Framing the current landscape of SEND in schools

Sam Twiselton OBE Emeritus Professor, Sheffield Hallam University 

Integrating SEND learners and working towards more inclusive strategies

Heba Al-Jayoosi Assistant Headteacher and Inclusion Leader, Mayflower Primary School 

My challenges as a SEND parent and setting up Gesher school in London

Ali Durban MBE Co-founder, Gesher School 

Developing good practice of design in mainstream schools and connected hubs for SEND learners

Terry White Principal Education Advisor Planning Learning Spaces in Practice, Gratnells. Chair of Association for Learning Environments, Europe 

Panel - Creating equitable provision for SEND learners in existing schools

Chaired by Emeritus Professor Samantha Twiselton OBE, Sheffield Hallam University

This collaborative session looks at the current good operational practice that promotes SEND integration into mainstream schools and design for inclusive learning through the eyes of all staff currently working in schools, the learner’s parents and carers themselves and those that are leading, developing and supporting more inclusive strategies. Knowledge sharing is an important aspect here.

Sam Twiselton OBE Emeritus Professor, Sheffield Hallam University Heba Al-Jayoosi Assistant Headteacher and Inclusion Leader, Mayflower Primary School Ali Durban MBE Co-founder, Gesher School Terry White Principal Education Advisor Planning Learning Spaces in Practice, Gratnells. Chair of Association for Learning Environments, Europe 

Removing Barriers, Improving Outcomes: Ofsted on SEND and Inclusion

Adam Sproston Senior His Majesty’s Inspector 

Followed by audience Q&A

Supporting inclusive practice through professional learning: the Whole School SEND approach

This session explores how professional learning can strengthen inclusive practice across schools and settings, with a focus on the conditions and approaches that support high-quality provision for learners with SEND, including whole-school thinking, evidence-informed decision-making, and sustained professional development. 

Attendees will be encouraged to consider how targeted professional learning can build confidence and consistency in inclusive practice, and how schools and trusts can engage with CPD in ways that lead to meaningful and lasting improvement for learners.

Amanda Wright Head of Whole School SEND, nasen 

Preparing teachers for real-world challenges: Human skills that stick

• Building trainees’ knowledge AND attitudes to succeed in the classroom
• Developing essential ‘soft skills’: critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving
• Embedding the ‘human element’ within training to benefit trainees and support teacher retention

James Coleman Head of Operations, NASBTT 

Beyond compliance to an empowering but rigorous model of ITT

• Moving beyond overly prescriptive approaches in ITT
• Retaining the need to be very careful and intentional about meeting trainee’s needs at every step of their journey

Sam Twiselton OBE Emeritus Professor, Sheffield Hallam University 

Question Time: The Future of Initial Teacher Training

The session brings together system leaders, policy voices and practitioners to explore how ITT is evolving in response to workforce pressures, reform and delivery challenges.

• The future shape of ITT and routes into teaching
• Readiness for the classroom and early-career retention
• The role of research, practice and system alignment
• What needs to change - and what should be protected

Chair: Phil Smith Education Consultant and Writer, NASBTT  James Coleman Head of Operations and Training , National Association of School-Based Teacher Trainers (NASBTT)  Sam Twiselton OBE Emeritus Professor, Sheffield Hallam University 

School catering sits at the intersection of nutrition, finance, inclusion and sustainability, yet is under increasing pressure from rising costs, changing pupil needs and environmental expectations. This panel explores how schools and trusts are managing catering as a strategic business function while delivering value for money and positive outcomes for pupils.

• Delivering nutritious, high-quality meals within constrained and volatile budgets
• Financing catering provision: in-house vs outsourced models and value for money
• Meeting diverse dietary, cultural and allergy requirements at scale
• Reducing food waste and improving uptake without increasing cost
• Embedding environmental and sustainability goals into catering decisions
• Using data and insight to improve planning, forecasting and outcomes

Schools Must be Safe

A fireside-style presentation and discussion covering the NASPM campaign ‘Schools Must be Safe’ and the critical controls in school risk management.

