Beyond the Label: Rethinking SEND Support Through Workforce Development and Better Transitions

A new report from the Education and Training Foundation (ETF), co-authored by Professor Amanda Kirby and Dr Vikki Smith, is calling for a fundamental shift in how the Further Education and Skills sector approaches SEND support.

Beyond the Label: Workforce, Transition and the Future of SEND Reform draws on insights from the ETF and FE News Bridging the SEND Transition Collective, bringing together practitioners, leaders, researchers and advocates to identify practical solutions for improving outcomes for learners with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Moving Beyond Diagnosis

One of the report’s central messages is that support should be driven by individual needs rather than labels or diagnoses alone. The Collective highlighted concerns that the current system can place too much emphasis on obtaining a diagnosis before support is available, creating barriers rather than removing them. Instead, the report advocates for strengths-based, needs-led approaches that enable learners to access support when they need it.

The Importance of Early and Ongoing Transition Planning

The report identifies transition as one of the most critical stages in a learner’s journey. Contributors argued that planning should begin much earlier, potentially from Year 9 or Year 10, rather than being concentrated in the final year of compulsory education. Effective transition requires clear accountability, joined-up information sharing and personalised pathways that extend beyond enrolment and into employment.

Importantly, the report recognises that transition does not end when a learner enters college or training. The move into employment remains a significant challenge, particularly where employer understanding of SEND and neurodiversity is less developed than within education settings.

Workforce Development as the Foundation for Inclusion

A recurring theme throughout the report is the need for sustained workforce development. Participants stressed that inclusive practice cannot rely on isolated training events or local expertise alone. Instead, there is a need for a coherent, quality-assured approach to professional development that equips educators and support staff with the confidence and skills to meet diverse learner needs.

The report also highlights the role of universal design principles, anticipatory support systems and continuous professional learning in creating genuinely inclusive environments.

A Call for System-Wide Change

The accompanying FE News article outlines ten key messages emerging from the Collective, including the need for lifelong learning pathways, stronger collaboration between education and employers, reduced administrative barriers and greater recognition that inclusive practice is a shared responsibility across communities, families and organisations.

Ultimately, the report challenges the sector to move beyond a system centered on labels and thresholds and towards one that anticipates need, values individual strengths and supports learners throughout their educational and employment journeys. As SEND reform continues to evolve, the findings offer a timely reminder that lasting change depends not only on policy, but on the capability, confidence and collaboration of the workforce delivering it.

Further Reading

The findings highlighted in this article are explored in more detail in the ETF and FE News Bridging the SEND Transition Collective report, Beyond the Label: Workforce, Transition and the Future of SEND Reform, co-authored by Professor Amanda Kirby and Dr Vikki Smith. The report brings together frontline insights and practical recommendations for strengthening SEND support across further education and skills, with a particular focus on workforce development, inclusive practice and successful learner transitions.

Download the full report:
Beyond the Label: Workforce, Transition and the Future of SEND Reform

For a deeper exploration of the key themes and recommendations emerging from the Collective, read the accompanying FE News article by Professor Amanda Kirby and Dr Vikki Smith:

Read the FE News article:
Beyond the Label: What the SEND Transition Collective Taught Us