Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent steps she has taken to support newly qualified teachers to gain SEND specialisms to support children with Special Educational Needs.

We have taken steps to ensure newly qualified teachers are well prepared to support all pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Initial Teacher Training (ITT) and the Early Career Framework (ECF) are evidence-based, developed with SEND experts, and require trainees to meet Teachers’ Standards, including understanding pupils’ additional needs.

Early career teachers are entitled to two years of structured support based on the ITT and Early Career Framework (ITTECF), which has been strengthened following review to include more content on adaptive teaching and supporting pupils with SEND.

We are also investing over £200 million this Parliament to improve SEND training for all staff across education settings. From September 2026, all staff will have access to new government-backed training, with further courses from 2027. In the interim, newly qualified teachers can access the Universal SEND Services programme, offering free training and resources to support inclusive practice.