by Margaret Mulholland, ASCL SEND and Inclusion Specialist

In an era of increasing pressure on education budgets, evolving policy frameworks, and a growing demand for specialist support, the Tes SEND Show returns this October with renewed purpose: to empower, inspire and equip the SEND community. At its core lies the SEND Leadership Summit, a one-day conference tailored for senior school leaders, SENDCos, trust executives, and decision-makers ready to drive transformative change.

Held on 10 October 2025 at London’s Business Design Centre, and produced in partnership with ASCL, the Summit delivers a powerful blend of keynote presentations, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities.

An unmissable gathering for school leaders
The Summit offers a rare opportunity for educational leaders to step back from daily pressures and engage with the big picture. It’s a forum designed not only to share strategic insights but to foster honest conversations about how to sustain and strengthen inclusive education in today’s shifting landscape.

Session highlights: strategy, innovation, and policy
The SEND Leadership Summit is carefully curated to address the real-world challenges school leaders face. Expect in-depth sessions exploring how to navigate funding pressures while maintaining quality SEND provision, and how to implement the latest policy changes effectively. These sessions blend practical advice with strategic foresight, delivered by sector-leading experts and policy influencers.

Equally compelling is the focus on future-proofing SEND education. Interactive panels will explore how schools can harness new technologies and evidence-based approaches to better meet the diverse needs of pupils. Case studies from pioneering schools will provide invaluable takeaways, showcasing what genuine innovation in SEND looks like in action.

Speakers include:

• Tom Rees, Chief Executive of Ormiston Academies Trust and SEND strategic adviser at the DfE, delivers the Summit Keynote. His talk challenges attendees to reassess what true inclusive practice looks like, with particular emphasis on translating policy ambition into school-wide action.
• Johnny Uttley, CEO of The Education Alliance, Visiting Fellow at The Centre for Young Lives, and trustee of SHINE, examines how leaders can dismantle systemic barriers. Covering areas like admissions, inspections, and curriculum design, his session foregrounds real-world strategies for inclusive leadership.
• Kate Browning, SEND consultant, outlines how the Graduated Approach can become a vehicle for meaningful inclusive development across classrooms and pastoral settings.
• Tom Shaw, Research & Development Director at Carr Manor, discusses embedding inclusion through established frameworks and shares his school’s success story in bringing inclusive values to life.

A platform for collaboration
More than just a series of talks, the SEND Leadership Summit fosters a collaborative space where leaders can share concerns, successes, and fresh ideas. Networking breaks and roundtable discussions encourage participants to build connections, exchange resources, and learn from each other’s journeys. In many ways, it is these peer-to-peer insights, born from candid dialogue, that prove most powerful.

A wider ecosystem of support
While the Leadership Summit offers content tailored to strategic decision-makers, it sits within the broader context of the Tes SEND Show’s inclusive programme. Beyond the Summit, attendees can explore free-to-attend theatres like the SEND Futures Theatre and the SEND Solutions Theatre, packed with sessions that translate high-level strategies into classroom practice.

The bustling exhibition hall meanwhile serves as a living marketplace of the latest tools, resources, and services designed to enrich SEND provision. It’s here that leaders can discover innovations that align with the visions developed in Summit discussions.

Join the movement for inclusive excellence
Whether you are a headteacher shaping whole-school SEND strategy or a trust leader looking to standardise best practice across multiple settings, the SEND Leadership Summit is an unmissable fixture. It’s more than CPD, it’s an opportunity to champion the values of inclusivity and equity, ensuring all learners thrive.

Tickets:

• £195 + VAT (public sector – please note that proof of eligibility will be required at the event) 
• £270 + VAT (private sector)

*ASCL members are entitled to a 40% discount on the above prices.

Book now: simply register free for the Tes SEND Show and then add the Summit to your basket using the ASCL discount code here.