Following the government's release of its major new white paper for schools, representing the biggest proposed shake-up to SEND policy in the last decade, our sister company Real Training asks... what's next for SENCOs?
11 Things we learned About How the Schools White Paper will reform SEND:
The white paper sets out proposals to change this, focusing on building capacity to support more children in mainstream environments, before re-calibrating the SEND system as we know it.
Real Training shares some of the key points, plus the questions we think are yet to be answered.
Webinar: What are SEND Experts Advising About the White Paper Proposals?
If you’re uncertain about how to prepare, join Real Training's webinar where they'll be discussing the practical implications of some of the changes.
Real Training's panel of leading SEND and inclusion experts will discuss the key issues raised and help you lead your teams through the proposed policy shiftsi including:-
- The key issues leaders need to manage beyond the headlines
- How SENCOs and SLT should prepare for the proposed changes (and potential workload impact)
- The implications of moving to ISPs (Individual Support Plans)
- Examples of effective use of inclusion bases, TAs and specialist time
- How to reassure parents that their child’s needs will be met
- How you can use your voice to influence change
Date and time:
Friday 20 March 2026 | 7.30am – 8.30am
Not going to make it? Register anyway and we’ll send you a copy of the recording.
Webinar Panellists:
Margaret Mulholland, SEN and Inclusion Specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders. Gary Aubin, Director SENDMattersUK; Director of SEND for Whole Education; Education Endowment Foundation SEND Associate. Rebecca Gonyora, Director of Inclusive Learning Every Child, Every Day Trust; Deputy Regional SEN Lead for London (Whole School SEND); Module Leader and Tutor for Real Training Dr Siobhan Mellor, Educational Psychologist; Director of Pedagogy and Learning for Real Training
Moderator:
Dr Mark Turner, Educational Psychologist; Co-Founder Real Group and Real Training
Recommended for:
SLT/SENCOs from primary, secondary and special settings
Submit a question:
Have a question you’d like our panel to address? Please contact imogen.barber@realgroup.co.uk before the session. There will also be a Q&A session at the end of the webinar.
Have your say:
The consultation is open for 12 weeks (closing 11.59pm 18th May 2026). The DfE has specifically asked for the views of “teachers and leaders.” This is your opportunity to have your voice heard.
Respond to the consultation here: Develop a robust communications plan:
Parents will understandably be anxious, so schools should be developing a cadence of communications, as well as one-to-ones and drop-ins. When preparing content for SEND newsletters, asking AI to predict some of the questions parents may be thinking about might be helpful, especially as LLMs are currently digesting a lot of requests from parents who are keen to get their head around the changes.
Take a look at the separate, shorter documents for parents that the government has published.