New Teacher Training on Supporting Pupils with SEND

There is a story that I have heard many times from parents in Stockport. It is one about their child who was struggling at school. They found it hard to follow instructions, often felt overwhelmed in busy classrooms, and began to believe school was not for them. The parents saw their child falling behind and losing confidence by the day – that is heartbreaking.

But then their child met a teacher and warmed to them. Rather than seeing their difficulties as a problem to be managed, the teacher saw a bright, curious child who needed to be taught differently. The teacher learned what worked for them – breaking tasks into smaller steps, providing that bit of extra time to process, and using visual prompts alongside spoken instructions. Within a year, they were flourishing. Whether that took the form of a love of reading, or a new set of friends, or actually being excited for school. And the parents finally felt their child was understood.

This is what great teaching looks like. I have met many of those brilliant teachers on my visits to local schools. It is important for every child in the classroom, not just those with additional needs. Because when teachers are confident in adapting their teaching, everyone benefits – the child who needs more time to process, the child who is ready to be stretched further, everyone in between.

But under the Conservatives, training for teachers was patchy and inconsistent. That is not just frustrating for the parents and children who have not had the support they deserve, it is hugely frustrating for teachers who try their hardest but understandably have felt ill-equipped to deal with a range of needs. That is why Labour developed a new teacher training framework for new starters, more focused on adaptive teaching and supporting all pupils with SEND. Since the start of this school year, we have made great strides in building the next generation of brilliant teachers in Stockport. But that leaves many teachers who have been through previous training rounds with a patchwork of training and skills.

Nearly half of teachers say that more training would help their confidence. The parents I spoke to as part of my roundtable on SEND have said time and again that the teachers and professionals they meet want to do the right thing, but they need better support to be able to do it.

That is not a criticism of the excellent teachers we have in Stockport who step up every day-  it is a reflection of a system that has left too many schools to struggle in isolation. That is why Labour is announcing a £200 million investment in teacher training. This is the most ambitious package in our country’s history and will ensure that every child in every nursery, school and college in Stockport benefits from teachers who truly understand how to support a wide range of needs.

From the early years right through to college, local teachers will gain deeper knowledge of how to adapt their teaching and practical skills to support children with visual impairments, speech and language difficulties.

They will learn to identify children who have more to give and how to stretch them further. They will build classroom cultures where every child feels they belong and can thrive.

Recently, the Department for Education’s national conversation on SEND drew to a close for now. I want to thank everyone in Stockport who took part, whether through my roundtable event or by writing to me. I am making sure all the experiences and feedback received are reflected in Labour’s Schools White Paper which is set to be published soon.

Speaking with Ministers, I know it will set out how we make sure a child's background never determines their future. Having skilled, confident teachers sits at the heart of that work. It lays the groundwork for our children to be understood and supported in their local school, not pushed from pillar to post. It works hand in hand with the £3 billion Labour is investing to create tens of thousands of new specialist places in mainstream schools, as we build an education system where children are included by design.

Of course, I will not pretend this fixes everything overnight. Stockport’s families have faced years of frustration, and rebuilding trust takes time. But we are getting on with the job of rebuilding the foundations, because when children feel safe and understood, everything changes. 

Every child deserves a brilliant teacher who sees them and backs them. Every parent deserves confidence that their local school will help their child achieve and thrive. That is what Labour is delivering.