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12th March 2025
Agenda
08:30
Registration Opens
09:00
Welcome and Opening Address
Sarah Baker and Sarah Malam
09:20
Address to Conference by HMCI, followed by Q & A
Sir Martyn Oliver and Mark Vickers MBE
10:00
Building an empathy-based approach with regard to SEND in your school - The PACE approach
Ginny Bootman
10:40
Introduction to The Bell Foundation
Caroline Bruce
10:55
Morning Break
11:25
Workshop Series 1
Workshop Choices:
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Traffic light staff - The 'hard to reach' staff - Ginny Bootman
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An overview of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) & strategies to support at universal level - Rebecca Grundy
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Power of Personalised Learning Pathways - Kate Longworth
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Inclusive ITT: training teachers in special schools - Amy Walters and Ryan Kendall
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Relational Practice and the Science of Connection: Rethinking Suspensions for Inclusive School Cultures - Jacob Lawton
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Therapeutic Play - Aimee Bedford
Jump to workshop details
12:10
Workshop Series 2
Workshop Choices:
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A person-centred approach to Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA): How to benefit autistic students, families, schools and communities - Cynthia Gouveia Caria
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Developing Independent and Resilient Learners - Nathan Burns
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Impact of supporting children with a PDA profile - Maria Unitt and Louisa McGivney
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Creating a Culture of Care: Embedding Nurture in Education - Danny Ross
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Conflict Resolution - In Theory and In Practice
Jump to workshop details
12:55
Lunch
13:55
Workshop Series 3
Workshop Choices:
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Include me! Ideas for supporting learners with medical conditions in your school - Cath Kitchen
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It's Oracy, Stupid! - Nathan Burns
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Co-op Academy Delius: The Curriculum Development Journey of a Primary Special School - Emma Hardaker and Charlotte Millea
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Evaluating the use of Flexible Seating in a Mainstream Primary School for neurotypical and neurodivergent pupils - Heba Al-Jayoosi
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Bridging the Gap: Effective Transition and Inclusion Support - Sophie Moss
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Transforming Learning: Raising standards and Engaging Reluctant Learners Through Creative Technology - Danny Ross
Jump to workshop details
14:40
Lunch
14:55
Panel Discussion
How do we effectively and efficiently manage complex SEND needs in mainstream education?
Chair: Stephen Steinhaus
Panel: Kristina Yates, Shazad Ali, Sarah Baker, Kate Longworth
15:25
Creative Solutions for Truly Inclusive Classrooms
Frances Akinde
16:10
Closing Remarks
16:15
Close
Programme Outline - Creative inclusion
Keynotes
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Sir Martyn Oliver and Mark Vickers MBE
In Conversation with Ofsted
Sir Martyn Oliver will take to the stage to discuss the ongoing consultation into inspections. Immediately following this, Sir Martyn will join Mark Vickers for a fireside chat to discuss the SEND and inclusion landscape and future Ofsted developments.
Frances Akinde
Creative Solutions for Truly Inclusive Classrooms
Explore Practical Strategies: Learn innovative, easy-to-implement techniques for fostering inclusivity in classrooms, ensuring every student feels valued and supported.
Focus on Strengths-Based Approaches: Understand how to highlight and build upon the unique strengths of all learners, including those with SEND, to create a more empowering learning environment.
Embed Inclusion in Daily Practice: Discover creative solutions to integrate Universal Design for Learning (UDL), assistive technology, and diverse teaching materials into everyday classroom practices for long-term cultural change.
Ginny Bootman
Building an empathy based approach with regard to SEND in your school - The PACE approach
Ginny will talk about practical ways to embed an empathy based approach as a way of 'being' in your school through the PACE approach for everyone. For staff, children and grown up who care about the child.
The Conference
Panel Discussion
How do we effectively and efficiently manage complex SEND needs in mainstream education?
Stephen Steinhaus
Panel Chair
Kristina Yates
Shazad Ali
Kate Longworth
Sarah Baker
Speakers
Workshops
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Rebecca Grundy
Service Lead for Inclusion Support Advisory Service – Whole school inclusion, Derbyshire County Council
An overview of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) & strategies to support at universal level
1
Ginny Bootman
SENDCo, Advocate and Author
Traffic light staff - The 'hard to reach' staff
This session will help individuals to understand the barriers their staff are facing and the 'armour' they put on to 'protect' themselves and ways to help others take off their armour regarding SEND.
