The initiative, open to all teaching staff, will focus on adapting lessons for pupils with visual impairments, speech and language difficulties, and other additional learning needs. Staff will be trained to use evidence-based approaches and assistive technologies, such as speech-to-text software, to ensure pupils with SEND can access the curriculum effectively.
The programme will be reinforced by a new expectation in the SEND code of practice, requiring SEND and inclusion training for staff in every nursery, school, and college.
Training and Implementation
Courses will combine online self-study modules with face-to-face sessions, designed to fit within teachers’ busy schedules. While initial training and professional qualifications cover new teachers and those entering leadership roles, the programme aims to upskill existing staff who may not have had access to comprehensive SEND training.
The initiative builds on £3 billion invested to create around 50,000 more inclusive spaces in mainstream schools, alongside £740 million for over 10,000 specialist places. Teaching assistants and early years practitioners will also benefit from SEND training.
Government and Union Response
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.”
Daniel Kebede, General Secretary Elect of the National Education Union, has cautioned that reforms affecting teachers’ directed time could spark industrial action if safeguards are not maintained.
Pepe Di’Iasio, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, welcomed the commitment but noted that delivering high-quality training at scale is a huge undertaking, given there are around half a million teachers across England. He stressed that the investment must be sustained to ensure SEND training becomes part of ongoing professional development, rather than a one-off initiative.
Looking Ahead
The rollout comes ahead of the schools white paper, expected within weeks from the Department for Education, which will outline wider reforms to the SEND system amid rising demand for support and increasing pressure on local authorities.
The programme represents a significant national effort to improve inclusion, equipping teachers with the skills and tools needed to support pupils with SEND across the country.
