Tes SEND Show North 2026 to address SEND reform at a defining moment for education
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Taking place on 13–14 March 2026 at Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground, the event comes amid the publication of the long-awaited SEND White Paper, the announcement of a £200 million SEND teacher training programme, and a 10-year plan to revitalise schools and colleges. Together, these developments signal a period of significant transformation for SEND provision.
At the same time, rising numbers of pupils identified with SEND, increasing parental frustration and sustained financial pressure are placing unprecedented demands on schools and settings. According to the Department for Education, more than 1.7 million pupils in England - almost one in five - are now identified as having special educational needs and disabilities, the highest proportion on record. Over 5% have an Education, Health and Care Plan, while more than 14% receive SEN Support.
Commenting on the scale of change facing the sector , the report states (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/specialist-send-support-in-every-school-and-community) :
“Every child with additional needs will benefit from better, more tailored support, as government unveils landmark £4 billion investment to make every school truly inclusive and transform outcomes for children with SEND.”
Beverley Walters, Programme Director, Tes SEND Show North, said:
“This is a pivotal moment for SEND. Reform will only succeed if it is grounded in the realities of classrooms and settings. Tes SEND Show North is designed to support education professionals at this moment of change, bringing together evidence-informed practice, policy insight and practical solutions that can be implemented immediately.”
What to expect from Tes SEND Show North
Prepare for two days of insight, inspiration and practical solutions. The programme brings together leading voices from across the sector to share evidence-informed practice, policy updates and strategies you can implement immediately. Highlights include:
- Opening Keynotes: Mel Ainscow CBE will challenge and inspire with a powerful session on inclusive education. Tom Rees and Dame Christine Lenehan, Strategic Advisers for SEND, DfE, will provide the latest update on the SEND White Paper, followed by audience discussion.
- A dynamic exhibition: Discover the latest resources, services and innovations supporting children and young people with SEND and those who are neurodiverse, and visit the Calm Zone created by Tes SEND Show North 2026 Headline Sponsor YPO.
- Free-to-attend content includes: Keynote presentations and the Exhibitor Workshop Theatre.
- A seminar programme shaped by the profession: Addressing the most pressing issues in inclusion, legal responsibilities, speech and language, and supporting young people with complex needs in mainstream schools.
Tes SEND Show North is also delighted to launch the inaugural SEND North Leadership Summit, the first of its kind in Manchester and fully booked ahead of opening. Sponsored by Supporting Education Group, the Summit convenes education leaders, policy experts and practitioners to examine reform and its practical implementation in depth.
The stakes have never been higher. Tes SEND Show North 2026 is designed to equip you with the knowledge, confidence and connections to lead inclusive practice with clarity and purpose.
A message from André Imich, SEN and Disability Specialist Adviser, AI SEND Advisory Services
The wait is over - the Government has now published its consultation document: SEND Reform: Putting Children and Young People. There is much to absorb, and we have 12 weeks in which to consider its implications and provide feedback to DfE.
This is clearly an effort to restructure the SEN system whilst building on the foundations of the 2014 reforms. It aims to align responsibilities more closely with those who have the most direct responsibility for delivery and who engage most closely with children and young people and their families. Statutory rights to EHC plans remain for those whose provision requirements are the greatest, and new rights will be created for pupils in receipt of proposed Individual Support Plans that schools will be required to develop.
The announcement of significant additional funding of £3.6bn is, of course, greatly welcomed. However, SEN history shows that more funding does not on its own lead to improved outcomes or experiences for children and young people, and needs to be accompanied by other measures, including accountability and transparency for its spend.
Over the next 12 weeks, we need to explore how each of the pieces of this large jigsaw fit together. In the meantime, we need to emphasise that these remain proposals and nothing is changing in the short term.
André Imich
SEN and Disability Specialist Adviser
AI SEND Advisory Services
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Data sourced from Department for Education - Special educational needs in England Academic year 2024/25
About Tes SEND Show North
Tes SEND Show North is the North’s largest in-person SEND event, bringing together education professionals to shape inclusive education together. The event takes place on 13–14 March 2026 at Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Manchester.