Brian Lamb OBE to give Inaugural Lecture on SEND reforms

Brian Lamb will visit the University of Derby to deliver an Inaugural Lecture, to discuss the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) reforms influencing policy change in education on March 2, 2016.

The lecture, titled ‘The Real World of Policy Change in Education: Reflections on the Special Educational Needs and Disability Reforms’ will form part of the launch of the University’s Institute of Education.

The Institute of Education is the University’s new hub for educational research, which will conduct research and provide consultancy to schools, education providers, the wider education sector, and Government.

The launch will include a keynote plenary talk titled ‘The future of educational research’, given by Dr Lynn Senior, Dean of College of Education, Tristram Hooley, Professor of Career Education and Dennis Hayes, Professor of Education, followed by a choice of parallel sessions related to the centre’s themes.

Drawing on his experience as Chair of the Special Education Consortium, Brian will share his knowledge and research to explore how SEND and politics have evolved legislation and practice. Brian is a consultant specialising in strategic change and innovation in the public sector with a focus on children with SEND.

He was Chair of the Lamb Inquiry into Parental Confidence in SEND which helped form the basis of the current reforms to the SEND framework. Brian is also the founding Chair of the charity Achievement for All (3A’s), which improves the outcomes of children and young people with SEND and has supported more than 4,000 schools and other settings in England and Wales over the last five years.

Brian is also a Visiting Professor of SEND at the University of Derby. He said: "The policy and practice landscape has changed dramatically with the SEND reforms in the last few years, and we are still coming to terms with what this means for teachers, schools and statutory services.

“Understanding the thinking behind the reform is as essential as the letter of the law if we are really going to realise the benefits of the new approach. This lecture will look at not only what the new reforms require but the inside story of how they were developed and how change really happens in education policy.”

Tristram Hooley, Professor of Career Education at the University of Derby, added: “The foundation of the Institute of Education at the University is designed to give a higher profile to our research and consultancy activities.

“We are very lucky to have a wide range of international experts in education policy, practice and research. We hope that those with an interest in the field will come to the launch and start talking to us about how we can work together in the future.”

The launch will commence at 2pm-5.30pm followed by the Inaugural Lecture at 5:30-7pm. The events are free to attend but registration is vital.