This one day online conference will assess next steps for improving SEND provision in England.

Delegates will discuss options for reform, expanding inclusive provision, and ways forward for addressing ongoing challenges identified in recent policy and research.

Policy, investment and support
The conference is bringing together stakeholders and policymakers to discuss next steps for policy and reform of the SEND system, following commitments on support, inclusion and funding outlined in the Government’s Plan for Change. They will look at how best to apply the allocation of £1bn for SEND in the Autumn Budget and £740m for 10,000 new school places for children with SEND, along with £760m allocated for reform of the SEND system announced in the recent Spending Review 2025, with most funding expected to be allocated in the 2026-27 academic year.

With government recently committing to set out its SEND reforms in a Schools White Paper due to be published in the autumn, delegates will look ahead to proposals, as well as key issues emerging from the Education Select Committee’s ongoing Solving the SEND Crisis inquiry, with discussion on how best to achieve both stability and sustainability for the SEND system, and how children and young people with SEND can be better supported.

Targeting funding and building capacity
Attendees will consider immediate issues such as addressing substantial funding deficits, projected to impact local authority SEND budgets by over £5bn, alongside strategies to expand specialist capacity within mainstream schools. The future for resource distribution and increasing transparency will be considered, and wider options for addressing variation in SEND provision.

We expect discussion on priorities for channelling funding committed for specialist capacity and implications of increasing pressures on public spending. Concerns raised by local authorities regarding potential insolvencies will be considered, alongside proposals for greater local control over SEND assessments and funding decisions.

Long-term strategy and collaboration
Sessions will also discuss longer-term strategies, including potential revisions to the Children and Families Act 2014 aimed at addressing systemic challenges highlighted by recent NAO and IFS reports, particularly around sustainability, accountability, and the increased demand for Education, Health and Care Plans. Approaches to improving data collection will be assessed, as well as best practice for inclusion in mainstream education following the appointment of an expert advisory group, and strategy for enhancing multi-agency collaboration.

Options for Local Inclusion Partnerships and development of a national framework for inclusive education will also be examined, alongside practical considerations for specialist school capacity and financial accountability.

Early intervention and specialist provision
The agenda will bring out latest thinking on proposals to strengthen early identification and support for SEND pupils, alongside how potential legislative and regulatory changes might influence parental rights, local authority accountability, and financial models underpinning specialist provision.