National Themed Conferences (in person)
Our national themed conferences provide a focused in-person event and opportunity for colleagues (leaders and practitioners) across the UK to come together to network, collaborate and respond to the key issues facing the specialist sector. Leading experts from the sector along with colleagues from the DfE and Ofsted will share illuminations, insights and provocations for roundtable discussions whilst lightning talk inputs showcase some of the very best practice from across the sector.
Dates & Venues for 2025/2026
Our 2025/2026 National Themed Conferences (in person) are listed below.
We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone to another year of connection, collaboration and shared learning!
June 5th: Venue to be released soon
Second date and venue to be released soon
(North and South locations)
Please see below for the agenda…
Agenda & Key Themes…
What you can expect when you attend our events:
- Policy leads and experts share the direction of travel for SEND and inclusion and what it means for us as school leaders.
- Outstanding school and Trust leaders from mainstream and specialist settings give a window into their organisation and the bold, innovative practice that leads to great outcomes for their most vulnerable learners.
- Hear from young people and adults with lived experience about their journey through the system, what worked, the tricky bits and how we can bring the buzz word co production to life.
- Responding to the challenges in the system around funding and capacity.
- From urgent attention to exceptional – Inclusion and accountability in the new landscape
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A range of bespoke afternoon workshop sessions covering Preparing for adulthood / life, Enhanced and additional provision, working with families, Curriculum and provision for learners with complex needs and many more.
Connect and Collaborate
Our day is punctuated by a number of roundtable discussions, panels and informal breakout sessions in which we encourage you to network and forge new connections with leaders from across the country.
The event will bring the community together to reflect on the Schools White Paper and SEND reforms, sharing practice, thinking and solutions as we consider how to respond and continue providing the very best provision, opportunities and outcomes for the young people and families we serve.
Key areas of discussion will include:
- Responding to the changing complexity of need and developing systems and processes for understanding learner characteristics and creating bespoke and aspirational provision.
- Unlocking specialist expertise and developing a highly skilled, inclusive workforce.
- Enrichment and curriculum – celebrating a broader view of progress and success for the most vulnerable learners
- Working successfully with families and experts by experience.
- Inclusion in mainstream – Creating enhanced and additional resourced provision to meet the needs of the most vulnerable learners.
- Outreach / Effective specialist x mainstream collaboration
System leaders and national experts share insights and perspectives on what upcoming reforms and perspectives mean for the landscape and ways in which we can innovate, respond and bring policy to life.
Through lightning talks, panel discussion, breakout conversations and workshops we will share, highlight and celebrate great practice in the following areas
Our national conferences are a unique opportunity to learn, connect and blend national policy and the big picture with bold, innovative and outstanding on the ground practice.
- Speakers already confirmed include – James Waller (Sunningdale School / EQUALS), Diane Rochford OBE, Cheryl Gaughan (JMAT Schools / EQUALS), Prof. Barry Carpenter CBE, Alistair Crawford (NNSP) along with representatives from the DfE, Ofsted and national organisations.
- More speakers announced in the coming weeks
- Dates and venues to be released soon (North and South locations)
Our national conferences are a unique opportunity to learn, connect and blend national policy and the big picture with bold, innovative and outstanding on the ground practice.
Demand for our national conference is high with our last event at the Ricoh Arena Coventry welcoming over 250 leaders from across the sector.
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