The Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Conference 2025: Innovate, Inspire, Include
Past and Present Supporters include:
Overview
Join us at The National SEND in Schools Conference 2025 to gain valuable insights into latest developments, challenges and best practices in primary and secondary education. This event will provide you with the knowledge and tools needed to support SEND students effectively going forward.
The conference will bring together voices from across the education landscape, including SENDCOs, inclusion leads, teachers, headteachers and CEOs. During the day attendees will hear from thought leaders, experts, and practitioners on the biggest issues and challenges we face today.
Key Highlights:
• Increased funding analysis: we will discuss the impact of new government funding on SEND provisions, questioning whether it meets the growing needs of the sector.
• Best practice insights: Hear from leading professionals about the latest guidance for addressing complex and diverse SEND requirements in mainstream schools.
• Inclusive education: Learn new strategies for fostering an inclusive environment that supports the holistic development of SEND students.
• Legal framework: Gain a deeper understanding of SEND law and the legal obligations of educational settings, including the process for obtaining EHCPs .
• Behaviour management: Explore evidence-based techniques for managing challenging behaviour in students with SEND, emphasising a supportive and inclusive approach.
• Interactive case studies: Engage with real-life examples showcasing innovative methods for preparing SEND students for the future.
Why Attend?
✓ Gain key insights from experts in education
✓ Keep up to date with policy developments and examination and curriculum changes
✓ Networking opportunities with speakers and senior colleagues from across the education sector
✓ Gain 8 hours of CPD points towards your yearly quota
For more information or to make a booking please call 0330 058 4285
Agenda
Registration
Chair’s Opening Remarks
Keynote: Is the increased funding the solution to the challenges in SEND education
The government has announced a record-breaking investment in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, promising increased support for schools and families. But is this funding surge truly enough to address the deep-rooted issues in the system?
This session will explore the impact of the new financial commitment on SEND provisions in primary and secondary education, examining whether the funding meets the growing demand for services.
We critically assess the allocation, its potential to reduce disparities, and what additional steps are needed to ensure meaningful, sustainable change for SEND students.
Keynote: The State of Play: Navigating the Changing Landscape of National SEND Provision and Practice
This session will explore best practice guidance for meeting the increasingly complex and high levels of SEND needs in mainstream and special schools across the UK.
As well as discussing:
- The rise of ‘invisible SEND’ and understanding its anticipated impact on future educational outcomes.
- Is SEND a term that has lost its utility? If so, what alternative taxonomies should we be using?
- Proactive, long-term strategic planning during anticipated funding and policy changes.
Key Supporter Session
Questions and Answers
Comfort Break
Fireside Chat: The Inclusion Revolution
Join this fireside chat for an engaging discussion on how the “Inclusion Revolution” is transforming primary and secondary education. It will explore the evolving landscape of inclusive practices and strategies that are reshaping schools to meet the needs of every child, especially those with SEND.
Our two experts will discuss:
- The vision and philosophy of the Inclusion Revolution.
- Practical steps for implementing inclusive policies school-wide.
- Real-life stories of overcoming challenges and barriers.
- Future trends in inclusive education and what they mean for schools.
Case Study: Preparing children with SEN for the real world
In this session, we will examine whether the current education system adequately equips children with Special Educational Needs for the demands of modern life. With the growing emphasis on digital skills, critical thinking, and social adaptability, we will explore if existing approaches meet the unique needs of SEN pupils. Through interactive discussion, we’ll explore innovative teaching methods, future-ready skills, and the role of technology to ensure every child is prepared for a changing world.
Keynote The fundamentals of SEND Law
This session will give an overview to the fundamentals of SEND law, outlining how it serves as a foundation for securing support for children and young people with special educational needs. The legal duties of local authorities and SENDCOs, along with the EHCP process, will be discussed in detail. Participants will learn about their own responsibilities under the law and the legal rights of parents and students.
Key Topics:
- The SEND law framework and key legal definitions
- SEND law duties for local authorities and educational settings
- Legal processes for obtaining an EHCP
- Legal rights of parents, carers, and young people with an EHCP
Questions and Answers
Lunch Break
Keynote: Managing challenging behaviour
Managing behaviour in a classroom setting can be challenging. When it comes to students with Special Educational Needs, everyone must adopt thoughtful and adaptable strategies. SEND students often require a more individualised approach to ensure that they can participate fully in learning and social activities.
This session will discuss how to go about managing the behaviours of your students. It will identify strategies which will help meet these needs and identify techniques you can use to create an environment where all students feel valued and able to achieve their potential.
