3rd Annual On-Line Conference: CALL for PAPERS
‘Professional Learning in Special and Inclusive Education: A Vital Cog?
Friday 27 November (09.00 – 14.00)
On-line and Free to all
Professional Learning (or Continuing Professional Development, CPD) in Inclusive Education is often described as a ‘vital cog’ because inclusive education succeeds or fails largely through the expertise, confidence, and dispositions of teachers. A recent report by England’s DfE (2024) indicated that ‘Teachers particularly want more training in teaching pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)… because there has been an increase in the number of pupils identified as having SEND’ leading to ‘an increase in the pressure on SEND provision in mainstream schools’.
This conference seeks to provide practical illustrations of the opportunities and challenges present in enhance professional learning in Inclusive Education. It provides an ideal forum for new, early career and practitioner researchers to present their work in a supportive and collegial environment.
Whether you’re working hands-on in classrooms (in mainstream, specialist or alternative provision), leading institutional change, engaging in close-to-practice research or shaping national policy, your insights and experiences of effective inclusive education and practice are vital. We welcome individual or joint paper submissions, especially those which provide insights and illustrations of practice. Each presentation will be allotted a 15-minute slot, followed by five minutes for questions.
We welcome contributions that reflect the wide range of contexts and innovative practices in inclusive education. Submissions may include case studies, research findings, policy analysis, or reflective practice, particularly those with a focus on international perspectives and cross-cultural learning.
Where appropriate presenters will be invited to develop their work for inclusion in a themed edition of Support for Learning, a Wiley journal. Appropriate support will be offered to any new authors who require advice on developing their work for publication.
Closing date for applications is 30 September 2026 and presenters will be informed if their paper has been accepted in October 2026.
Criteria for the selection of papers:
- Clarity of the research/position/discussion focus
- Originality of the research/position/discussion
- Significance of the research for SEND practice
- Explanation of ethical considerations where relevant.
To submit a paper please complete the attached application and email to:
Philip Garner (Joint Editor, Support for Learning) at philip.garner@brunel.ac.uk or Di Cantali (Joint Editor, Support for Learning) at di.cantali@dundee.ac.uk Please put ‘SfL Conference Abstract’ in the subject bar of your email
