Latest news
ISP COMPASS: helping schools navigate Individual Support Plan (ISP) duties with confidence
Date 3rd Jul 2026
We're excited to announce a brand-new tool joining STEPS this September: ISP COMPASS, built to help SENCOs, teachers and school leaders navigate their Individual Support Plan (ISP) duties with confidence. Why ISP COMPASS, why now? Under SEND reform, schools will be expected to hold an Individual Support Plan for every child with SEND: a clear baseline, a genuinely SMART target, the right...
New Guide: From Lone SENCO to Whole-School SEND
Date 10th Jun 2026
Recent policy changes in 2026 are forcing UK schools to rethink their SEND leadership structure. Ofsted's revised inspection toolkit now grades inclusion as a standalone area, while the Inclusive Mainstream Fund requires every school to publish an Inclusion Strategy by 31 December 2026. Both require whole-school SEND capability - not one person holding all the expertise. The Lone SENCO...
The Big AI Question: OLT Speaking at EdTech World Forum 2026, London
Date 12th May 2026
OLT Educational Director Hugh Clench will be taking to the stage at this year's EdTech World Forum, held in London on 12–13 May 2026. 📍 Kensington Conference & Events Centre, London W8 7NX 🗓️ 13 May 2026, 2pm Hugh will be hosting a session on one of education's most pressing debates: Can AI serve as a genuine alternative to human tutors? The talk, scheduled for 2pm on 13 May, will explore...
Building Resilient Learners: Growth Mindset and Children's Mental Health
Date 13th Feb 2026
What if the way we respond to a child's mistake could shape their entire relationship with learning—and with themselves? As Children's Mental Health Week draws to a close, the conversation around supporting young people's wellbeing continues year-round. At OLT, we recognise that cultivating confidence and resilience in the classroom is an ongoing commitment—one that benefits every child, every ...
STEPS Reaches 400 Schools: Strengthening SEND Support Across the UK
Date 14th Nov 2025
We're thrilled to announce that STEPS has now reached over 400 UK schools - an extraordinary milestone that demonstrates the vital importance of comprehensive, whole-school SEND training. "Watching STEPS grow to over 400 schools has been genuinely remarkable. Each registration represents a school community committed to making a real difference - hundreds of pupils receiving better support, an...
Parliamentary Report Advocates "Root and Branch" SEND Reform - How STEPS Pilot Schools Are Already Leading the Way
Date 22nd Sep 2025
Cross-party MPs call for whole-school SEND approach as pilot programme demonstrates practical solutions A parliamentary report published today calls for "root and branch transformation" of how mainstream schools support children with SEND, with MPs demanding the Government invest in training for all school staff rather than leaving SEND as an add-on responsibility. The Education Committee's ...
40 Evidence-Based Scaffolding Guides Born from Real School Needs
Date 15th Aug 2025
We're delighted to share the launch of our Free Scaffolding Support Toolkit - 40 evidence-based guides thoughtfully developed in response to the valuable insights shared by our STEPS pilot schools across the UK. "Our pilot schools generously shared their experiences with us, speaking about wanting practical, role-specific scaffolding strategies that honour their professional expertise while...
STEPS Whole-School SEND Training Now Available to ALL UK Schools
Date 8th May 2025
We're thrilled to announce that STEPS (School-wide Training for Every Pupil's Support) is now available to ALL UK schools, completely free until January 2026. Due to overwhelming demand, we've removed all limitations on this transformative whole-school SEND training program. "The response to STEPS has been truly extraordinary - far beyond our initial expectations. What started with us anticip...
Welcome to All Our STEPS Pilot Schools!
Date 23rd Apr 2025
We'd like to send a warm welcome all the schools who have joined our STEPS pilot programme so far. Your commitment to enhancing SEND provision across your entire staff team is truly inspiring. We look forward to getting to know your school community better, understanding your specific challenges, and working alongside you to build sustainable in-house SEND expertise. Your feedback will be inval...
STEPS Pilot Programme Now Expanded to 100 Schools
Date 23rd Apr 2025
Due to unprecedented interest from schools across the UK, we're excited to announce the expansion of our STEPS (School-wide Training for Every Pupil's Support) pilot programme to accommodate 100 schools. This decision follows an overwhelming response that demonstrated just how urgently schools need sustainable SEND solutions. The opportunity remains exclusive – 100 forward-thinking schools will...