HEP Inclusion and SEND Conference 2026

SEND and inclusion are no longer specialist concerns – they are one of the defining challenges facing schools today. As demand rises and systems strain, the impact is felt most strongly by children, families and the professionals supporting them.

The annual HEP Inclusion and SEND Conference brings school leaders, practitioners and national experts together for a focused, practical day exploring neurodiversity in the classroom, offering clear insight into what ‘inclusion’ means in the new Ofsted framework, evidence-informed approaches to autism and dyslexia, and strategies you can take back to school to strengthen provision and improve outcomes for every learner.

This year’s conference takes place on 22 January at Regent Hall, Oxford Street, and features a strong lineup of nationally recognised speakers from across the education sector.

Watch the highlights from the HEP Inclusion and SEND Conference 2025.

Margaret is a leading specialist in SEND and inclusion, with over 20 years’ experience spanning policy, practice and initial teacher training. She is Adviser on SEND Policy for the Association of School and College Leaders and Whole School SEND Project Director, currently leading an Education Endowment Foundation–funded evaluation. A strong advocate for the role SEND settings play in shaping inclusive teaching and learning, Margaret has worked across both mainstream and special education as a teacher and leader.

Her career includes seven years as Director of Development and Research at a leading special school, followed by thirteen years at the Institute of Education, where she led innovative employment-based routes to QTS, PGCE secondary partnerships and a Challenge Partners school leadership programme. She sits on the Universities’ Council for the Education of Teachers, advises the UK Government on ITT curriculum development, and works with local authorities as an external adviser for NQTs, ITT and leadership development. Margaret is an Honorary Norham Fellow at the University of Oxford and a regular columnist for TES, writing on research and inclusivity.

Amjad is an experienced SENCo, senior leader and education trainer with more than 19 years’ experience teaching and leading in diverse, high-need and challenging school contexts. A qualified, practising SENCo and trained Advanced Skills Teacher in Teaching and Learning, he brings deep expertise grounded in lived experience. Before entering teaching, Amjad worked as a Play Worker and Learning Support Assistant in Young Offenders Institutes, shaping his inclusive and relational approach to education.

A TEDx speaker, Amjad has delivered CPD across all sectors of education – from trainee teachers to CEOs, executive leaders and headteachers – both in the UK and internationally, working with over 100 schools and thousands of students. He regularly presents keynotes, workshops and inspirational addresses at major education events. He has also led and co-founded influential grassroots initiatives. Amjad writes the reflective blog NewToThePost, and is widely recognised for his warmth, humour and ability to translate the complexities of SEND and inclusion into practical strategies that challenge, inspire and endure.

Professor Karen Guldberg is Head of the School of Education, Professor in Autism Studies, and former Director of the Autism Centre for Education and Research at the University of Birmingham. She is passionate about making a difference in education through her research and teaching on autism studies and inclusive practice in education. Professor Guldberg chaired the Department for Education’s (DfE) Neurodivergence Task and Finish Group with an aim to increase understanding of inclusion and drive support for neurodivergent children and young people in mainstream education.

Karen is also a member of the DfE Expert Advisory Group for Inclusion, advising the government on improvements to the education system for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). She was named the 2025 Academic Citizen of the Year by the British Education Research Association.

Lucia is the Headteacher at The Grove School, a Haringey specialist school for pupils aged 5 to 19 with a diagnosis of autism. She has worked in the field of SEND for over 20 years, opened two successful special schools meeting the needs of autistic learners, and worked on Autism Accreditation and Challenge Partner review teams.

Lucia is a member of the Haringey Model for Change and Autism Strategy groups, co-chairs the Pan-London Autism School Network Research group, and is a HEP Consultant Improvement Partner providing school improvement services to special schools and mainstream schools, delivering training locally and internationally. She is trained in a range of SEND-focused approaches and strategies to support curriculum access, behaviour and communication.

Phil is the Deputy Headteacher at Greenshaw Academy, a large secondary school in South London. The Greenshaw Learning Trust has developed its own version of the Graduated Response. The approach serves as a school-wide framework to guide how they use deliberate strategies and interventions to intensify support in response to growing levels of need. Their model is designed to extend beyond SEND, shaping how the trust allocates its limited resources and approaches inclusion as an entire school community.

Phil regularly speaks at national events on a range of different topics, such as keynote presentations for ASCL on assessment and sessions at ResearchEd events on literacy and research around effective study. He has expertise in secondary literacy, curriculum and assessment design and using research evidence to improve student outcomes. He runs a variety of training programmes for senior and middle leaders on different school improvement themes, such as developing secondary reading.

David is the Headteacher at William Ford C of E Junior School in Dagenham. A dynamic and dedicated educational leader, David has been recognised for driving innovation and excellence in education through high-profile speaking engagements at BETT, Schools and Academies Show and the NAHT National Conference. He has also made contributions to Schools Week and Leadership Matters publications, and a variety of news media appearances demonstrating a commitment to sharing best practices and addressing key educational issues.

David has created an enriching and inclusive learning environment where every child thrives. He champions creative and career-focused education, some of his initiatives include integrating Lego to enhance creativity, assessment, and concept understanding. He has developed the school’s radio station to inspire communication skills, and embedded careers education to prepare pupils for future success.

Expect challenge, inspiration and actionable insight from a powerful lineup of speakers at the forefront of SEND and inclusion. Whether you’re refining systems or rethinking classroom practice, this is a day that will sharpen your thinking and strengthen your provision.

Sign up today: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hep-inclusion-send-conference-2026-neurodiversity-in-the-classroom-tickets-1758147629889?aff=oddtdtcreator

Find out more about HEP’s past and upcoming conferences: https://haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk/connected-member-networks/conferences/

Jonathan is the Lead for Communications and Content at HEP. He has a passion for storytelling and has previously worked as a journalist and communications advisor in New Zealand.