£200 million landmark SEND teacher training programme

More children and young people with SEND to thrive at their local nursery, school or college as the government unveils the most ambitious and comprehensive SEND training offer ever seen by the English schools system.

Acting on the feedback from parents shared through the national conversation on SEND, the government is making sure that children in every classroom will benefit from brilliant teachers trained in supporting a wide range of needs.

For too long, training on SEND has been inconsistent,  with almost half of primary and secondary teachers saying that more training would help their confidence in supporting pupils with SEND.  That’s why government is reforming the SEND system giving parents the confidence that their child can achieve and thrive at their local school.

Backed by £200 million, new courses available to all teaching staff will deepen knowledge of how to adapt their teaching to meet a wide range of needs in the classroom, including visual impairments and speech and language needs.

Teachers will learn about the things we know can transform how children access education, such as using assistive technology like speech to text dictation tools and building awareness of additional needs amongst all pupils, so every child can go on to succeed.

Underpinning the training will be a new expectation set out in the SEND Code of Practice, confirming that all staff in every nursery, school and college should receive training on SEND and inclusion – making sure that every teacher nationwide is reached.

Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson said:

Every child, wherever they live and whatever their needs, should have the opportunity to go to a local school where they can achieve and thrive.

That’s why we’re equipping staff across every stage of education with more training on SEND and inclusion than ever before – helping to deliver our vision of a truly inclusive education system.

This is a key part of our mission to reform the SEND system so that schools can take children from forgotten to included and give parents the confidence that the right support will be there at every stage of their child’s education.

Today’s announcement builds on a landmark £3 billion investment to deliver around 50,000 more inclusive spaces in mainstream schools, by matching these spaces with expert staff – and reflects extensive engagement with parents and teachers and experts over the last year and as part of the government’s national conversation on SEND.  This is on top of the £740 million already invested to create over 10,000 specialist places.

The package will crucially enable children to feel safe and welcome in school – promoting good attendance, attainment and wellbeing. This marks a key step towards delivering on the government’s mission to make inclusive practice the norm across all schools.

Tom Rees, Chair of the Expert Advisory Group on Inclusion, said:

This investment is very welcome and an important step forward as we build a more high-performing and inclusive school system, in which all children can experience success at school. Building confidence and expertise across the school workforce is central to this reform, and high-quality and evidence-based professional development is one of the most effective ways we can achieve that.

It is particularly positive that this training will reach the whole workforce, including teaching assistants and support staff, who play a vital role in supporting inclusion every day. A well-trained, supported workforce benefits all children, but it is especially important for children who find learning most difficult, so staff can have the knowledge and confidence to support them early and effectively.

The investment forms a central pillar of the government’s SEND reform plans, covering children with SEND in their earliest years, through to age 25. The new training offer will help restore parents’ confidence that their children will be supported throughout every stage of their education.

Delivered flexibly to slot into teachers’ busy schedules, the courses will promote practical skills about how to make education more inclusive, how to work effectively with parents, and how targeted support can ensure every student reaches their full potential.

For experienced teachers and leaders this represents a marked shift. While existing training is wrapped around those new to the workforce and those stepping up into leadership roles, through initial and early teacher training or National Professional Qualifications, there is a clear gap in support for those in-post looking to build their skills further.

The new training courses will help target this gap. Kicking off from next year, flexible online self-study sessions and live in-person lessons will be available, recognising the workforce’s already busy workload.

Other key features of the training package include:

• High-quality training materials, developed alongside experts, will be shared with every school and college to enable in-house training for all staff on SEND and inclusion.
• Investment in training for teaching assistants, developed in collaboration with the sector over the coming months – ensuring support staff feel equipped and confident to support all students with SEND.
• A new Early Years CPD programme, providing free, accessible training focused on inclusive practice, child development, and practical strategies for supporting children with SEND – available to all early years practitioners.

David Hughes, Chief Executive, Association of Colleges, said:

This is a positive investment to support the training on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) for staff in early years, schools and colleges. Colleges across the country do a wonderful job in supporting students with a vast range of abilities to participate and succeed on academic and vocational courses.

Colleges are highly inclusive and this substantial investment should help them to build on the brilliant work that they do. The timescale is realistic, and will allow the DfE to engage with colleges to make sure that the training offer fits the distinct needs of college students, and the lecturers and support staff who work with them.

Dr Julian Grenier, CBE, Early Years Consultant, said:

I strongly welcome the government’s decision to invest in new Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for the early years with a focus on inclusive practice. Early years educators work incredibly hard to support children with SEND.

They are often the first to work closely with families to remove barriers to children’s learning and participation. But training for staff has been patchy, and many courses are too brief. Making inclusive practice the norm in early years is vital, and this programme can help make that happen.

The Schools White Paper will be published early this year, setting out the government’s full plans to reform the SEND system.