The EfL LearningShared National Conferences 2027
Connecting the transition in national policy and strategy to the inclusive practice and provision making a difference for learners and families.
Spring / Summer 2027 | London, Midland & Northern Event
The education landscape is shifting. As the sector navigates major reforms, the 2027 Evidence for Learning National Conferences offer a vital space for leaders across specialist and mainstream settings to connect, explore policy, and share innovative practice and approaches to Inclusion.
Designed for headteachers, Trust inclusion leads, and practitioners, our 2027 series moves beyond headline policy to examine what national change means in classrooms, additional and enhanced resource provision and any learning space in your setting. Across three regional dates in Derby, London, and the North, we will explore four core pillars:
National Policy into Practice: Unpicking the practical implications of the evolving SEND reforms, National Inclusion Standards, and Specialist Provision Packages (SPPs). How do we align statutory expectations with aspirational provision for our most vulnerable learners?
Developing the Specialist Workforce: Unlocking internal expertise, investing in targeted learning, and embedding a sustainable, school-wide culture of professional curiosity that empowers every leader, teacher and TA.
Experts at Hand & Multi-Agency Working: Explore ‘experts at hand’ models to maximise cross-disciplinary knowledge. Discover how seamless multi-agency working is powered through the Evidence for Learning (EfL) app, enabling educators, therapists, clinical specialists, and support teams to capture, align, and track collaborative interventions in real-time.
Innovation & Preparing for Life: Showcasing creative, dynamic curricula and rich enrichment frameworks that celebrate successful, co-produced approaches with experts by experience.
Join us to challenge thinking, share innovative frameworks, and shape the future of inclusive education together.
The EfL LearningShared National Conferences 2026
Putting Children & Young People First: Rethinking What It Means to Thrive and Achieve
As the complexity shift of learners with SEND continues in all schools, the event will bring the community together to reflect on practice, thinking and solutions as we consider how to respond and continue providing the very best provision, opportunities and outcomes for the young people and families we serve.
Key areas of discussion will include:
- Responding to the changing complexity of need and developing systems and processes for understanding learner characteristics and creating bespoke and aspirational provision.
- Unlocking specialist expertise and developing a highly skilled, inclusive workforce.
- Nurturing a culture of reflective practice and inquiry.
- Enrichment and curriculum – celebrating a broader view of progress and success for the most vulnerable learners
- Working successfully with families and experts by experience.
- Inclusion in mainstream – Creating enhanced and additional resourced provision to meet the needs of the most vulnerable learners.
- Outreach / Effective specialist x mainstream collaboration
The DfE White Paper ‘Every child achieving and thriving’ laid out the biggest reforms to the education system that we have seen in a generation with SEND and Inclusion at the very heart of all proposed policy changes. Our national conference features high level insights into national strategy and policy whilst providing the space to collaborate, share and explore what the reforms and any shift in policy mean for our school communities.
Dates and venues for 2026
Our 2026 National Themed Conferences (in person) are listed below.
We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone to another year of connection, collaboration and shared learning!
May 8th: LONDON (Friends House 173 – 177 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BJ)
June 5th: DERBY (University of Derby, Kedleston Road, Derby, DE22 1GB)
We’re thrilled to announce that we will be partnering with EQUALS to host our national conferences this year. These events provide a focused in-person opportunity for mainstream and specialist colleagues (leaders and practitioners) across the UK to come together to network, collaborate and respond to the key issues facing the specialist sector.
Leading experts from the sector along with colleagues from the DfE and Ofsted will share illuminations, insights and provocations for roundtable discussions, whilst lightning talk inputs showcase some of the very best practice from across the sector.
Join our event in London or Derby…
- Derby
- Date: Friday 5th June 2026
- Time: 9:30am to 3:30pm
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Location: DERBY (University of Derby, Kedleston Road, Derby, DE22 1GB)
Full day event. Lunch and refreshments provided.
- London - now closed for registrations
The London event (8th May) reached capacity (170 delegates) in less than a week, so please book early onto the Derby event to avoid disappointment.
As the complexity shift of learners with SEND continues in all schools, this event will bring the community together to reflect on practice, thinking and solutions as we consider how to respond and continue providing the very best provision, opportunities and outcomes for the young people and families we serve.
- Hear from leaders and policy makers as well as connect, collaborate and share with school, college and Trust leaders from across the system
A look at last year's conferences
The DfE White Paper ‘Every child achieving and thriving’ laid out the biggest reforms to the education system that we have seen in a generation with SEND and Inclusion at the very heart of all proposed policy changes. Our national conference features high level insights into national strategy and policy whilst providing the space to collaborate, share and explore what the reforms and any shift in policy mean for our school communities.
School, system and Trust leaders, Policy makers, practitioners and experts by experience will shape, guide and lead conversations and share provocations across the day.
