TO BE PUBLISHED March 2026
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This conference will examine next steps for SEND provision in England. It will bring stakeholders and policymakers together to consider planned reform to the SEND system, expected to be outlined by government in the forthcoming Schools White Paper.
Implementation of reform following the Curriculum and Assessment Review and Select Committee recommendations
Discussion will look at implementation priorities following the Government accepting key recommendations in the CAR’s final report. These include developing evidence-led resources to support curriculum adaptation for all children including those with SEND - as well as the commitment to explore alternative assessment arrangements for children with SEND that are not able to undertake phonics screening and multiplication tables checks.
Sessions in the agenda also consider the way forward in light of government’s guiding principles for SEND reform, recently outlined in response to the Education Select Committee’s Solving the SEND Crisis inquiry. Delegates will discuss strategies for prioritising the voice of young people, parents and teachers, and for taking forward co-design, early intervention, local support and inclusion, and collaboration beyond schools.
Looking more widely at recommendations from the Select Committee, the agenda will examine what is needed in the shift towards making mainstream education more inclusive for children with SEND, expanding the availability of specialist school places, reducing reliance on independent provision, investing in the workforce, and enabling more robust accountability - particularly strengthening the SEND tribunal’s powers to ensure timely and effective provision.
Improving service provision & building capacity
Delegates will look at progression routes for learners with SEND, the balance between mainstream and specialist provision, and evolving legal and financial responsibilities. In the context of the 2025 Spending Review and Fair Funding Review 2.0, sessions will consider sustainability of local budgets, management of rising deficits, and implications for investment and local provision planning.
With rising EHCP demand and local deficits, there will be discussion on addressing challenges in training staff and increasing availability of specialist services - such as speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and mental health support.
Discussion will also examine what is needed from reform to support equitable provision across regions, particularly where provision is underfunded or underdeveloped, and the indicators that can best track progress. Progress towards delivering new special school places and developing specialist units in mainstream settings will be examined, as well as improving outcomes through early identification and targeted initiatives.
Accountability & oversight
With proposals for increased Ofsted powers in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to protect vulnerable children, including those with SEND, there will be discussion on next steps for developing accountability mechanisms for schools and local authorities.
Inspection frameworks will be assessed, looking at how Ofsted inspects SEND provision and how greater consistency and transparency might be achieved. We also expect focus on priorities for tribunals in resolving disputes over provision and options for streamlining processes and reducing delays.
Funding & improving outcomes
Discussion will look at progression routes for learners with SEND, the balance between mainstream and specialist provision, and evolving legal and financial responsibilities. In the context of the Spending Review and Fair Funding Review 2.0, sessions will consider sustainability of local budgets, management of rising deficits, and implications for investment and local provision planning.
There will also be a focus on longer-term priorities for improving outcomes, including strengthening progression into further and higher education and supporting sustainable transitions into employment, and considering access to supported work experience and accessible qualification pathways.
Fair access, system coordination & use of technology
Further sessions will examine what is needed to meet the collaborative requirements in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, focusing on improving local management of fair access protocols and advancing integrated support across education, health, and care services. Attendees will assess the impact of interagency cooperation on outcomes for children with SEND, particularly in early intervention and holistic support models.
Discussion will also consider priorities for digital tools and technology to support inclusion and attainment and improve accessibility, including use for monitoring progress and outcomes, access to on-screen assessment, and delivery of adaptive and personalised learning.
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.
