When we talk about CPD—Continuing Professional Development—it’s easy to picture long training sessions, endless handouts, and an overflowing inbox reminder that you still haven’t completed that online module. But really, CPD for teachers is about one thing: giving educators the chance to keep learning, so they can keep leading, and doing their best for the students in their care.

In the classroom and beyond, things never stand still. Policies change, tech and tools develop at lightning speed, and the needs of learners shift year by year. For SENCos and LAs in particular, CPD isn’t a nice-to-have—it’s the glue that holds everything together.

Think of it less as “extra training”, and more as a survival kit for modern education. And we’d like to do our bit to help.

CPD for teachers keeps LAs ahead of the curve

If you’re working within an LA, you’ll already know the balancing act: keeping a bird’s-eye view of the big picture while also being accountable for the fine detail in local schools. This is where CPD for teachers makes all the difference, and it’s no wonder why it’s a focus for

Professional development isn’t just about boosting knowledge; it brings consistency across schools. Without it, gaps appear. One school might be shining a light on dyslexia strategies, while another barely touches the subject. CPD levels the playing field, ensuring every child gets the same shot, no matter their postcode.

It’s also a lifeline for LAs when it comes to demonstrating accountability. Inspectors, parents, and whole communities are always watching. A visible commitment to CPD for teachers shows investment in quality, fairness, and forward-thinking practice. And let’s face it—having well-trained, confident staff saves a lot of firefighting down the line.

Why CPD is so important for SENCos, and teachers supporting those with additional needs

Being a SENCo is about being a really, really good juggler. It’s not just about writing plans and chasing paperwork: it’s about leading change and championing children with additional needs, and supporting them day-to-day so that they’ve got access to the learning they need to complete. So without a relative standard of ongoing CPD, SENCos risk being left to lean on outdated strategies that don’t match up to today’s challenges, which makes their jobs harder… and being a SENCo is already far from being an easy role.

CPD for teachers in SENCo roles, or even just teachers who are supporting learners with additional needs in the classroom, provides them confidence to back up decisions with evidence, not just instinct. That matters when you’re trying to influence whole-school practice or reassure parents that their child is in the safest hands.

And there’s a bigger responsibility here, too. SENCos are gatekeepers for inclusive literacy and accessibility. With the UK job market demanding strong reading skills, leaving school with unaddressed literacy challenges can shut doors before they even open. Through CPD, SENCos can steer their schools towards true inclusion, making sure every learner has a fair shot at the future.

…But let’s be real: finding and completing CPD can be a pain sometimes

CPD can sometimes feel more like a chore than the gift it is. Why?

Because time-poor teachers and SENCos already have lesson planning, marking, and data crunching to contend with—so being told to travel to an all-day training session? It just feels unmanageable. That’s a day less time to mark, a day where learners have to make do with an alternative staff member, and one day less to prep them for the exams that are currently peeking over the horizon. Yikes.

But that’s why the how of professional development matters as much as the what.

In-school sessions, remote CPD, or well-structured demos often hit the sweet spot. These options give teachers the same insights, without the stress of losing precious teaching hours or running themselves ragged after work.

And let’s not forget the basics—teachers are human. They’re carrying the long-tail burnout of the pandemic years and are constantly expected to do more with less. Streamlined CPD for teachers, delivered in ways that respect their time, is something every educator appreciates.

And 2025 calls for smarter, inclusion-first CPD

Welcome to 2025: budgets are squeezed, SEND figures are up, and so we’ve hit a point in education where CPD isn’t just a nice to have, or helpful—it’s actually a little urgent.

Numbers of SEND learners keep rising, and debates around EHCP funding mean schools are sometimes left to bridge the gap themselves. In that environment, CPD for teachers is the safety net.

But it’s not just about staying compliant. It’s about making classrooms genuinely inclusive. We know literacy is the key to unlocking opportunities in an unforgiving job market. Students who don’t leave school with solid reading skills face lifelong barriers—for their careers, their finances, even their independence. And that’s too high a price to pay.

Luckily, CPD in accessibility and EdTech has never been stronger. Assistive technology, personalised learning tools, and digital resources designed with inclusion at their core can transform outcomes for students who might otherwise slip through the net. But here’s the kicker—they only work if teachers know how to use them. CPD for teachers provides that missing link, turning new solutions into everyday support.

And it really is a whole-school mission. Accessibility-focused CPD doesn’t just help SENCos; it empowers every classroom teacher to spot challenges early, to use tools with confidence, and to back every learner to succeed.

And that’s why the Scanning Pens LAs Pilot Program comes with built-in CPD for teachers!

The Scanning Pens Local Authority Pilot Program is a specialist reading pen trial program that’s designed for the needs of Local Area Authorities looking to strengthen their provision, support their staff and ensure that each and every learner in their care gets a fair and equitable education that sets them up for life.

It’s also your chance to see the real-world reading impact of our grade-saving reading pen technology, risk-free, for 60 days! That’s 30 days more than a standard reading pen pilot, meaning that your Local Authority gets even more time to implement award-winning support, observe the results, and really dig into how reading pens can make a real difference in your setting.

Why do Scanning Pens offer this specialist Local Authority program… and what’s it got to do with CPD?

Because we think there’s far too much guesswork that has to go on when it comes to reading support. Raising literacy levels requires investing Local Authorities’ limited funding in reading support solutions that they haven’t seen in a classroom context—and there’s rarely enough available finances left over for a re-do if the solutions your Local Authority chooses don’t resonate with the learners in your care.

That’s why we give you the chance to test our solutions before you commit to them, and begin the process of boosting comprehension, reading age and reading rate for 60 days in a controlled pilot program. You’ll have access to all of our support materials, education resources and your own Scanning Pens expert to guide you through the process—because the stakes have never been higher, for grades and learning futures.

And we know that teachers are our greatest resource: as a sector, as a defence against low literacy, and as a country building skills for the tech-first workplaces of the next decade.

That’s why you’ll also have access to expert-created, expert-delivered CPD for SENCos and teachers in your Local Authority, to help them explore the support capabilities of reading pens in their setting, get to grips with the technology and feel confident deploying it in their classrooms, and understand a little more about the developing EdTech and assistive technology landscapes that support the minds of tomorrow.

✔️1-hour CPD session for all pilot LAs

✔️3-hour CPD session for schools that purchase

✔️Advanced CPD modules for SENCOs and literacy leads!

So how does my Local Authority start its reading pen journey?

To find out more about the Scanning Pens Local Authority Pilot Program, check out our Local Authorities Pilot Program hub page, where you can kickstart your 60-day pilot and revolutionise reading support in your LA.

And if you’re looking for ways to support young readers without maxing your budget or making a huge funding outlay this term, check out the new Scanning Pens leasing program – where we help schools, Local Authorities and Trusts like yours access award-winning reading support for just 24p a day!

And finally, we’re a chatty bunch. If you want to speak to one of our reading support experts about supporting the reading needs in your setting, we’re always happy to explore in-depth solutions with you and your finance department.

📧Drop us a line: ukinfo@scanningpens.com

☎️Give us a call: +44 (0) 207 976 4910