News

Keep up to date with all of the latest news, headlines and features from across the SEND sector.

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News listing

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Leading NEET prevention with the Gatsby Benchmarks

February 2026

The Gatsby team is working with leaders in England’s secondary and special schools, and colleges, to highlight how making careers guidance a strategic priority is helping them tackle attendance, engagement and other indicators of NEET risk

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Free Webinars Launch to Support Inclusive Democratic Education for Young People with SEND

February 2026

Teachers and practitioners working with young people with SEND are being offered a free two-part webinar series this March aimed at making democracy and voting more accessible.

Department of education building

Voices of children and young people in the SEND reforms

February 2026

On Monday 23rd February the Department for Education published its schools white paper Every Child Achieving and Thriving which shares their plan to reform special educational needs and disability (SEND) support.

Department of education building

DfE press release: Radical expansion in rights for children with SEND to transform life chances

Feb 2026

The government has today pledged to end the one size fits all education system that has traumatised too many families, and damaged the lives of too many children, as part of generational reforms to improve outcomes for children with SEND.

A new chapter for SEND professional learning: Introducing nasen Academy

Feb 2026

We’re delighted to share the launch of nasen Academy - a new digital learning platform created to support everyone working with and for children and young people with SEND.

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Latest research blog highlights critical challenges facing SEND in England

February 2026

The SEN Policy Research Forum has published a series of new blog posts addressing critical challenges facing England’s special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system, as policymakers await the forthcoming White Paper

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New National Study Examines Effectiveness of Care, Education and Treatment Reviews

February 2026

A new national research project is examining how Care, Education and Treatment Reviews (C(E)TRs) are experienced by autistic people, people with learning disabilities, and the professionals and families involved in supporting them

We are delighted to announce the launch of a new accessibility feature on the nasen website: the Recite Me Assistive Toolbar.

Strengthening Digital Inclusion Across Education: Launch of nasen’s New Website Accessibility Tool

February 2026

We are delighted to announce the launch of a new accessibility feature on the nasen website: the Recite Me Assistive Toolbar.

Department of education building

New guidance on suspensions and increase in the behaviour hub programme

February 2026

The Department for Education (DfE) is signalling a significant shift in how schools should use suspensions, emphasising that only the most serious cases should lead to traditional fixed-term suspensions where pupils are sent home

nasen Techonolgy Sponsor Concero Education Technology wins BETT Award 2026 for IT Support Service

nasen technology partner, Concero Education Technology, wins BETT Award 2026 for IT Support Service

January 2026

nasen technology partner Concero Education Technology has been named a winner at the BETT Awards 2026, receiving the award for IT Support Service.

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New UK Alliance Launches to Champion Inclusive Literacy

January 2026

A new national collaboration, the Alliance for Inclusive Literacy, has launched to ensure that everyone has access to meaningful, progressive literacy education

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SENCOs & Senior Leaders views sought by DfE on ‘What Works in SEND’

January 2026

The What Works in SEND team are conducting research to understand how state-funded mainstream schools in England organise and deploy staff supporting SEND. This is to improve the experiences of this group of children and young people.

Department of education building

DfE issues new complaints guidance aimed at strengthening parent–school relationships

January 2026

Schools are being urged to adopt a more empathetic and transparent approach to parental complaints following the release of new government approved guidance designed to curb rising tensions between families and schools.

Department of education building

NPQ Review – call for insights and evidence webinar

January 2026

On Wednesday 28 January at 4pm, the Department for Education (DfE) will host a webinar for education professionals on the review of National Professional Qualifications (NPQs), including the SENCO NPQ

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Research finds alternative education settings need tailored guidance and extra funding to support their students to have a healthy diet

January 2026

Research funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) has found that alternative education settings, such special schools and pupil referral units, need tailored guidance and extra funding to support their students.

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Ofsted Report - Beyond the classroom: the experiences of children with SEND who are not in school

January 2026

A new thematic review from Ofsted entitled Beyond the classroom: the experiences of children with SEND who are not in school has been published.

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Government announces new funding for resourced provision in mainstream schools

January 2026

The government announced at least £3 billion to create tens of thousands of new specialist places in mainstream schools. The Education Secretary announced an expansion of specialist learning spaces in mainstream schools

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Children’s Commissioner publishes guide for parents to support online safety

January 2026

The Children's Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, has published a guide for parents to support them with helping their children navigate the digital world safely

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Twilight Talks

Hear from specialists across the sector on a range of different topics relating to SEND and additional needs. As well as developing knowledge and awareness of different elements of SEND, there will be points for reflection and practical take aways.

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Guides and training packages for schools on the Disability duties in the Equality Act

The Council for Disabled Children has launched three guides to the disability duties in the Equality Act for schools.