• Core standards
• Duty holder role
• Beyond the physical compliance checks

Chaired by Stuart McGregor, Director of Operations, NASPM

Stuart McGregor Director of Operations, NASPM Paul Jackson Head Teacher Chris Coyle Operations Manager, NASPM 

Critical controls of risk management

• What is ‘so far as is reasonably practicable’
• How to ensure your risk assessments are suitable and sufficient
• Risk management in school estates, building management, and the prevention of accidents

Stuart McGregor Director of Operations, NASPM Paul Jackson Head Teacher Chris Coyle Operations Manager, NASPM 

Welcome to Procurement

David Kershaw Global Public Procurement Leader, Government Advisor and Digital Transformation Specialist 

Opening focus – Maximising Value for Pupils Programme: clarity, confidence and value

• What the programme is designed to do - and what it is not
• How schools and MATs can use this to maximise value for pupils, not just achieve compliance
• Addressing common misconceptions: frameworks, flexibility and choice for schools
• When to use this, when other routes may be appropriate – and how to decide
• How the programme supports better outcomes, transparency and fair competition in the market
• What schools should expect from suppliers engaging via Buying for Schools – and what to challenge

Chris Mills Department for Education - Maximising Value for Pupils programme 

Real-life MAT insights into the 5 P’s of Procurement: Practical strategies for success

Procurement can feel complex, high-risk and fragmented for schools and MATs. This practical session breaks it down. Through real-life MAT experience and expert insight, delegates will explore the 5 Ps of procurement – Purpose, People, Process, Providers and Performance – and how to apply them in a school context.

The session will help school leaders and business professionals understand where to start, how to navigate compliance confidently, and how to engage suppliers more effectively.

• How digital-era methods can modernise school and public-sector procurement without increasing risk
• Why public procurement should be designed around users (schools, staff, pupils) – not paperwork
• Applying agile principles to procurement in resource-constrained environments
• Using AI responsibly in procurement: opportunity, reality and limits for education buyers
• The importance of designing contract exit and transition from day one
• Moving from short-term savings to long-term public value and resilience
• Building procurement communities of practice rather than isolated roles
• Turning social value from a tick-box exercise into measurable impact for schools and local communities
• Overcoming the constraints of legacy technology and inherited contracts in MAT procurement

David Kershaw Global Public Procurement Leader, Government Advisor and Digital Transformation Specialist Peter Melville Chief Operating Officer, South West Essex Community Education Trust Jack Horton Customer Engagement Manager, Crescent Purchasing Consortium Chris Mills Department for Education - Maximising Value for Pupils programme 

Preparing for MAT Inspections: What does ‘GOOD’ look like in practice?

As the Government moves towards the introduction of multi-academy trust inspections, school and trust leaders are beginning to ask what this will mean in practice - and how to prepare in a way that is proportionate, constructive and sustainable.

This session brings together sector leaders and practitioners to explore what MAT inspection could (and should) look like, drawing on lessons from the evolving schools inspection framework and early thinking around test-bed inspections. The focus is on readiness rather than compliance, and on how trusts can demonstrate impact without adding unnecessary burden.

• What effective preparation looks like in practice - and where it becomes counterproductive
• Early signals on test-bed MAT inspections and likely areas of focus
• Learning from the current inspection approach and recent changes in emphasis
• What should be inspected: governance, educational quality, financial health, culture, or a holistic view
• Managing expectations and communication with staff, parents and pupils
• The potential impact on workload, wellbeing and leadership resilience
• Practical models already in place across trusts that support inspection readiness
• How MAT inspection could reshape leadership culture, accountability and assurance

Warren Carratt CEO, Nexus Multi Academy Trust Rowena Hackwood CEO, Astrea Trust Gail Brown CEO, Ebor Academy Trust Rebecca Daulman Agora Learning Partnership 

Rethinking the School Workforce: Wellbeing, Flexible Working and Retention

Flexible working is gaining momentum in education, driven by wellbeing pressures, workforce shortages and proposed day-one rights. This panel explores how schools can introduce flexible working in practice, balancing staff needs with workload, timetabling and continuity of learning, while maintaining trust with parents and pupils.

