Beverley Blake is the Inclusion Officer at Bushey United Synagogue and Deputy Head and SENCO at Beit Shvidler Primary School. Through her work in both school and synagogue, she champions practical, thoughtful inclusion, ensuring that every child and every family feels that they belong.
Beverley began her teaching career after gaining a degree in psychology. She went on to gain her PGCE at the London School of Jewish Studies and has worked in Jewish education ever since. Beverley began as a classroom teacher, teaching from Year 1 to Year 6 and found herself drawn to supporting pupils who faced learning and behavioural challenges. Her early interest in educational psychology stayed with her and after more than a decade in teaching, she decided to progress her career and qualify as a SENCO. This coincided with a change in national policy, which required every school to have a qualified SENCO. Beverley has now been SENCO at Beit Shvidler for many years and also serves as Deputy Head.
Asked what she finds most rewarding, Beverley explained how much she values the small steps that mark real change for a child and the resilience shown by families. She describes her role as “part support, part investigation, working closely with parents and staff to understand what each child needs and how best to provide it.”
Beverley’s commitment to inclusion extends beyond the school gates. As Inclusion Officer on the shul council at Bushey United Synagogue, she works to ensure community life is accessible to all. After several years serving on the council with the Youth and Children Portfolio, she was approached when the United Synagogue strengthened its focus on inclusion and asked each shul to appoint a dedicated lead.
“It felt like a natural fit with my profession and interests,” she said. “Much of the shul’s inclusion work happens quietly. Our shul council and rabbinic team are deeply committed to understanding and supporting the needs of the whole community. We do not want anyone to feel marginalised or excluded.”
This is reflected through adapting services, supporting children with additional needs through their bar or bat mitzvah journeys and making practical adjustments so everyone can take part. These range from bringing the Sefer Torah from our Bimah which has steps so a wheelchair user can read from it, to guiding families through sensitive situations, the aim is to build a culture of patience and awareness.
Beverley added, “I have delivered talks to the community on neurodiversity to help people better understand how to adapt and support the needs of families. We have introduced a Calm Service on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur for children aged six and above with a range of additional needs. The service offers a supportive environment that enables families to take part in the High Holy Days. We have also recently launched Sensory Support bags, which are available in the synagogue for any child to use, regardless of need or ability to focus.”
“Some families in our shul, and in other communities, may feel hesitant about attending activities or services because they are supporting a family member with a disability or additional needs. I really encourage them to reach out and start a conversation. Speak to your rabbi, rebbetzen or a member of the council. Sharing information about your child’s needs allows the community to make adjustments and put the right support in place. Inclusion begins with openness and a willingness to listen.”
