Annual Conference 2026
Delta Marriott Liverpool City Centre
Thursday 30th April
The National Network of Special Schools Conference is the only conference of its kind in the country, exclusively designed for School Business Professionals working in special and hospital schools, and alternative provision settings.
This conference brings together colleagues from across the country who are involved in the business management of specialist schools. It's an unparalleled opportunity to be inspired, share practice and network with peers.
The conference will feature a blend of keynote speeches and practical sessions, ensuring you stay informed about the latest policies, practices and procedures impacting your settings. This annual conference also offers a prime opportunity to network with fellow professionals and engage with leading provider organisations at our focused exhibition.
Event Main Sponsor
Speakers
To learn more about our speakers, simply click on their pictures
SESSIONS
Cultivating a Culture of Belonging for All – Hannah Wilson, Director, The Belonging Effect
This session will focus on:
- Reflecting on what gives us a sense of belonging
- Exploring our own relationships and journeys with belonging
- Considering how we gather staff voice on belonging
- Reviewing the perception gap between stakeholder groups
- Considering how to create a belonging culture and a belonging curriculum
- Discussing the policies and practices that need to change to increase levels of belonging
The Evolving SEND System - Dame Christine Lenehan DBE, SEND Strategic Advisor to the Department of Education
Dame Christine Lenehan brings her years of expertise to share her reflections on the evolving SEND landscape. Drawing on her many years of working alongside children, families, professionals and policymakers, she will consider the system as it stands, the conversations shaping it, and the enduring values that continue to guide those working with children and young people with complex needs.
Reform in Practice – NNoSS Led Session
This session will focus on:
- Satellite Provision: Designing and Delivering Specialist Satellite Sites
- Expanding Outreach: Sharing Specialist Expertise with Mainstream Schools
- Scaling Specialist Expertise into Mainstream settings
Panel Debate: SEND Reform
Chair: John Roberts, Tes
Panellists: Mark Vickers, Jayne Franklin, Dame Christine Lenehan & Karen Smith
With SEND reform and the Education White Paper shaping national conversation, this panel will explore what the evolving system may mean in practice for the specialist sector.
Bringing together perspectives from special schools, alternative provision, hospital education and policy, the discussion will reflect on the opportunities and challenges ahead, and the role specialist settings will play within a more inclusive system.
Building a Sustainable Learning Support Workforce for Special Schools – Sarah Monk, Chief Strategy Officer, Edwin
Demand for learning support staff has never been higher. In England alone, there are now over 288,000 teaching assistants working in schools, making them the largest workforce group in education.
Recent research suggests around one in five support staff left the school system in a single year, with school leaders reporting that teaching assistant roles are now among the hardest positions to recruit for.
In this session we explore how schools can grow their own workforce by bringing passionate people into the sector and equipping them with the skills to succeed. Drawing on our National Teaching Assistant Programme, we’ll demonstrate how structured training pathways and alternative recruitment routes can attract individuals with the right values and motivation – often leading to stronger long-term retention than traditional recruitment alone.
Join Sarah to explore:
- Why newly trained learning support staff often demonstrate stronger long-term commitment to the sector
- Why traditional recruitment alone won’t solve the workforce challenge
- How alternative entry routes are unlocking new talent pools
Inclusion in Practice: Delivering Outreach and Satellite Provision at Scale - Amanda Goldthorpe-Hall, SBM, Philip Southcote School & Helen Stewart, School Business & Operations Manager, Hope School
This session will focus on:
-Designing and delivering satellite provision
-Scaling outreach into mainstream schools
-Embedding specialist expertise beyond your setting
SPONSORS
To learn more about our sponsors, simply click on their pictures
FAQs
Directions to the Venue
The venue is just a 7-minute walk or a 5-minute drive from Liverpool Lime Street Station.
Parking - If you are driving to the venue, parking is available on-site (Q-Park Queens Square, Queens Square, Liverpool, L1 1RH - entrance via Whitechapel). Reduced rates of £8 for 12 hours or £16 for 24 hours are available — please validate your ticket at the hotel reception before you leave.
An additional option is St John’s Shopping Centre Car Park, located just across the road. The regular rate is £13.50 for 8 hours.
Arrival
Please head to register your arrival at the Schools North East registration desk.
Name badges are arranged alphabetically by last name—find yours, grab a drink, explore the exhibition, and take a seat!
Wifi
Free WiFi is available by selecting MarriottBonvoy from the network options. You do not need a Bonvoy account to connect.
Exhibition Bingo
HOW TO PLAY:
1.Visit the stand numbers on your card
2.Get this card stamped by the exhibitors
3.Fill in you contact details and deposit this card at the registration desk for you chance to win!
Prizes coming soon..
For more SNE events, visit Schools North East