Exeter teachers to receive new SEND training under £200m national programme

Teachers in Exeter are set to receive additional training to support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) as part of a new £200 million national programme announced by the Government.

The funding, which will be rolled out over the course of this Parliament, aims to improve SEND and inclusion training for staff across nurseries, schools, colleges and post-16 education. 

Ministers say the programme is designed to help children get the right support earlier, easing pressure on families and overstretched specialist services.

In Exeter, the announcement follows longstanding concerns from parents and schools about delays in assessments, shortages of specialist provision and gaps in staff training. 

National surveys have previously suggested that almost half of teachers feel they need more training to confidently support pupils with SEND.

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Under the plans, teaching staff will be offered new training covering a wide range of needs, including speech and language difficulties, visual impairments and other additional learning needs. 

The programme will also focus on adapting classroom teaching, making better use of assistive technology such as speech-to-text tools, and improving wider awareness of SEND among pupils.

Phil Arnold, Headteacher at Thomas Hall School, part of the Reach South Academy Trust, said additional training would be welcomed by schools on the ground. 

He said: “At Thomas Hall School, we are committed to ensuring that every child can reach their full potential. We recognise that some students may need additional support to thrive, and we work closely with families and external agencies to provide tailored help.”

“Additional SEND and inclusion training for our staff would be extremely welcome, as it would further equip our team to identify needs early, respond effectively, and provide the best possible outcomes for our pupils.”

He added that investing in staff skills strengthened not just support for pupils, but also for families and the wider school community.

The Government has said a new expectation will be set out in the SEND Code of Practice, stating that all staff in nurseries, schools and colleges should receive SEND and inclusion training. 

Courses are expected to be delivered flexibly, including online learning and in-person sessions, to fit around existing workloads.

The plans have been welcomed locally by Exeter’s Labour MP, Steve Race, who said that improved training for teachers is a vital step in addressing long-standing challenges faced by families in the city. 

Steve Race, Labour MP for Exeter, said SEND was one of the issues most frequently raised by families in the city. He said he had held roundtable discussions locally with parents and professionals to gather feedback on how the current system is working.

“SEND is an issue of massive importance for families in Exeter,” he said. “There’s no doubt from speaking to parents that the system needs to change. By upskilling teachers and identifying needs earlier, the aim is to reduce the battles families often face to secure support.”

The national programme builds on earlier investment to expand inclusive spaces in mainstream schools, alongside funding to create additional specialist places. Ministers say the combined approach is intended to improve attendance, wellbeing and long-term outcomes for children with SEND.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the training was a key part of wider SEND reform, adding: “Every child, whatever their needs, should have the opportunity to thrive at their local school.”

The new training offer is expected to begin from next year, with further details due to be set out in an upcoming Schools White Paper.