North West Regional Conference - 'Inclusion from All Angles: Perspectives, Practice and Preparation for Adulthood'
- Face to face
- North West
- 06 Feb 2026 (09:30 - 14:30)
This conference will focus on the importance of inclusion and belonging as the golden thread running through all aspects of school life. We will explore the characteristics of inclusive schools to prompt thinking of what inclusion by design might look like in their settings and how this can support children and young people to prepare for adulthood.
- Delegates will have the opportunity to hear from school leaders, HMI, specialists, and a national SEND lead.
- Strengthen their understanding of the benefits of a sensory environment and resources.
- Raise awareness of free support to enable greater inclusivity in their settings.
- Leave with practical resources and strategies.
Objectives:
- Highlight the complexity of inclusion and provide advice and reflective opportunities to support leaders in strengthening inclusion across their trusts and settings.
- Share tangible resources, practical ideas, and current insights into the national landscape to support strategic inclusion.
- Deepen understanding of inclusion from multiple viewpoints, offering strategies and considerations that participants can implement and explore across different settings.
Agenda:
|
Timing |
Focus |
Person |
|
9.00-9.30am |
Networking / Tea and Coffee |
X |
|
9.30-9.40 |
Welcome and outline of day from Whole School SEND North West regional team |
NW WSS Dawn Cranshaw, Hilary Cook |
|
9.40-10.00am |
Inclusion by Design – WSS |
Erica Wolstenholme |
|
10.00-10.45am |
Inclusion – OFSTED’s new Toolkit and Inclusion |
Adam Sproston |
|
10.45-11.00am |
Break |
X |
|
11.00-11.45am |
Relational Inclusion – 5 pillars and strategies to support |
Anthony Benedict |
|
11.45- 12.30pm |
Inclusive Sensory Strategies |
Sadie Charlton |
|
12.30 – 1.15pm |
Lunch and Networking |
X |
|
1.15-2.00pm |
Pathways to Inclusion – Strategic Leadership and small steps of progress. |
Malcolm Reeve |
|
2.00pm -2.30pm |
Inclusive Transition |
Gary Wilson |
|
2.30- 2.45pm |
Close |
NW WSS Dawn Cranshaw, Hilary Cook |
See more information on speakers and sessions here
(Speaker information and agenda updates will be added as soon as they are confirmed, please keep a lookout!)
This is a fully funded event by the Department for Education.
If you have any questions, please contact the Whole School SEND team.
Venue: Village Hotel - Manchester Ashton-under-Lyne OL7 0LY, UK
Suitable for: Assistant Headteacher, Head Teacher, SENCO, Other
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