1
Jacob Lawton
Strategic Lead, Positive Regard
Relational Practice and the Science of Connection: Rethinking Suspensions for Inclusive School Cultures
Suspensions don’t just impact attendance — they reveal deeper issues about school culture, relationships, and belonging. How can we build inclusive environments that keep children in school and connected to their learning? Join Jacob Lawton, Strategic Lead at Positive Regard, to explore how relational practice and the neuroscience of connection can transform school cultures.
Key Themes:
• The Neuroscience of Connection: Understanding how relationships shape behaviour, learning, and well-being.
• Relational Practice: Moving from control to connection — building trust and co-regulation between staff and students.
• Rethinking Suspensions: What purpose do they serve? How do they align (or clash) with our school’s values and cultural position?
• Inclusive High Expectations: Holding firm to academic and behavioural standards without compromising relationships or belonging.
Takeaways:
• Practical strategies for embedding relational practice into your daily routines.
• Insight into the brain’s response to stress, connection, and learning.
• Clear steps to reduce suspensions while building a culture rooted in empathy, equity, and high expectations.
• A deeper look at how school values and cultural positioning influence behaviour policies and practices.
Let’s reimagine school cultures where every child feels safe, seen, and supported.
1
John Walker
Solicitor and Mediator
Janet Flawith
Solicitor
Conflict and Complaints - A practical approach to dealing with them
Looking at skills techniques and tips to help manage challenges and conflict that is becoming so much familiar in all settings. John and Janet. will talk about practical examples, of how conflict management theory can actually be put into real day-to-day practise. The workshop aims to provide some practical advice to manage very challenging situations.
2
Maria Unitt
Deputy Head at Alderman's Green Primary School
Louisa McGivney
Specialist Teacher and Consultant
Coventry SEND Support:
Complex Communication Team
Impact of supporting children with a PDA profile
To develop a shared understanding of Autism with a pathological demand avoidant/extreme demand avoidant profile
To explore specific case studies of children in an Enhanced Resource Base setting, who present with a PDA profile; focusing on the implementation and impact of bespoke strategies and recommendations to effectively support their strengths, needs and differences
2
Danny Ross
School Improvement Officer, Ethos Academy Trust
Creating a Culture of Care: Embedding Nurture in Education
The session will cover:
• Applying the six principles of nurture in the classroom
• Creating a safe and inclusive learning environment
• Ensuring nurturing structure of the day
• Teaching social-emotional skills
2
Heba Al-Jayoosi
Assistant Head and Deputy Regional Lead
nasen Whole School SEND
Evaluating the use of Flexible Seating in a Mainstream Primary School for neurotypical and neurodivergent pupils
In this session, Heba will talk about her collaboration with academic partners, to introduce and evaluate the use of flexible seating as a whole-school adaptation, in a mainstream primary school. She will share the process, findings, and implications of the evaluation for education settings.
3
Danny Ross
School Improvement Officer, Ethos Academy Trust
Transforming Learning: Raising standards and Engaging Reluctant Learners Through Creative Technology
This session is designed to enhance teaching and learning through the innovative use of creative technology. In this session, Danny will explore how tech can be a powerful ally in motivating and engaging reluctant learners, breaking down barriers to participation and understanding.
Discover quick wins with various tech tools and useful websites that can be seamlessly integrated into your classroom practices. Danny will demonstrate practical strategies to support and enrich learning experiences, ensuring every student can thrive. Whether you’re a tech novice or an experienced user, this workshop will provide valuable insights and resources to elevate your teaching and inspire your students.
3
Aimee Bedford
Behaviour and SEMH Trust Lead, Ethos Academy Trust
Therapeutic Play
The session will cover:
• How play can support brain development to the age of 25
• The benefits of play when supporting pupils with SEND
• Practical activities that can be used to support learning and transitions
1
Kate Longworth
CEO, Gaia Learning
Power of Personalised Learning Pathways
Explore how interest-based interdisciplinary learning can ignite interest and engagement and build skills across subjects while meeting learners at their individual levels.
In this workshop, we’ll share Gaia Learning’s approach to designing personalised interest-based courses & lessons, showcasing how variable outcomes and rubrics help learners of all abilities engage with the same tasks in meaningful ways. You’ll leave equipped with strategies to integrate learner interests into classes and projects, create differentiated rubrics, and design lessons that promote autonomy, creativity, and deep learning.
