(Image: TCES Group)
Mr Keaney established TCES in 1999 as a social enterprise to provide holistic education packages for excluded and non-attending pupils.
Mr Keaney established TCES in 1999 as a social enterprise to provide holistic education packages for excluded and non-attending pupils. In its 25 years of operation, the organisation has never excluded a pupil.
TCES patron Dame Esther Rantzen said: “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.”
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