Teachers On Isle Of Wight To Benefit From £200m SEND Training Programme

Teachers and education staff on the Isle of Wight are set to benefit from a landmark £200 million national training programme aimed at improving support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

The government says the scheme is the most ambitious SEND and inclusion training programme ever introduced, with funding spread over the course of this Parliament to ensure staff in every nursery, school and college receive dedicated SEND training.

A new national expectation will mean every teacher is trained to support pupils with additional needs, following concerns from parents and educators that SEND training has been inconsistent.

Nearly half of primary and secondary teachers have previously said further training would improve their confidence in supporting SEND pupils.

The announcement follows two recent roundtable discussions hosted by Isle of Wight MP Richard Quigley, which brought together local SEND parents to talk about challenges specific to the Island.

Alongside the national training programme, the Isle of Wight will also receive £4 million to create additional SEND places, helping to strengthen local provision and capacity.

The new training will focus on practical, evidence-based approaches, including assistive technologies such as speech-to-text tools, as well as strategies to improve understanding and inclusion across schools.

Richard Quigley MP welcomed the announcement, saying teachers he spoke to were keen to help SEND pupils but often felt they lacked the right tools and training.

He said the new investment showed the government was listening, adding that the Island’s £4 million SEND funding needed to be matched with stronger support for staff working on the frontline.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the reforms aim to ensure every child, regardless of where they live or their level of need, can attend a local school where they are supported to achieve and thrive.

She added that the measures form part of wider plans to reform the SEND system and give families confidence that the right support will be in place throughout their child’s education.

The government’s full proposals for SEND reform are expected to be set out in the Schools White Paper, due to be published later this year.