Education briefing: Special Educational Needs & the challenge of inclusion

Education breakfast briefing: Special Educational Needs and the challenge of true inclusion

SEND in focus: case studies, admissions and “community approach”, plus a practical tool to strengthen consultation responses.

Following our highly successful SEND event, we’re returning to the pressing challenge of delivering true inclusion for children and young people with SEND across every part of the sector. Designed for senior leaders and SENDCos, this briefing examines where things go wrong—and how to build systems that go right. We’ll share recent case studies, unpack the admissions and ‘community approach’ implications referenced alongside the Government Schools Bill, and introduce a practical template to help you respond consistently and effectively to consultation requests.

What you’ll gain

• Lessons from real case studies where plans faltered—and what robust practice looks like.
• Admissions and ‘community approach’ implications translated into operational steps for schools and trusts.
• A ready‑to‑use template tool to standardise how you evaluate and respond to consultation requests.
• Clarity on roles and responsibilities across SEND leadership, classroom practice and multi‑agency work.
• Actionable next steps to tighten processes, documentation and communication with families.

Who should attend

• Senior Leaders (Heads, Executive Heads, CEOs, COOs) accountable for SEND provision and inclusion.
• SENDCos and inclusion leads looking to strengthen processes, responses and cross‑team coordination.
• Trust leaders seeking to align policy, practice and assurance across multiple settings.

Our speaker

Solicitor in the disputes & regulatory team at Wilkin Chapman Rollits, Nick advises on education law and compliance. He has supported schools and trusts on SEND frameworks, admissions and governance challenges

Sarah-Jayne brings over 15 years of expertise in Conductive Education, supporting children and adults with movement challenges such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, dyspraxia, SMA Type 2, and Long Covid. As part of the team at Naomi’s Garden, she is passionate about helping individuals learn, grow in confidence, and thrive—both in everyday life and educational settings. Her work focuses on enabling every child to reach their full potential, while offering specialist support to families across Lincolnshire.