Morning, Tuesday, 3rd November 2026
Online
This conference will examine next steps for special educational needs and disabilities provision in England. Discussion will focus on the future of support for children and young people with SEND, including proposed changes to assessment and provision, priorities for inclusion and specialist support, and wider issues relating to consistency, capacity, accountability, and long-term outcomes.
It will bring stakeholders and policymakers together to discuss the Government’s evolving reform programme set out in the Every Child Achieving and Thriving white paper and the recent announcement of an Education for All Bill in the King’s Speech - with the forthcoming government response to the SEND reform: putting children and young people first consultation expected shortly.
In this context, areas for discussion include key issues around implementation of proposed SEND reform, including changes to EHCP processes and the introduction of Individual Support Plans - as well as the practical impact of a stronger focus on early identification and a graduated support approach in mainstream settings. The conference will also consider the potential role of the recently launched Experts at Hand initiative in improving access to specialist expertise.
Routes to improving inclusion and consistency of support across local areas will be assessed, alongside priorities for system capacity and continuity of support within the transition period, including workforce readiness, the role of local authorities in commissioning and oversight, implications for assessment pathways and accountability, as well as safeguards for children, young people, and families.
Enabling early access to support & addressing variation
Discussion will focus on priorities for supporting earlier identification and intervention, improving consistency of support across educational settings, and reducing variation in access to assessment, specialist expertise, and provision. Attendees will discuss practical considerations arising from a stronger emphasis on graduated support in mainstream settings, alongside approaches to reducing uncertainty for children, young people, and families during transition.
Areas for discussion include:
- policy, transition, and safeguards:
- Every Child Achieving and Thriving white paper - managing the transition period - implementation planning and system readiness
- maintaining continuity where processes or documentation change - safeguards for children and young people accessing services
- inclusive mainstream provision:
- preparing for a more inclusive mainstream model - workforce readiness and retention - access to specialist input
- earlier identification and intervention - reducing delays and pressures on families navigating assessments and provision
- delivery:
- assessing pathways from early identification through graduated response and specialist escalation
- thresholds for support - access routes - expected timescales - access to educational psychology and specialist services
Reform practicalities for providers & widening inclusive practice
The conference will assess implications of reform for schools, trusts, special schools, and alternative provision settings, including approaches to inclusion, specialist support, and delivery across different educational contexts. Discussion will also consider practical implications for workforce planning, leadership, and day-to-day implementation.
Areas for discussion include:
- inclusive practice:
- curriculum design - assessment approaches - classroom delivery - wider school culture - implications of Ofsted’s framework and anticipated National Inclusion Standards
- frontline delivery:
- EHCP pathway changes - introduction of Individual Support Plans - assessment and documentation requirements - co-ordination between mainstream and specialist provision
- workforce and specialist expertise:
- SENCO capacity - staffing pressures - recruitment and retention - deployment of specialist expertise - support for children and young people with more complex needs
Oversight, dispute resolution & local authority capacity
Sessions will examine practical considerations for oversight, accountability, dispute resolution, and local authority readiness, alongside wider questions relating to capacity, commissioning, and long-term sustainability across the SEND system.
Areas for discussion include:
- accountability and oversight:
- inclusion assessment at school and area level - local offer development - proportionate accountability - publication requirements - use of data to support improvement
- dispute resolution:
- complaints processes - mediation and tribunals - reducing escalation - achieving earlier resolution of disagreements - maintaining protections for children, young people, and families
- local authority readiness:
- workforce, data, commissioning and governance - place planning across mainstream and specialist provision - capital, transport and financial pressures - implementation capacity
- partnership working:
- joint planning across education, health and social care - co-ordination with inspection and accountability arrangements - information for parents and carers
Learner outcomes & progression
Discussion will also consider priorities for supporting participation, attainment, wellbeing, and longer-term progression for children and young people with SEND, including transitions between different stages of education and into employment.
Areas for discussion include:
- transitions and progression:
- movement into further education, training and employment - progression pathways - participation and placement stability - employer engagement and work placements
- assessment:
- implications of qualification reform - wider curriculum and assessment changes - introduction of V Levels - defunding of overlapping Level 3 qualifications
- outcomes and participation:
- supporting attendance, attainment and wellbeing - successful participation across mainstream, specialist and post-16 provision
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those already due to attend include officials from the Department for Education; House of Commons Library; Ofsted; and UK Health Security Agency.
