The Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Conference 2026: Innovate, Inspire, Include
2026 Supporters Include:
Overview
Following the Government’s recently announced SEND reforms and Schools White Paper, this conference provides a timely and comprehensive deep dive into the future of SEND provision across education. Explore what the shift towards earlier intervention, strengthened mainstream inclusion, and new Individual Support Plans (ISPs) means in practice, alongside the changing role of EHCPs reserved for children with the most complex needs within a reformed national framework.
Navigate emerging national inclusion standards, new expectations for schools to meet a wider range of needs without escalation to statutory plans, and the workforce development priorities required to deliver specialist SEND support in every setting. This conference will empower you to implement inclusive teaching practices, foster a school-wide culture of belonging, and leverage assistive technology and AI to support every learner.
Join us to examine the implications of targeted and specialist provision pathways, strategic financial planning under the new funding model, and strengthen multi-agency collaboration, and learn how genuine co-production with parents and carers can drive better outcomes for all children.
Designed for schools, trusts and local authorities, this event will support leaders and practitioners to understand and respond confidently to a rapidly evolving national framework. Secure your place today and join a community committed to creating a more equitable and inclusive future for every child.
2026 Agenda
Registration
Chair’s Opening Remarks
Professor Dame Sonia Blandford, Emeritus Professor of Social Mobility, Plymouth Marjon University (CONFIRMED)
Keynote: Navigating the New SEND Reforms & the Schools White Paper – Government Updates & Next Steps
- Understanding the key proposals set out in the Schools White Paper and its implications for SEND provision
- Identifying key challenges and opportunities with the new SEND reforms
- Exploring the new national framework for SEND, the changes to EHCPs and implementation of ISPs
- Analysing the long-term funding strategy and what it will mean for schools and local authorities
Alison Ismail, Director of Special Educational Needs & Disability and Alternative Provision, Department for Education and Skills (invited)
Case Study: Exploring Practical Whole-school Strategies to Creating Truly Inclusive School Environments
Thomas Keaney, CEO and Founder, The Complete Education Solution (TCES) Group (CONFIRMED)
Key Supporter Session
Support Maths Teaching and Learning: Develop Conceptual Understanding and Fluency with Dreambox Maths
- DreamBox Maths builds confidence – especially for anxious or lower-attaining pupils. The hyper-adaptive online maths development programme is effective for disadvantaged, SEND and EAL learners due to the scaffolded instruction, visual modelling and personalised pacing
- Digital manipulatives – Reveals mathematical structures and addresses misconceptions
- Hyper-personalisation – Adjusts each student’s journeys based on how they solve problems, not just whether answers are right or wrong
- Comprehensive reporting – Progress tracking and identifies gaps back to KS1, helping to close them automatically
- Fluency building – Develops fluency based on true understanding, rather than simply memorisation
Jonny Bennett, Director of Business Development at Daisy Education, provider of DreamBox Maths, Daisy Education (CONFIRMED)
Questions and Answers
Comfort Break
Case Study: Developing a Skilled SEND Force
- Implementing strategies to build a whole-school culture of shared responsibility for SEND provision
- Exploring what effective professional development looks like for your workforce, from initial training to ongoing career-long learning and investing in targeted high quality professional development
- Identifying your ideal staffing model to support pupils with SEND and multiple vulnerabilities
- Understanding the specific training needs of your workforce to build confidence and competence, and improve staff retention
Anna Heaton, Executive Principal and Trust Lead for Secondary SEND and Inclusion, Delta Academies Trust (CONFIRMED)
Case Study: Navigating the new EHCP Process: Best Practice for Timely and Effective Plans
- The EHCP journey: understanding the complete EHCP process, from initial needs assessment to annual review
- Identifying and avoiding common pitfalls that can cause delays and legal challenges
- Applying best practices for writing person-centred and legally compliant EHCPs
- Developing strategies to improve the timeliness and consistency of EHCPs
Alex Stafford, Senior Solicitor, IPSEA (CONFIRMED)
The Power of Co-Production: Working Effectively with Parents and Carers
- Examining the challenges in transitioning to Adult Services over the last ten years, and how the Chailey Heritage Foundation has adapted to, and performed against them
- Understanding the legal and ethical requirements for parental involvement in SEND provision and the practical approaches for working effectively with parents and carers
- Establishing methods to ensure the child’s voice are central to all decisions-making, and a look into the Foundation’s priorities moving forward
Paula Marten, Assistant Headteacher, Chailey Heritage Foundation (CONFIRMED)
Questions and Answers
Lunch Break
Breakout Networking
This session will provide you with the opportunity to discuss the main challenges you face in multi-agency working to support the wider needs of children needing SEND support. Allowing you to share their experiences and encourage cross sector collaboration.
Case Study: How Can Professional Learning Foster An Inclusive Culture Across A School Or Trust?
This session will provide an introduction to the National Institute of Teaching’s new free evidence toolkit that provides access to the global systematic evidence on teacher training and development. Learn about what makes effective ‘inclusive professional development’ where not only knowledge and skills are built but also importantly staff beliefs and attitudes are addressed, encouraging reflection on difference, equity, and participation.
Lia Commissar, Head of Impact, National Institute of Teaching (CONFIRMED)
Case Study: Effectively supporting SEND Parents
- Paying attention to trauma
- Supporting parents and careers through a diagnosis
- Supporting parents and careers with support
Chrissa Wadlow, Founder, Sunshine Support (CONFIRMED)
Questions and Answers
Comfort Break
Case Study: Raising Expectations: Re-Imagining What Children With Down Syndrome (and Other SEND) Can Achieve
Nicola Enoch, CEO, Down Syndrome UK | Positive About Down Syndrome (CONFIRMED)
PANEL: Bridging the Gap – Collaboration between Schools, Local Authorities, and Health Services
- Identifying and understand common barriers to effective multi-agency working
- Exploring strategies for improving communication and trust between different agencies
- Analysing best practices for secure and efficient data sharing
- Gaining insight into successful models of joint commissioning for SEND services
- Discussing how to create a more coherent and responsive support system for children and young people with SEND
Meanu Bajwa-Patel, Research Fellow, University of Warwick (invited)
Meg Powell-Chandler, Director, New Schools Network (invited)
Sharon Griffiths, Designated Social Care Officer (DSCO), Shropshire Council (invited)
Questions and Answers
Chair’s Closing Remarks
Dame Sonia Blandford, Emeritus Professor of Social Mobility, Plymouth Marjon University (CONFIRMED)
Get in Touch
Speakers
Lia Commissar
Head of Impact
National Institute of Teaching
Anna Heaton
Executive Principal and Trust Lead for Secondary SEND and Inclusion
Delta Academies Trust
Nicola Enoch
CEO
Down Syndrome UK, Positive About Down Syndrome
Professor Dame Sonia Blandford
Emeritus Professor of Social Mobility
Plymouth Marjon University
Paula Marten
Assistant Headteacher
Chailey Heritage Foundation
Chrissa Wadlow
Founder
Sunshine Support
Alex Stafford
Senior Solicitor
IPSEA
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.
Amazing Event! We will be using this learning throughout our Kumon Centres up and down the country.
The conference was a fantastic opportunity to hear from those in our sector that are fighting for the needed change. We can feel isolated in our roles and feel that we are fighting a battle for these children that no one is listening to. This event left me with a renewed faith that there are people out there, in all areas of the SEND world, who are pushing forwards for change.
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:
