This event has been organised in response to a request from No. 10, DfE, and DHSC. Policy teams and scientists from across Whitehall will be highlighting Areas of Research Interest for SEND, and flagging areas where evidence can best help policy-making. This provides an outstanding opportunity for the research community across the North of England and beyond to demonstrate its ability and willingness to work with central government to build a country that works for all children and young people.
Background
Child of the North, in partnership with the N8 Centre of Excellence for Computationally Intensive Research (N8 CIR) and the Northern Health Science Alliance (NHSA), will host a one‑day workshop in Manchester focused on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and the power of connected data.
The workshop will bring together government policymakers and leading researchers, data holders and service experts from across the North of England to explore how northern capability can:
- Improve understanding of SEND and its underlying drivers
- Support better service design and delivery
- Inform national policy priorities through robust, connected evidence
The event will be highly interactive and is designed to foster ongoing dialogue and collaboration between the government and the northern research and data community.
Purpose of this Expression of Interest
We invite expressions of interest from individuals and teams who can contribute relevant expertise, projects, data assets, or insights aligned with the workshop themes.
Submitting an EOI does not guarantee a speaking slot or attendance but will help us:
- Shape the agenda
- Identify impactful work to showcase
- Ensure broad representation across disciplines, regions and organisations
Indicative Themes
EOIs are welcomed on topics relevant to showing how connected data can address the SEND crisis, and particularly in relation to one or more of the following themes:
- Underlying drivers of SEND: Including (but not limited to) poverty, health, congenital anomalies, neurodevelopmental conditions, and inequalities
- Transitions into adulthood: Improving pathways, access and outcomes
- SEND pathways: Early identification, transitions into primary and secondary school, and intersections across services
- Measuring progress and impact: Using data to assess outcomes against national goals and policy priorities; Evaluation of interventions and services
- How services potentially could be improved; Analytical or translational approaches relevant to SEND
These themes are intentionally broad. If you believe your work is relevant but does not neatly fit one theme, we still encourage you to apply.
We welcome applications that highlight useful data assets, promising approaches, policy-relevant findings, and/or methodologies (including but not limited to ‘AI’ technologies).
See our Child of the North web page to get further information on the meeting, who should apply, and our selection approach. Or apply now using the link below.