Key discussion points:

• What day-one flexible working rights could mean for schools
• Balancing wellbeing, workload and continuity of learning
• Managing multiple flexible working requests fairly
• Practical models already working in schools and MATs
• Building trust with staff and parents
• Leadership culture, trust and accountability
• The role of policy, guidance and unions in shaping the future workforce
• The role of policy, guidance and unions in shaping the future workforce

How this can impact your retention and attraction strategy

Chair: Kelly Hannaghan Director, Mind Work Matters Warren Carratt CEO, Nexus Multi Academny Trust  Emma Wigmore Chief Executive Officer, The Diocese of Chelmsford Vine Schools Trust 

Chair Welcome and Opening remarks

Austin Earl Education & Edtech at techUK, Chairperson, EdTech Advisory Panel AI in Education 

AI in the Classroom - Ethics, Evidence and Impact in an Evolving Digital Landscape

AI is transforming classrooms, but schools need confidence in the tools they adopt. This session explores how research-led certification can ensure AI tools are safe, effective, and ethically grounded.

• Based on results from early adopters, what do we now know about where AI genuinely adds value in teaching and learning?
• How effective are the current AI tools in improving learning outcomes, and where are the limitations?
• Can AI actually reduce teachers’ workloads, or are we overstating its potential impact?
• What does “good” assessment and best practice look like in an AI-integrated classroom, and how close are we to more adaptive and meaningful approaches?
• What minimum standards should schools expect around safety, bias, data protection and ethics before adopting AI at scale?

Chair: Jim Knight The Rt Hon Lord Knight of Weymouth Rob Peters NGA Chris Goodall Head of Digital Education, Bourne Education Trust Austin Earl Education & Edtech at techUK 

Driving Digital Transformation in Education - From Fragmentation to Best Practice

Explore the ways education leaders, government representatives, and industry partners can drive coherent progress in your schools digital maturity.

• What do we mean by digital maturity in schools?
• What is really holding schools back: skills, infrastructure, funding, or confidence?
• How can schools move from short-term fixes to long-term digital strategy? Do we need a shared way to assess digital maturity, and what should it look like and who should own this?
• How can trusts and peer networks help spread good practice faster?

Chair: Austin Earl Education & Edtech at techUK, Chairperson, EdTech Advisory Panel AI in Education Elizabeth Anderson CEO, Digital Poverty Alliance Cheryl Shirley Director of Digital Learning, LEO Academy Trust 

Building “BECTA 2.0”: Are We Losing Our Digital Promise Without a Central Strategy?

The education sector has the challenge of adapting to new era of digital transformation - amid fragmentation, funding pressures, and rising expectations.

Despite recent and promising initiatives such as the DfE’s AI tutor programme for 450,000 underprivileged children - the lack of a strong and coherent central approach has seen limited impact and left many opportunities on the table.

This session will feature some of the organisations forming a new coalition to tackle these systemic challenges.

• How can schools, MATs, and system bodies overcome fragmentation to align their digital initiatives?
• What steps should be taken to close persistent gaps in access, skills, and opportunity for all learners?
• Early coalition thinking - We consider how tech companies, charities, system-leading organisations, and professional bodies can collaborate better
• Policy context and emerging opportunities - recent DfE initiatives, AI tutors, and the wider digital education landscape
• Challenges and trade-offs - funding pressures, competing priorities, and implementation barriers
• Vision for a central strategy - principles and early proposals for a more coordinated approach to maximise impact

Chair: Austin Earl Education & Edtech at techUK, Chairperson, EdTech Advisory Panel AI in Education Rob Peters NGA Jim Knight The Rt Hon Lord Knight of Weymouth Elizabeth Anderson CEO, Digital Poverty Alliance Cheryl Shirley Director of Digital Learning, LEO Academy Trust