Government launches national conversation on SEND
3 mins read
Tuesday 2 December 2025
The government has announced a new series of events designed to listen directly to parent carers and make sure your experiences shape the future of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) support in England.
The 9 face to face and 5 online events aim to put families at the heart of upcoming SEND reforms ahead of the publication of the Schools White paper expected early next year.
The government says it wants this to be the biggest discussion on SEND in a generation, with reforms guided by real experiences from parents, carers, young people and practitioners. Minister for School Standards, Georgia Gould, will kick off the first engagement event which takes place today in Bristol.
Where are the face to face events taking place?
You can sign up to attend the following events taking place in person:
Thursday 04/12/25 – East Midlands – Skegness (10.00am – 12.00pm)
Tuesday 09/12/2025- North West – Manchester (10.00am – 12.00pm)
Thursday 18/12/2025-London – Shoreditch (10.00am – 12.00pm)
Wednesday 07/01/2026- Yorkshire and Humber – Leeds (10.00am – 12.00pm)
Thursday 08/01/2026- North East – Darlington (12.30pm – 2.30pm)
Monday 12/01/2026 – West Midlands – Birmingham (10.00am – 12.00pm).
To book a place at the online sessions
You can find out the dates and sign up to the online events here.
Anna Bird CEO of Contact says: “We know that parent carers spend too much time trying to navigate a system that often feels overwhelming and inconsistent. We welcome any opportunity that gives families a genuine voice in shaping reform.
“Parent carers have so much expertise, born from lived experience, and it’s vital that this is listened to and acted upon. We encourage parent carers to take part in these events if they can – your insights are powerful, and they deserve to be heard.”
The engagement events will focus on:
- Early support -getting help in place earlier, when it has the most impact.
- Local provision – making sure children can learn in high-quality settings close to home, with the right special provision where needed.
- Fairness – so families don’t have to battle the system, and every school is equipped to meet children’s needs.
- Effective practice – ensuring support is based on what works and leads to strong long-term outcomes.
- Joined-up services – improving collaboration between education, health, care, local authorities, and families.
Registration for all events will be on a first come first served basis. Following this period of engagement, there will also be the opportunity to share your views and experiences in the government’s public consultation following the publication of the Schools White Paper.
