Specialist Spotlight: Creating a socially safe environment (Primary)

Online
22 Apr 2024 (16:00 - 17:00)

Online Units

Live Discussion

Universal SEND Services

Join us for a FREE discussion exploring approaches to creating a socially safe environment in primary settings.

The discussion will be hosted by Whole School SEND’s regional lead, Nicole Dempsey, and everyone will be encouraged to join in, ask questions and share experiences. As such, content will be responsive but may cover some or all of the following themes:

The importance of social inclusion for learners with SEND in mainstream schools and the impact for learners who are socially isolated or excluded from elements of the curriculum, and
Ways to create a socially safe environment and to develop and support friendships between learners in your setting.
It’s a great opportunity to hear from an experienced specialist, network with colleagues from across the country, and share learnings.

The discussion builds on our 20 minute online SEND CPD units. While everyone is welcome to take part in the session, delegates who have completed the corresponding unit content in preparation are likely to find the sessions particularly helpful.

Due to the interactive nature of these sessions, recordings will not be made available after the event.

Data Sharing: As this is a Department for Education (DfE) funded project, participants may be contacted by an external evaluator to measure the impact and success of the project. By participating in any of the webinars, live sessions or other activities you are providing consent by default to have your data shared and be contacted by the DfE and/or the external evaluators to support the evaluation process. If you do not want your data to be shared for this purpose please email: info@wholeschoolsend.com

Suitable for: Assistant Head Teacher, Deputy Head Teacher, Head Teacher, Newly Qualified Teacher, SENCO, Teacher, Teaching Assistant

Meet your trainer

Dr Nick Edwards, Educational Psychologist

I began my career as an NHS speech and language therapist in 1991 working with children in clinics, schools, nurseries and special schools. I then retrained as a teacher in 1999, completing a PGCE in primary education, specialising in Early Years and worked in primary schools, mostly as an early years teacher, for 18 years until 2018; for the final 8 years of this period, I was also the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) within the school.

In 2018, I began the journey to become an educational psychologist by teaching on a temporary, part-time basis as a SENCO in Derbyshire, at a special school in Derbyshire and at a pupil-referral unit in Derby City at the same time as applying to the Doctorate training programme for Educational Psychology. I completed the three-year doctorate course at the University of Sheffield which included placements at Nottinghamshire County Council and then was fortunate to be able to work for Nottinghamshire County Council as a qualified educational psychologist when I qualified in 2022.

My professional interests include a focus on communication and social and emotional needs as well as promoting and facilitating inclusion using a systemic-level perspective where possible, to empower schools and families to understand and support children and young people’s educational needs.