At this year’s Labour Party Conference, the Education Policy Institute has partnered with the Disabled Children’s Partnership & Speech and Language UK to hold a public panel on: ‘Education for all – how can mainstream inclusion work for disabled children?’
The SEND system is currently failing disabled children and young people, with only 28% saying they get the right amount of learning support when at their educational or training setting. The school’s white paper and subsequent SEND consultation (published in February) aim to create a more inclusive education system, with mainstream schools playing a greater role in supporting disabled children and young people. But what will it take to turn that ambition into reality?
These SEND reforms highlight a number of important questions – including how will key provisions such as Experts at Hand and Inclusion Bases work in practice, and how can teachers and teaching assistants be better prepared to more effectively support disabled students? This is particularly important given the increasing focus on SEND provision within mainstream settings. Yet, despite these reforms, it also needs to be recognised that mainstream schools won’t be suitable for every disabled child.
With new SEND legislation expected in the Autumn, this timely panel brings together policymakers, disability charities, education leaders, young people and parent carers to discuss how mainstream inclusion can work for children with a wide range of needs, with a particular focus on complex needs. It will explore the opportunities and challenges presented by the reforms, the support schools need to succeed, best practice examples and how we ensure that no child is left behind – and, ultimately, how SEND reform can deliver better outcomes for children, families and schools.
Speakers will be announced in due course.
** Note: This event will take place in the conference secure zone. To access the secure zone you will need to obtain a pass directly from the Labour Party.**
