Bridging the SEND Transition Collective

Several reports have talked about a 'Cliff Edge' of support for SEND from 18. Bridging the SEND Transition is going to explore the transition from School to FE, but also beyond 18, the SEND need doesn't go away. How do we support SEND and Neurodiversity all life long and into the workplace?

Many young people's SEND and Neurodiversity needs are not picked up in the school system. 1 in 3 Level 3 Apprentices have an undiagnosed Neurodiversity, not picked up through the school system.

The numbers tell a story of systemic barriers. Nearly half of all young people who are NEET are now disabled, up from one in five just a decade ago. Disabled young people are more than three times as likely to be out of education, employment and training as their non-disabled peers. Employment rates for specific groups are stark: around 3 in 10 for autistic people, fewer than 3 in 10 for those with learning disabilities.

Young people with SEND, including those with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, learning disabilities, and speech and language needs, bring extraordinary talent, perspective and potential to our workforce. Yet the system consistently fails to support their transitions.

Despite SEND support officially extending to age 25, young people routinely experience what the Education Select Committee has called a "sharp decline in support after age 16." The cliff edge isn't a future risk, it's happening now, in every college, every apprenticeship provider, and every transition meeting across the country.

The Government's SEND White Paper is due in early 2026. The Education Select Committee has explicitly called for dedicated funding for post-16 SEND provision and an end to the transition cliff edge.

The sector's voice in this moment matters.

The Bridging the SEND Transition Collective brings together senior leaders, practitioners and employers to co-create practical solutions and policy recommendations that can influence the national conversation.

The outcome will be a sector-wide report on bridging SEND transitions, from education to employment. Learning the lessons from the previous Collectives, we want this to be an action focused outcome. So come and join us and help us Bridge the SEND Transition.

Thursday 24th April 2026 Woburn House Conference Centre, London

Coffee and registration from 9:00am, with the main event running 9:30am – 3:00pm

• Keynote conversation "Mind the Gap" with Dr Katerina Kolyva (ETF) in conversation with a guest (TBC)
• Panel 1: Bridging SEND: School to FE Transitions — Dr Vikki Smith (ETF, Chair), David Holloway (AOC), Dr Nikos Savvas OBE DL (Eastern Education Group), Caroline McDonald (HOLEX)
• Panel 2: The Post-18 Cliff Edge: Neuro-Inclusion & Lifelong Learning — Paul Stannard (AELP), Jagdeep Soor (Queen Alexandra Charity), Annamarie Hassall (nasen)

Why does support drop off when it's needed most? The morning sessions will tackle the post-16 cliff edge, the absence of dedicated SEND funding for FE, the barriers young people face moving from education to employment, and what employers need to see change, grounded in the voices of those with lived experience.

Facilitated working groups will tackle the practical challenges:

• Group A: Supporting High Dependency Learners Through Transitions (facilitator TBC)
• Group B: Ofsted & Inclusion: Policy vs Practice — Chris Quickfall, Cognassist
• Group C: Reframing SEND: Towards Lifelong Neuro-Inclusion — Nathan Whitbread, The Neurodivergent Coach
• Group D: Workforce Development for Inclusive Practice (facilitator TBC)

Attendees will be allocated to one of four working groups for two facilitated sessions, with a networking break in between to share insights with attendees from other groups.

We're bringing together:

• College Principals and senior leaders
• SEND leads and inclusive practice specialists
• Apprenticeship and work-based learning providers
• Employers creating inclusive entry-level opportunities
• Local Authority SEND and transition teams
• Policy experts and sector bodies
• Young people with lived experience of SEND transitions

Senior representatives from:

• Colleges and Independent Training Providers
• Apprenticeship and work-based learning providers
• Local Authority SEND and transition services
• Supported employment and internship programmes
• Awarding Organisations
• Employers committed to neuroinclusive recruitment
• Careers and employability services

Whether you're a Principal, SEND lead, employer partner, or transition coordinator, this event will focus on building cross-system solutions that work in practice.

The collective will produce a sector-wide report on bridging SEND transitions, with practical recommendations for providers, employers, and policymakers.

With the SEND White Paper on the horizon, your voice in this conversation could help shape the policies that define inclusive practice for the next decade.

Don't just respond to the transition challenge, help bridge the gap.

Info: Exploring cliff edges in learner transitions and the social justice imperative

Info: Group A: Supporting High Dependency Learners Through Transitions
Group B: Ofsted & Inclusion: Policy vs Practice
Group C: Reframing SEND: Towards Lifelong Neuro-Inclusion
Group D: Workforce Development for Inclusive Practice

Info: Group A: Supporting High Dependency Learners Through Transitions
Group B: Ofsted & Inclusion: Policy vs Practice
Group C: Reframing SEND: Towards Lifelong Neuro-Inclusion
Group D: Workforce Development for Inclusive Practice

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher FE & Skills Collective