Government rolls out SEND training resources as critics demand more teachers and money

Government publishes new SEND training resources for schools and colleges in England

The government has published new training resources for teachers and other professionals who work with children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The materials are being rolled out across schools and colleges in England. Ministers say the aim is to give staff additional support so they can better help SEND pupils in the classroom and make mainstream settings more inclusive.

The announcement forms part of wider SEND reforms. The government has described it as England's biggest overhaul of training for school staff in this area. Ministers also say the resources are intended to help prepare SEND pupils for work and further education, and to reduce the chances of them being unemployed after leaving school.

A college in London that offers supported internships for SEND pupils was held up as an example of how inclusive teaching can help students get their first job. One student said teachers had helped with workplace behaviour, explaining: 'The teachers like putting it in for us saying that like how we should act in a workplace, like in an appropriate workplace.'

But the rollout has drawn concerns about delivery. Unions warned that many schools across England may need more resources. One union representative called it a very welcome first step that would help all children in every class, but argued it must be followed by a coherent and strategic plan with medium and longer-term training. Critics said what is really needed is extra teachers and more money.

The schools minister defended the government's approach, saying £4 billion was being invested into SEND reform. The minister said resourcing was a massive priority and that £4 billion had been put into supporting early intervention. That money would cover a mix of people, including educational psychologists, speech and language therapists and occupational therapists, who would be dedicated to supporting schools and teachers in the classroom.

The government's case for change rests partly on outcomes for young people with education, health and care plans (EHCPs). Government research shows that 37 per cent of those who had an EHCP at 16 were not in education, work or training for at least six months between the ages of 17 and 19. It also shows that 63 per cent of those who had an EHCP at 16 were not in education, work or training for at least six months between the ages of 20 and 24.

The announcement also comes amid growing recognition within the Department for Education that improving SEND support at school level can reduce the chances of someone ending up out of education and not in work or training.

Young people and families are watching how quickly the changes will be felt. One 19-year-old, Mary, has spent the past three years looking for a permanent job. She has special educational needs and said a lack of support at school had lasting effects. 'If I had the support and that, things would have been so much more better. I mean, I probably would have had qualifications and my GCSEs,' she said. Asked whether she felt let down by schools and teachers, she replied: 'Yes, a hundred percent. There's so much more that could have been done. It needs to be a lot more speech therapy in schools. There needs to be more catering towards these disabilities and that.' She also said: 'Just give us a chance. Listen to us. We've got, you know, we've got so much potential in that. You complain about not having, you know, us young people going to work and that, but you're not giving us the tools.'

The minister said the case for change was enormous and that young people needed support much earlier and through every transition. The question now is how effective the new materials will be, and how soon schools, pupils and parents will see the difference.