The South West is England’s largest region, but its diverse and scenic landscapes should be no barrier to collaboration. We already have a strong culture of connectivity, which is helping to drive the sharing of good practice for the common good of our young people.

Your regional improvement for standards and excellence (RISE) advisers and I are looking forward to working with you on our regional priorities:

• raising attainment in English and maths
• improving attendance
• strengthening inclusive mainstream provision
• delivering high-quality reception practice

Whether you are looking to share practice, strengthen your improvement journey or build new relationships, I hope that through RISE you find the community of support and collaboration that I know is flourishing in the South West.

By learning from each other, building strong partnerships and drawing on the evidence of what works, we can rise to the challenge and secure better futures for young people in the South West.