Government plans to change provision for SEND (July 2025)

INPP one day training course for Teachers

The government has said it aims to produce a fully costed plan to improve the support system for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) by April next year. 

While the details of this plan are not yet on the table, there is fear amongst parents and professionals working with children with special needs that the alleged initiative to shift responsibility for SEND to teachers in mainstream classes will result in a reduction in the support provided by teachers with special educational needs training and loss of  individual Educational Health and Care Plans (EHCP’s). 

These proposed changes if they go ahead, risk an increasing number of children with special educational needs becoming “lost” in mainstream classes, lacking access to specialist teaching with a fundamental understanding of individual needs, learning styles and tailored remedial interventions.

Currently teacher training incorporates only a small mandatory section on special educational needs which might cover:

• Understanding different types of special educational needs and disabilities.

• Basic strategies for inclusion and differentiation in the classroom.  

• Awareness of relevant legislation and support systems. 

This minimal training is inadequate to provide the specialist support that  so many children need.  Furthermore, little time is spent in general teacher training examining the role of physical development in supporting learning success.

Physical factors include:

• Development of postural control needed to sit still, provide the basis for coordination and centres involved in the control of eye movements

• Oculo-motor function, which describes the development of control of eye movements needed to support reading and spelling

• Visual motor integration or hand-eye coordination needed for writing

• Auditory processing difficulties

• The role of sensory-motor function as a basis for perception and emotional regulation.  Perception describes the brain’s interpretation of information derived from the senses.

The INPP one day course for teachers offers an introduction to the crucial role of physical development in supporting learning.

It provides teachers with a simple screening test to assist them in identifying children for whom special educational needs have a physical basis and a whole class-based physical remedial programme that can be used in school over the course of one school year.

The screening test may be used before and after intervention alongside standard measures of educational progress to assess the role of physical factors in the presentation of educational under-achievement and to evaluate progress not only in physical measures but whether there is a cross-over into improved educational attainment.

The next INPP one day course for teachers is due to be held on the 19^th September 2025

  This will be an exclusive author-led course.  Places are limited.  To register, contact mail@inpp.org.uk

More information on the use of the INPP screening test and developmental movement programme in schools can be found at: www.inpp.org.uk/inppschoolreports