(England) All teachers to be trained to support special needs children

Sept 25, 2026, Biggest ever overhaul of SEND teacher training begins - GOV.UK

Every single teacher in England will be empowered to better support children and young people with SEND, as government kickstarts the most comprehensive teacher training offer in a generation.

Developed by training experts Ambition Institute, and building on expertise from the sector, the first-of-their-kind free, adaptable and practical training materials for schools and post-16 settings are now available to be used in the way that works best for them, throughout the year or on existing training days.

The materials will put inclusion at the heart of every classroom and workshop, giving teachers practical techniques such as breaking instructions into digestible steps, pre-teaching specialist vocabulary, and carving out time for children and young people to practise it.

They will go hand in hand with online training for early years staff, developed and delivered by early years charity Dingley’s Promise, supporting staff to use age-appropriate inclusive practices from day one - like using visual timetables to help children with transitions between activities, or adapting environments to reduce unnecessary noise that can be a barrier to communication and emotional regulation. . . .

I’ve heard from teachers, parents and young people across the country about the need for more investment in teacher training and today we are responding to those concerns. . . .

One in three teachers in a recent survey said they want more training on supporting children with SEND. Alongside this, a quarter of surveyed teaching assistants in schools reported that a lack of sufficient training was a barrier to them effectively providing support for these pupils.

This is just start of reforms to change that, with further resources due to published in January and April next year. New fully funded training courses will then follow in September next year available to teachers, leaders and support staff across the country. . . .