Workshops

Session Synopsis

• The workshop will encourage delegates to:
• Reflect on what gives us a sense of belonging
• Explore our own relationships and journeys with belonging
• Consider how we gather staff voice on belonging
• Review the perception gap between stakeholder groups
• Consider how to create a belonging culture and a belonging curriculum
• Discuss the policies and practices that need to change to increase levels of belonging.

Speaker Bio

Bennie Kara is a co-founder of Diverse Educators. After 20 years in schools as a teacher and leader, she now works full time as a speaker, trainer and consultant on the curriculum. She is the author of A Little Guide for Teachers: Diversity in Schools and the co-editor of Diverse Educators: A Manifesto.

https://www.linkedin.com/company/67944188/

www.diverseeducators.co.uk

Session Synopsis

The development of a 3-tier graduated approach for supporting young people who are not attending school due to physical and / or mental health needs.

There has been an increase in children missing school due to health needs, including those with school-based anxiety, eating disorders and young people who self-harm. Some may have a diagnosis of autism where often; the school environment leads to anxiety levels being heightened.

The Children’s Hospital School, has developed a 3-tier graduated approach to support young people and mainstream schools as they seek a successful return to education. This follows a model set out by the Department for Education, as part of their SEND and Alternative Provision reforms through the Change Programme.

Within the workshop you will hear about the 3-tier model and what schools can do to support children with medical needs to remain in school, and what makes a successful re-integration back to mainstream. There will also be an update on the Change Programme and AP developments on a national level.

Speaker Bio

Stephen has 30 years teaching experience including the last 16 years in senior leadership posts across secondary, special and hospital education. He is a director of the National Association for Hospital Education (NAHE), Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching, member of the National SEND Forum, Challenge Partners Education Advisory Group and DFE Secondary Headteacher’s Reference Group.

Stephen has been Executive Headteacher at The Children’s Hospital School since 2015. The school has been judged ‘outstanding’ by OFSTED in 2017 and 2023 and provides education to children missing school due to physical and/or mental health across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

He and his team teach in the Leicester Royal Infirmary, Beacon CAMHS inpatient unit, at home and in three Alternative Provisions for up to 90 young people missing school due to health issues.

References:

Department for Education (March 2023), Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Improvement Plan, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Improvement Plan Department for Education (March 2024), Alternative provision specialist taskforces (APST), Alternative provision specialist taskforces

Session Synopsis

This workshop aims to support school and trust leaders who are considering setting up their own Internal Specialist Provision to support the increasing complexity of need within mainstream schools, particularly around communication and interaction. The workshop will also be suitable for leaders who have recently established internal provision and are interested in reflecting on its quality. The session will include: Key considerations for provision development with regards to leadership, environment, curriculum, teaching and learning and wider provision Introduction to a framework for self-evaluating the quality of specialist provision Examples of effective provisions in practice

Speaker Bio

Natalie is an Independent Education Consultant, specialising in SEND and school improvement. She develops and delivers a wide range of training and support, including SEND reviews, to schools and multi-academy trusts. She works closely with several trusts to support their strategic development of SEND and is a trustee of Learn-AT in Leicestershire. She is an associate for national organisations nasen, Whole Education, Forum Strategy and Leadership Matters. Natalie is the author of The Perfect SENCO and The Teacher’s Guide to SEN and co-author of Beyond Boundaries: Leading Great SEND Provision across a Trust.

E mail: n.packer174@btinternet.com Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-packer-23779847 Twitter: @NataliePacker