Ofsted's response to the Big Listen: What does it mean for SEND?

On Tuesday, Ofsted published its response to its Big Listen consultation, setting out how the inspectorate will reset relationships with the sectors it inspects and regulates, while continuing to raise standards for children and learners.

At a time for fresh starts in schools and colleges across the country, the response signalled the beginning of a new chapter for the organisation, which has faced increasing criticism of late - not least because of the pressure that has continued to mount on the education workforce.

Among the key areas that Ofsted hopes will lead to real change is the commitment to putting vulnerable children - such as those with special educational needs and disability (SEND) - at the heart of its reforms. To do this - in a move that echoes earlier changes to the Initial Teacher training and Early Career Framework - their new inspection framework will include a specific focus on inclusion.

For some time, we've known that confidence in identifying and supporting learners with SEND has been low across the sector.

So where do you turn for advice? Who is a safe pair of hands? And how do you know it will have the best results - for your personal development and for the benefit of the children and young people you teach?

Universal SEND Services Can Help!

The Universal SEND Services programme brings together support for SEND in schools with support for SEND across further education, with the ambition of improving preparation for adulthood from the earliest years in a seamless, joined up way.

The programme is funded by the Department for Education so that we can deliver free-to-access SEND CPD for the entire education workforce.

We know the effect that a brilliant teacher has on their students, and they are especially important for learners with SEND. We also know your time is precious so we've read through Ofsted's response and linked the key points to our most relevant CPD.