Case study: Embedding Inclusive Practises Across the Whole School to Meet the Needs of Pupils with Autism
• Enabling and amplifying the voice of autistic pupils to influence decisions that affect them and their education
• Tips for creating an environment and ethos that fosters social inclusion for pupils on the autistic spectrum who may struggle with socialising
• Collaborating with parents and carers of autistic pupils to gain a better understanding of their needs and how to support them
• Developing a variety of communication techniques that can be tailored to different pupils, such as using visual learning rather than verbal
• Insights into using suggestive language when interacting with pupils rather than demanding language to create an open dialogueKey Supporter Session
Questions and Answers
Working with young people to build a life in and out of school
- Understand how the delivery of a holistic education can enrich students of all abilities and needs
- Hear how building partnerships with appropriate organisations can contribute to greater attainment in and outside of school
- Learn how experiences outside of the classroom can better prepare children and young people with learning difficulties for everyday life post-education
Scott Watkins, head of engagement, Seeability (CONFIRMED)
Sam Clarke, CEO, Learning Disabilities England (CONFIRMED)
Comfort Break
Panel Discussion: Best practice – Next steps for SEND & Inclusion
This engaging panel discussion will bring together leading voices in SEND education to share best practices and outline actionable next steps for schools. The conversation will focus on innovative approaches that have successfully improved inclusion, recent policy changes, and strategies for overcoming common barriers in mainstream setting as well as discussing what is next for SEN and inclusion.
Maxine Oneil, Head Teacher, Hope School (CONFIRMED)
Questions and Answers
Chair’s Closing Remarks
Previous Speakers
Dominic Griffiths
Visiting Research Fellow, Faculty of Health and Education
Manchester Met University
Amanda Wright
Head of Whole School SEND
Nasen
Sarah Summer
Headteacher
Westlea Primary School
Alix Robertson
Head of Engagement
Centre for Education and Youth
Aadra Chandra Mouli
Doctoral Researcher
UCL
Sarah Broadhurst
Director
Autism Education Trust
Kulvarn Atwal
Headteacher
Highlands Primary School
Testimonials
Excellent and up to date training that recognises the challenges to achieving positive outcomes for all children.
Very good conference with opportunity to hear from a variety of speakers with a wealth of expertise and opportunity to access resources for school.
I find this conference extremely useful in staying up to date and also hearing about what is happening in other areas of SEND.
Excellent event, insightful and thought provoking to inform future planning and best practice.
This event was well planned. The platform was user friendly and the sessions were insightful.
The speakers were very knowledgeable and relevant to the current challenges faced in education. I found the day to be thought provoking and useful.
Why You Should Attend?
✓ Gain key insights from experts in education
✓ Keep up to date with policy developments and examination and curriculum changes
✓ Networking opportunities with speakers and senior colleagues from across the education sector
✓ Gain 8 hours of CPD points towards your yearly quota
Who Should Attend?
| Job Title Example | Organisation Examples |
| Charity Partners | Primary Schools |
| Teachers | Secondary Schools |
| University Staff | Further Education Providers |
| Academic Support Staff | Higher Education Providers |
| Trustees | Government Educational Policy Leads |
| Policy Managers | Charities |
| Academics | Think Tanks/NGOs |
Pricing Options
PRIVATE SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
PUBLIC SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
VOLUNTARY SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
Sponsorship
Raise your Profile, Showcase Your Solutions, Generate New Business
If your products, services, and solutions can support our audiences in their roles, and you want to make connections and generate new business with key stakeholders, decision makers, and influencers, then please contact us HERE
IMPORTANT: There are only a small number of sponsorship opportunities available to ensure maximum exposure and ROI – contact us today to secure your place.
Virtual vs F2F
Whilst F2F provide better options for networking, there are many distinct advantages of sponsoring our online conferences including:
- Wider geographical reach of delegates and a different audience who prefer online to f2f
- Lower sponsorship package costs
- No travel/accommodation
- Less time out of the office
- No stand materials required (lower costs)
- 1 of only 2 sponsors involved – less competition on the day
- Prime speaking slot in the morning of the conference including Q&A – less distractions and easier for delegates to hear/absorb information
- Receive all delegate data after the conference to follow-up directly with those who attend and don’t attend (small % but still key stakeholders)
- Ongoing exposure via OnDemand access (coming soon)
To find out more and discuss your specific objectives, please contact us below:
