More children and young people in Rushcliffe will get the right support early, after the government announced a special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) training programme.
The programme says it will invest £200 million to upskill staff in every nursery, school and college, ensuring teachers and support staff are equipped to meet a wide range of needs and build a truly inclusive education system.
The announcement has been welcomed by Rushcliffe MP James Naish, who first raised the need for a “standardised national professional development framework for teachers and support staff” in Parliament in September 2024.
He has subsequently published a report on SEND following three roundtables and a survey completed by over 200 teachers, parents and carers from across Rushcliffe.
His report – which contains 29 recommendations in total – included a call for “a nationwide SEND professional development programme for educators with tiered accreditation”.
James said: “Strengthening SEND provision is understandably a top priority for many families across Rushcliffe. By upskilling teachers and creating specialist places, the government is making sure needs are identified earlier, support comes quickly, and parents don’t have to fight for what their children deserve.”
“I’m really pleased that my report is being taken seriously by the Department for Education, and I want to thank teachers, parents and carers from across Rushcliffe who shared their views with me so openly last year. Their voices are starting to be heard.”
The training will cover all staff, from early years to post-16, including teaching assistants. Staff will learn how to adapt teaching for needs such as visual impairments or speech and language difficulties, and use tools like assistive technology.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “Every child should have the chance to thrive. This programme equips staff with more SEND training than ever, helping schools take children from forgotten to included.”
The initiative builds on the Labour government’s wider SEND reforms, including £3 billion for 50,000 inclusive mainstream places and £740 million for 10,000 specialist places, aiming to make inclusive practice the norm in every classroom.
