This one day conference will focus on the future for improving SEND provision in England.

The conference will be an opportunity to assess priorities for the Government’s SEND Review, expected to be published prior to the conference - as well as what may be learnt from challenges faced in the wake of COVID-19.

Areas for discussion will include:
• reform of SEND provision - key areas for improvement and policy priorities going forward
• priorities in the wake of COVID-19 - mental health needs and recovery, staff wellbeing and workload, catch-up tutoring, and lessons for future practice
• inclusivity and access to education - educational facilities, assistive technologies and specialised equipment, as well as policy priorities for the Government’s School Rebuilding Programme
• priorities for a joined-up approach - next steps for EHC plans, meeting demand, funding, and support for post-16 transitions.

The discussion is expected to bring together stakeholders with key policy officials who are due to attend from Ofsted; the DfE; the Government Legal Department; the NAO; and the MoJ; as well as parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons Library.

The agenda will include:
• Priorities for SEND provision in the wake of COVID-19
• Improving support for children with SEND post-pandemic - mental health needs and recovery, staff wellbeing and workload, catch-up tutoring, and lessons for future practice
• Improving inclusivity and access to education for students with SEND - educational facilities, assistive technologies and specialised equipment, and priorities for the Government’s School • Rebuilding Programme
• Reforming SEND provision - key areas for improvement
• Developing a joined-up cross-sector approach for SEND - next steps for EHC plans, meeting demand, funding, and support for post-16 transitions
• Policy priorities going forward for supporting students with SEND.

The event is a full-scale conference taking place online, and will feature:
• full, four-hour programme including comfort breaks with a full recording and transcript to refer back to
• information-rich discussion involving key policymakers and stakeholders
• conference materials provided in advance, including speaker biographies
• speakers presenting via webcam, accompanied by slides
• opportunities for live delegate questions and comments with all speakers
• a recording of the addresses, all slides cleared by speakers, and further materials, is made available to all delegates afterwards as a permanent record of the proceedings
• delegates are able to add their own written comments and articles following the conference, to be distributed to all attendees and more widely
• networking too - there will be opportunities for delegates to e-meet and interact.

Full information and guidance on how to take part will be sent to delegates before the conference.