1
Amy Walters
Deputy Head, Ark Teacher Training
Ryan Kendall
Primary Curriculum Lead & Tutor, Ark Teacher Training
Inclusive ITT: training teachers in special schools
As an ‘outstanding’ school centred ITT provider, Ark Techer Training works with over 100 primary, secondary and all-through schools nationally, with around half of them beyond the Ark Schools network. For the past three years, we have partnered with several special schools, which has provided an incredible opportunity to uphold our aim of developing confident and proficient teachers to embark on their career in multiple settings.
Working collaboratively with schools which specialise in teaching children with a range of special educational needs (PMLD, SEMH and SpLD) has benefited all parties, as we have evaluated how the signature strategies within our programme are relevant (or not) to these specific settings and how they can be interpreted and adapted so they address the needs of the trainee and their pupils, ultimately raising expectations for everyone.
In this workshop, we would like to share our evolving contribution to developing trainees within special schools and our ongoing challenges and opportunities to learn from professionals and children who work in these settings every day. The focus will be on codifying teaching techniques that positively impact pupils in mainstream and special schools and how these are developed in trainee teachers through a model of instructional coaching. We would value your expertise during the workshop as we work collaboratively to interpret and develop action steps that would support trainees to develop their practice.
This workshop is an excellent opportunity to work with and feed into a receptive and responsive ITT provider who are determined to improve the recruitment and retention challenges of the teaching profession by developing teachers with high self-efficacy in whichever setting they choose to pursue.
1
Sarah Mintey
CEO & Founder, Developing Experts
Harnessing AI to create personalised learning resources for SEND students
Explore how AI is transforming learning for SEND students through personalised, adaptive resources. This workshop will introduce practical tools and strategies for creating bespoke educational materials that enhance engagement and support diverse learning needs. Discover how Developing Experts' AI tools—crafted by passionate educators—are making a difference in inclusive education. Charlotte Butcher, Primary School Improvement Lead at TEAM EDUCATION, will share her insights on AI’s impact in the classroom.
2
Cynthia Gouveia Caria
Outreach Consultant, Beyond Autism
A person-centred approach to Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA): How to benefit autistic students, families, schools and communities
Following the pandemic, Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) continues to rise at an alarming pace. While the beginning of EBSA can often be difficult to detect (a sick day here, a missed class there), and the causes aren’t always clear, it can quickly devolve into prolonged school absences, leading to heightened social anxieties and isolation, academic setbacks and eventually, missed employment opportunities.
Despite existing guidance from local authorities, the focus tends to be around good practice and not specific interventions. Our approach is first and foremost prioritization of the individual and their wants and needs. While keeping this in mind, we start with a person-centred plan, gather data through the assessment phase, help bridge the communication gap between the student, family and school all while remaining flexible in our intervention.
During our seminar we will go into further detail about what EBSA is (including updated statistics), and how keeping the individual at the heart of every decision can successfully support the return to school. Our session will showcase multiple case studies, offering valuable insights and practical tips for parents, caregivers, and professionals alike.
2
Sophie Moss
Headteacher, River Tees Primary Academy
Bridging the Gap: Effective Transition and Inclusion Support
Supporting transitions and fostering inclusion are vital components of a thriving educational environment, especially when catering to students with diverse and complex needs. This workshop is designed to share expertise, strategies, and real-world practices and aims to empower educators to create a more inclusive and supportive learning experience for all students especially those with Social Emotional and Mental Health needs.
Throughout the workshop, we will explore how an alternate provision provides tailored support during key transition periods, such as moving from primary to secondary, or transitioning into specialist settings as well as outreach support for students needing some intervention. The session will highlight effective practices, including personalized transition plans and collaborative approaches with families and professionals.
3
Emma Hardaker
Headteacher, Co-op Academy Delius
Charlotte Millea
Deputy Headteacher, Co-op Academy Delius
Co-op Academy Delius: The Curriculum Development Journey of a Primary Special School
In this session, Co-op Academy Delius will share their practice related to curriculum design and implementation in a specialist setting. They will discuss how they ensure all phases and cohorts of pupils needs are met and how they promote engagement and ambition for all.
3
Cath Kitchen
Chair of the National Association of Hospital Education
Include me! Ideas for supporting learners with medical conditions in your school
There are an increasing number of learners in our schools with complex health conditions, which need to be considered in terms of inclusion. This workshop will explore a range of strategies and approaches you can use practically in your school to support learners who have medical conditions. This will include reflections from young people with complex health needs and their 'top tips' for educators around the best way to support them to attend.
3
In Partnership
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