IncludEd 2027: School inclusion conference for UK educators

Welcome to IncludEd 2027!

The whole-school inclusion conference.

Inclusion by Design

Saturday 16 January 2027 | 10:00am–4:30pm

UCL Institute of Education, London

IncludEd 2027 is The Difference's ninth annual conference, bringing together over 900 teachers, school leaders, trust and local authority leaders, researchers, policymakers and partners committed to building an education system that works for every child.

This year's theme, Inclusion by Design, is about moving beyond good intentions to creating a whole-school strategy that works for every child, every classroom and every school. As the education landscape continues to evolve, schools need practical, evidence-informed approaches that make inclusion visible, measurable and sustainable.

IncludEd is a high-impact professional learning event where you'll hear from leading voices across education, explore proven approaches to inclusive practice, and connect with a growing national community committed to ensuring no child is left behind.

Inclusion by Design

Building an inclusive school doesn't happen by chance. It requires deliberate leadership, strong systems and a shared commitment across every part of the school community.Through practical workshops, keynote sessions and real-world case studies, IncludEd 2027 will explore how schools can design inclusion into everyday practice, strengthening support for vulnerable learners while improving outcomes for all children.

Four routes into the theme

Choose from sessions across four conference strands:

Built from the Universal Up

SEND reform and the inclusive classroom

Explore how high-quality universal provision, effective early support and inclusive classroom practice create better outcomes for all learners.

Measurable and Visible

Reducing exclusion and making inclusion meaningful

Learn how schools are using evidence, data and practical frameworks to understand, measure and strengthen inclusive practice.

Community Collaboration

Family voice, community partnership and belonging

Discover approaches that build stronger relationships with families, local services and communities to improve support around children before needs escalate.

Led From The Top

Inclusive leadership and school strategy

Hear from school, trust and system leaders about embedding inclusion into leadership, culture and long-term school improvement.

What to expect

Join more than 900 education professionals for a day of practical learning, collaboration and inspiration, including:

• 40+ workshops and keynote sessions led by sector experts, practitioners and researchers.
• Practical strategies you can take back to your school, trust or local authority immediately.
• The latest evidence, policy developments and examples of effective inclusive practice.
• Opportunities to connect with school leaders, policymakers, researchers and organisations driving change across the sector.
• A vibrant exhibition showcasing organisations supporting inclusive education.

You'll leave with practical tools, fresh ideas and a stronger professional network to help make inclusion a reality in your setting.

Speakers

Our speaker line-up will be announced over the coming months and will include leading voices from education, research, policy and practice, alongside school leaders and young people with lived experience.

Ticket information

Early bird tickets are available for a limited time, with discounted pricing until 10 September 2026.If your organisation would prefer to pay by invoice, simply select the invoice option during checkout.

"We've been able to learn from professionals with different expertise and think about how to bring that learning into our school community."

Daniel, Assistant Headteacher

"The Difference does a great job of providing training, expertise and research to affect change on a wider scale."

Catherine, School Improvement SEND Adviser

"The Difference challenges you into action and empowers you to go back to school with ideas and evidence to support new ways of working."

Donna, Assistant Headteacher

"It's inspirational meeting so many like-minded people who are passionate about inclusive education. It makes you realise that if we fight hard enough, this is where the education system as a whole is going to end up."

Xavier, Mission44