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

Department of education building

DfE launches KS4 consultation on progress measures

March 2026

The Department for Education (DfE) has launched a new consultation on significant reforms to Key Stage 4 (KS4), aiming to ensure that schools with lower prior attaining pupils are judged more fairly.

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81% of SENCOs Are Struggling with Funding — We can help you save in 3 simple steps (Source: nasen SENCO Survey, 2024)

Many schools across the UK are unknowingly paying for tools or software that are already built into Microsoft or Google platforms. Imagine how much your school could save by leveraging these built-in features.

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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.”

Hiring Whole School SEND (“WSS”) Regional SEND Leader East of England, Applications close 5th March

Job vacancy: Whole School SEND (“WSS”) Regional SEND Leader - East of England

February 2026

Join our Regional Whole School SEND Teams – help shape the future of SEND
Whole School SEND is expanding its regional teams, and we are looking for an experienced SEND leader to step into seconded Regional SEND Leader positions.

Hiring Whole School SEND (“WSS”) Deputy Regional SEND Leader North West, Applications close 5th March

Job vacancy: Whole School SEND (“WSS”) Deputy Regional SEND Leader - North West

February 2026

Join our Regional Whole School SEND Teams – help shape the future of SEND
Whole School SEND is expanding its regional teams, and we are looking for an experienced SEND leader to step into seconded Regional SEND Leader positions.

Hiring Whole School SEND (“WSS”) Regional SEND Leader South, Applications close 5th March

Job vacancy: Whole School SEND (“WSS”) Deputy Regional SEND Leader - South East

February 2026

Join our Regional Whole School SEND Teams – help shape the future of SEND
Whole School SEND is expanding its regional teams, and we are looking for an experienced SEND leader to step into seconded Regional SEND Leader positions.

Hiring Whole School SEND (“WSS”) Regional SEND Leader Yorkshire and the Humber, Applications close 5th March

Job vacancy: Whole School SEND (“WSS”) Regional SEND Leader Yorkshire and the Humber

February 2026

Join our Regional Whole School SEND Teams – help shape the future of SEND
Whole School SEND is expanding its regional teams, and we are looking for an experienced SEND leader to step into seconded Regional SEND Leader positions.

A new chapter for SEND professional learning: Introducing nasen Academy

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