Specialist Spotlight: Growing Learner Independence and Preparing for Adulthood (Cross-phase)
- Online
- 03 Jun 2026 (15:30 - 16:30)
Independence and Preparation for Adulthood (PfA) are not something that begin in secondary school, they are built from a child’s very first experiences of education. This highly practical session is designed for teachers, SENCOs, support staff and senior leaders across all phases, exploring how we can collectively create the conditions for learners with SEND to develop independence, confidence, and real-life skills over time.
We will explore:
- What independence looks like at different ages and stages
- How small changes in daily routines can build long-term independence
- How to balance support with opportunity to reduce over-dependence
- How to create meaningful, real-life learning experiences across the curriculum
- How teams can work together to embed a consistent approach across a setting
With a strong focus on practical application, this session will provide:
- Strategies that can be used immediately in classrooms and support roles
- Ideas that translate across phases and levels of need
- A framework to support whole-school or setting-wide approaches
- Opportunities to reflect, share, and plan next steps with peers
This session aims to enable you to move from supporting learners in the moment to preparing learners for life.
Due to the interactive nature of these sessions, recordings will not be made available after the event.
Online
Suitable for: SENCO, Teacher, Teaching Assistant, Assistant Head Teacher, Deputy Head Teacher, Inclusion Manager/Leader
Meet your trainer
Claire Cookson
Chief Executive Officer of Pathways Education Ltd, Claire leads a fast-growing organisation that serves children and young adults not in formal schooling, to help them re-engage with learning, life and beyond. Underpinned by the values of Wellbeing, Connection and Empowerment, Claire’s work relentlessly focuses on re-imagining education to ensure all young adults have the opportunity, skills, and support to transition into high aiming paid employment in their adult lives.
Formally the CEO of DFN Project SEARCH and DFN Foundation, Claire is an experienced senior leader and public speaker with an extensive background in education, innovative curriculum design and best practice supported employment. Experienced chair and board member, Claire currently holds a number of non-exec trustee roles, one with a specialist school with the primary responsibility for safeguarding, and one with DFN Project SEARCH.
Claire supports many national workstreams around evidence-based transition to employment provision and is currently an external advisor to a large-scale national charity as well as sitting on a number of APPG groups around assistive technology and supported internships.
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