Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure SEND practitioners receive training on the impact of Armed Forces life on children with additional needs.

As part of the consultation on the government’s special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reforms, I recently attended a roundtable hosted by the Armed Forces Community All-Party Parliamentary Group. I met representatives from armed forces families and the charities that support them to hear first-hand about the challenges they face.

The department recognises that Armed Forces life may present particular challenges for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Our proposed SEND reforms aim to end the postcode lottery and improve quality of support for service children with SEND. For example, through new National Inclusion Standards, a nationally consistent set of Specialist Provision Packages and digital individual support and education, health and care plans.

We are also investing in improved training and recently announced a training package, backed by £200 million of new funding, to ensure every teacher, educator, teaching assistant and leader across early years, schools and post-16 settings can be trained to support those with SEND.

Schools receive targeted funding through the Service pupil premium, with over £26 million allocated in 2026/27. The rate increased to £360 per eligible pupil in 2026. Schools can use this funding flexibly to provide additional SEND training for staff.

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