LGA Summer Workshop 2026 – Every Child Achieving and Thriving – The Education White Paper Proposals and SEND Reforms
LGA Summer Term Workshop
Every Child Achieving and Thriving – The Education White Paper Proposals and SEND Reforms
Our summer workshop was held on Wednesday 13th May. It was very well attended – reflecting, no doubt, the great interest in the issues which are covered within the proposals.
We were lucky to have three excellent speakers who provided us with a great deal of food for thought!
Aby Hardy, Head of School Improvement for Lancashire LEA, gave us a detailed breakdown of the contents of the White Paper. She emphasised that it is not only about SEND reform although that element has been the subject of a great deal of focus and press coverage.
The White Paper also covers, curriculum reform, workforce reform, a focus on disadvantaged pupils, pupil attendance, an emphasis on Trust and other service development and an expansion of the RISE programme.
There is also a lengthy timeframe for the roll out of all matters contained in the proposals with full implementation envisaged in 2030.
There is a major element of the proposals which focuses on inclusion and Aby spoke about the need for all schools to be prepared for this. She spoke of how the local authority is responding to the increased need in SEND. Specifically she outlined the expansion of inclusion bases and the teams supporting schools with early intervention and “expert” advice.
Aby left the meeting with a series of really useful questions for us to consider as governors.
Our other two speakers were from Endeavour Learning Trust. David Clayton is the CEO and Donna Waring Director of SEND for the Trust.
David Clayton spoke about how the Trust had put a culture of inclusion at the heart of planning within the Trust and how this has had an effect on the schools that are part of it. A positive impact has been seen in terms of a reduction in suspensions, exclusions and SEND pupils removal from lessons. Pupil feedback indicates they are happier in school and there has been positive feedback from parents and carers.
Donna Waring gave the meeting a detailed description of the Trust’s development of two inclusion bases. She emphasised the importance of these not being “islands” within a school – they are rooms not strategies and are a key part of a whole school inclusive policy.
Both presentations can be accessed below and offer many suggested questions for Governors to consider in their schools.
Click here for the Endeavour Learning Trust Presentation slides
Click here for the SLD SEND Presentation slides
