Case Studies

This session will focus on:

• Reflecting on what gives us a sense of belonging
• Exploring our own relationships and journeys with belonging
• Considering how we gather staff voice on belonging
• Reviewing the perception gap between stakeholder groups
• Considering how to create a belonging culture and a belonging curriculum
• Discussing the policies and practices that need to change to increase levels of belonging

Dame Christine Lenehan brings her years of expertise to share her reflections on the evolving SEND landscape. Drawing on her many years of working alongside children, families, professionals and policymakers, she will consider the system as it stands, the conversations shaping it, and the enduring values that continue to guide those working with children and young people with complex needs.

Demand for learning support staff has never been higher. In England alone, there are now over 288,000 teaching assistants working in schools, making them the largest workforce group in education.

Recent research suggests around one in five support staff left the school system in a single year, with school leaders reporting that teaching assistant roles are now among the hardest positions to recruit for.

In this session we explore how schools can grow their own workforce by bringing passionate people into the sector and equipping them with the skills to succeed. Drawing on our National Teaching Assistant Programme, we’ll demonstrate how structured training pathways and alternative recruitment routes can attract individuals with the right values and motivation – often leading to stronger long-term retention than traditional recruitment alone.

Join Sarah to explore:

• Why newly trained learning support staff often demonstrate stronger long-term commitment to the sector
• Why traditional recruitment alone won’t solve the workforce challenge
• How alternative entry routes are unlocking new talent pools

With SEND reform and the Education White Paper shaping national conversation, this panel will explore what the evolving system may mean in practice for the specialist sector.

Bringing together perspectives from special schools, alternative provision, hospital education and policy, the discussion will reflect on the opportunities and challenges ahead, and the role specialist settings will play within a more inclusive system.

This session will focus on:

• Designing and delivering satellite provision
• Scaling outreach into mainstream schools
• Embedding specialist expertise beyond your setting