Confirmed Speakers Included:
- DfE SEND & AP Team
- James Waller (Sunningdale School & EQUALS Chair)
- Prof. Barry Carpenter CBE OBE D.Litt PhD
- Diane Rochford OBE
- DfE Enrichment Framework Team
- Cheryl Gaughan (JMAT, EQUALS Vice Chair)
- Margaret Mulholland (ASCL, SEND and Inclusion Specialist)
- Laura Millard & Louise Needham (Hollinwood Academy)
- Matt Rooney (St Giles School)
Keynote contributor
We were delighted to welcome Janet Collins, Head of the Specialist Provision Unit within the SEND and AP Directorate at the Department for Education (DfE) to the EfL LearningShared National Conference 2026.
Janet lead a key session titled:
“SEND Reform: Putting Children and Young People First”
This session provided valuable insight into the direction of SEND reform and what these developments may mean for specialist providers and the wider system. It offered a timely opportunity to hear directly from the SEND and AP Directorate and to reflect on how policy can be translated into meaningful provision and practice.
Roundtable Discussions
In keeping with the collaborative nature of EfL LearningShared events, Janet also facilitated two roundtable discussions, creating space for colleagues to share perspectives and contribute to the ongoing conversation:
Roundtable 1: Delivering for the Long-Term
What infrastructure is needed to enable the sector to provide robust, specialist packages for pupils requiring long-term support?
Roundtable 2: Bridging the Gap
What do we need in place to empower specialist organisations to deliver effective outreach support to mainstream settings?
Who should attend?
Key Themes and Agenda items* :
From Understanding to Impact: Aligning Provision with Learners’ Need
- How do we understand the needs of our learners, individually and as more defined cohorts?
- What does ambition look like?
- How do we ensure that the provision we put in place works towards the ambitious outcomes we want for our children and young people in our schools?
SEND Reforms “Putting children and young people first”
An opportunity to reflect on the SEND reforms and consider what they might mean for your setting, trust or local authority.
How can Enrichment be utilised to enhance our curriculum offer?
What role will enrichment opportunities play in enhancing our curriculum, including our approach to Preparation for Life and adulthood? A major goal is to ensure all children, regardless of background, can engage in experiences like school trips and outdoor activities, addressing the disparity in participation.
- How do you include arts, nature, outdoor adventure, sport, and civic engagement in your curriculum offer?
- How will you work with local partners to deliver diverse experiences?
- How will you record and present the impact of your enrichment offer as part of your school’s approach to personal development?
Workforce Development: Moving beyond CPDL
Colleagues will share approaches to supporting a highly skilled and reflective workforce.
- How do we build, nurture and systemise reflective practice across our setting?
- How do we develop practice-based evidence?
- How do we effectively apply evidence-based approaches?
Roundtable Discussions
A range of roundtable discussions in the afternoon provide the opportunity to connect, network and collaborate on the themes below.
Working with families and Experts by Experience
- What role do families and ‘experts by experience’ play in defining ambitious outcomes?
- In what ways do you actively engage families in developing family-centred practice?
Preparing for Life: Positive outcomes beyond the school gates
- What does preparation for life look like at different stages in CYP’s life, for example EY, Primary, Secondary, Post 16 and Post 19?
- What does preparation for life look like for different levels of need?
Outreach and Specialist x Mainstream collaboration
Working together to build an inclusive system.
- What are some innovative and effective models of collaboration?
The Power of Community
Bringing together a large, powerful community of mainstream and specialist schools, trusts and practitioners. Our national conferences are a unique opportunity to learn, connect and blend national policy and the big picture with bold, innovative and outstanding on-the-ground practice.
The EfL and LearningShared community now comprises hundreds of mainstream schools and their trusts plus more than 90% of specialist schools, colleges and alternative provisions across England.
The main focus of our events is on connectivity and collaboration as we believe in the collective power of our community and school-based leaders and practitioners over soundbites and one-off contributions from ‘experts’.
Focused networking opportunities punctuate the day and we encourage colleagues to share and celebrate practice from your setting, make positive connections and seek shared solutions to the challenges we all face.
* Please note that the precise agendas and speakers for each event may vary slightly. Please get in touch with any queries.
Pricing Models
EfL LearningShared subscribers (Lite & Full Plans)
If your school or setting has an active EfL LearningShared CPLD Programme subscription, you can benefit from:
- Full Plan: 2 x free conference tickets
- Lite Plan: 1 x free conference ticket
Additional delegates can attend at a discounted rate of £100 (ex VAT) per delegate / attendee.
Your subscription must be active at the time of the event.
Non-subscribers
If your school or setting is not subscribed to the EfL LearningShared CPLD Programme (Full or Lite Plans), tickets are £150 (ex VAT) per delegate / attendee.
Not yet subscribed?
You can subscribe to the EfL LearningShared CPLD Programme using the link below to access free or discounted conference places, as well as the full range of programme benefits.
Learn more about the EfL LearningShared CPLD Programme here.
** OUR EVENTS FOR THIS ACADEMIC ARE CLOSED. WE LOOK FORWARD TO MORE EVENTS IN 2026/27 **
This event is now fully booked. We’ve had a great response and all 170 places are currently filled.
If you’d like to join the waiting list, please leave your details below and we’ll be in touch if a space becomes available.