This one day seminar will be an opportunity to discuss the future for SEND provision in England, following the expected publication of the Government’s ongoing SEND review.

Delegates will consider priorities for improving provision in the context of a range of key developments, including the publication of the Government’s Disability Strategy 2021, Ofsted’s SEND: old issues, new issues, next steps review, and the APPG for SEND report, Forgotten. Left behind. Overlooked.

Overall, the agenda will focus on:
• improving provision for children with SEND:
◦ funding, skills, and addressing regional variation and disadvantage
◦ improving key stakeholder coordination, engagement, and outreach during the EHC planning process
• assistive technology - the potential of technology for supporting improvement in outcomes for students with SEND, both within educational settings and for delivering greater independence
• careers, post-16 advice, and future pathways - supporting progression into higher education and employment for students with SEND and ensuring adequate support post-16

Keynote speakers include:
• Andre Imich, SEND and Disability Professional Adviser, Department for Education
• Professor Brian Lamb, Visiting Professor of Special Educational Needs and Disability, University of Derby
• Maxine McDonald-Taylor, Specialist Adviser for SEND, Ofsted
• Jeramie Sutton, Industry Adviser for Schools, Microsoft.

This is a full-scale conference taking place online and will include:
• full, four-hour programme including comfort breaks - delegates will also get 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 if they wish, using the Cisco WebEx professional online conference platform
• 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.