27th January 2026 • My Family Our Needs

The Government has unveiled landmark SEND training reforms, including £4m for children and young people with SEND on the Isle of Wight.

The Government has unveiled a SEND training programme that it describes as being the ‘most ambitious training programme ever delivered in England’. The £200m national scheme aims to ensure that every teacher, nursery worker and college tutor receives dedicated SEND and inclusion training, addressing what parents say has been one of the biggest gaps in the system.

The new training offers practical, evidence-based approaches, including assistive technology, such as speech-to-text tools and strategies to help schools build more inclusive classrooms. In addition to this, a new national expectation will be written into the SEND Code of Practice, making it clear that all members of staff in every educational setting must receive SEND training, ensuring consistency across the country.

Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education, 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.’

Cllr Amanda Hopgood, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children, Young People and Families Committee, said, ‘As part of reforming the SEND system, it is vital that our education system becomes more inclusive, so that more children with SEND can attend their local mainstream school. For this to happen we need a workforce that has the capacity and right skills, and this investment will help to support that.’

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’.

It was also announced that the Isle of Wight will be receiving £4m of local investment. The Isle of Wight has long faced challenges with SEND provision, with parents raising concerns about delays, inconsistent support and a lack of specialist places. These issues were highlighted during a pair of round-table discussions held by Isle of Wight West MP, Richard Quigley. These round-table discussions offered a place for families and educators to discuss the pressures being faced by local schools.

Teachers have told Mr Quigley that they wanted to help their students but often felt under-prepared. Mr Quigley said, ‘The £4 million for new SEND places on the Island is hugely welcome […] but it must go hand-in-hand with better training. This announcement delivers exactly what local families have been calling for.’

The full plans for the Government’s SEND reform will be set out in the forthcoming Schools White Paper.

In other news, The Chancellor’s Autumn Budget address laid out the Government’s fiscal plans for the year ahead, including proposals to fund SEND provision centrally and scrap the two-child benefit cap.