On Wednesday 10 June 2026, SENCos and inclusion professionals came together at the Sheikh Zayed Theatre, London School of Economics, for the first We Love SENCos conference. The theme was Smarter SEN Provision for Schools and Trusts.

We ran the day with Lexonic and Empowering Tech. Thank you to them, to everyone who spoke and exhibited, and to everyone who gave up a day in the busiest part of the summer term to be there.

Why we started We Love SENCos

We Love SENCos is a one-day conference series for SENCos and inclusion leaders. The idea is simple: bring SENCos, school leaders, policymakers and SEND organisations together in one room to share what works and shape better support for pupils.

We keep tickets deliberately affordable and run the day at cost, so the focus stays on practical ideas, honest discussion, and time with peers who are working on the same problems.

Watch the highlights

If you couldn’t make it, or you’d like to relive the day, here’s the highlights video.

Who spoke

The programme ran from 9am to 4pm, followed by an hour of networking:

• Keynote, The Future of SEN Assessment in Mainstream Settings: Jamie Wace (CEO, Talamo)

• Panel, What does the SEND white paper mean in practice? Ellen Broomé (CEO, British Dyslexia Association), Adam Dance MP, Louise Selby (SEN assessor and author) and Amanda Wright (Head of Whole School SEND)

• Explaining the Ofsted Inclusion Framework: Adam Sproston (Senior Inspector SEND, Ofsted)

• How SENCos Protect Their Wellbeing: Abigail Hawkins (Founder, Sensible SENCo)

• How to Efficiently Conduct Intervention Across the Whole School: Sarah Ledger (CEO, Lexonic)

• AI to make SENCos’ lives easier (without tech skills): Darren Coxon (Founder, Kompass Education)

• How to Make the Most of Assistive Technology: Julia Clouter (Head of Education, Empowering Tech)

• Panel, Getting SEND taken seriously across the school: Phillipa Sherlock-Lewis (CEO, Prince Albert Community Trust), Timothy James (The White Horse Federation), Marlon James Edwards (2024 Teacher of the Year winner) and Michelle Catterson (Executive Head, Moon Hall Schools Trust)

• The Future of Clinical Assessment: Dr Katy Genseke (Head of Clinical Product, Riverside Insights)

Exhibitors also gave short lightning talks during the day.

What you told us

After the conference we asked everyone who came for feedback. Almost everyone who filled in our survey rated the day good or excellent, and nobody rated it poor. Most said they would come again, and everyone who answered the question said they would recommend it to others.

The written comments told us even more. A few themes stood out.

Practical, honest sessions. The session people mentioned most was Darren Coxon’s on using AI to take some of the workload off SENCos, without needing tech skills. Attendees valued how practical it was, and how quickly they could use it back at school.

Speakers who understand the job. Abigail Hawkins’ session on SENCo wellbeing struck a chord, as did Sarah Ledger on whole-school intervention and Adam Sproston’s explanation of how Ofsted now looks at inclusion. The panel discussions were popular too.

Feeling less alone. Many comments were about how the day felt, not just what was said. People described it as thought-provoking, moving and energising, and valued time with others doing the same demanding job.

Keeping it about SENCos. Some people asked us to keep it a day just for SENCos. There are plenty of general SEND training days, and they valued one built around their role.

In their own words:

What we’d do differently

Attendees were honest with us, and we’re grateful. The day was packed: lots of speakers in a short time, a lot of sitting and listening, and not enough breaks. People wanted more time to talk to each other and more choice over which sessions to attend. Some felt there was too much selling from exhibitors, and asked for more ideas that don’t cost money. And yes, the queue for tea was too long.

What we’ve changed for Birmingham

We Love SENCos II takes place at Millennium Point, Birmingham, on Tuesday 17 November 2026, with the theme Building Better SEND Support. We’ve built it around what you told us.

• More choice. In the late morning, the programme splits into three parallel tracks: SEND Masterclasses, Operational SEND and Strategic Inclusion.

• More time to talk. Lunch is a full hour, and the day ends with an hour of networking.

• Your questions, answered. An audience-led Experts at Hand panel puts delegates’ questions to specialists in assessment, access arrangements, educational psychology, executive functioning, SEMH and dyslexia.

• The sessions you asked for. Darren Coxon and Abigail Hawkins are back, alongside sessions on executive functioning, SEMH, intervention that doesn’t cost the world, and which pupils are still being left behind.

• Less selling. The programme is built around practical sessions and honest discussion, with time to talk to other SENCos.

More than 350 people have already booked, and only the last few tickets are left.

You can read the full programme in We Love SENCos II in Birmingham: what to expect. And if you can’t make it but would like to hear about future events, let us know.