Discussions and workshops being held at FestABLE 2020 are still being finalised and will be revealed soon. In the meantime take a look at what was included at the first ever FestABLE in 2018.
In 2010, Adam Bojelian won the Brit Writers Special Achievement Award. His mother Zoe continues to celebrate his life. At his first memorial service, NHS Confederation CEO Rob Webster described Adam’s poem ‘Leadership’ as the ‘gift that keeps on giving’.
An opportunity to explore the experiences & resources of a sensory environment, enabling learning & being, in a PMLD & autism teaching area. Looking at strategies for best practice including sensory processing & Intensive Interaction. Parents, carers, support workers
& learners will be able to see how students are taught at National Star. There will be experiential activities, video evidence supporting the work & a chance to discuss the practices with experienced & qualified practitioners.
An opportunity to explore the experiences & resources of a sensory environment, enabling learning & being, in a PMLD & autism teaching area. Looking at strategies for best practice including sensory processing & Intensive Interaction. Parents, carers, support workers
& learners will be able to see how students are taught at National Star. There will be experiential activities, video evidence supporting the work & a chance to discuss the practices with experienced & qualified practitioners.
In the first part of an extended discussion, David Bartram chairs a panel including Simon Welch (National Star), Dr Helen Curran (Bath Spa University) & Anne Heavey (NEU), looking at how national policy has affected SEND training & development.
‘We now buy other people’s solutions to problems we barely understand in SEND,’ says Simon Knight. Jules Daulby, teacher trainer, chairs the second part of this extended discussion with Claire Dorer (NASS), they will be focussing on new ways of working & upskilling to tackle the increasing pressure on specialist provision.
This LKMco workshop draws together findings from recent studies on assessment & the relationship between SEND & poverty. There will be an in-depth discussion of gaps in prioritisation of SEND, using case studies from specialist & mainstream settings. These will be placed in the context of research on teachers’ knowledge & development.
Moving beyond tokenism – Micheal Surr (nassen) presents a solution-focussed approach to developing person-centred practice.
The Department for Education promised a person-centred & joined-up approach to identifying & meeting the needs of children, young people & their families, offering engagement & participation so that they have greater choice. Practitioners from the front lines reflect on the progress that’s been made & the changes that are still needed.
With so many challenges over recent years & 10% of special schools predicting budget deficits, is the role of governor becoming professionalised? Can parents, carers & learners still have a voice in the governance of their school or college? This panel combines exceptional experience with huge passion & commitment to create the best outcomes for young people.
Lego-based therapy is an evidence-based social communication programme, originally developed for children with high functioning autistic spectrum disorder; however, we have experienced positive outcomes for individuals with a wider spectrum of communication difficulties. This session will outline the development & purpose of the approach, discuss how it can be adapted for individuals with more complex needs & provide practical examples of an adapted Lego-based therapy group.
National Star has a student base with a range of visual difficulties. Visual impairments can be a result of ocular or cerebral damage & can significantly impact a student’s ability to engage in college life. The occupational therapists will discuss how they assess students’ functional vision & devise strategies to support visual engagement in the college setting.
Have you ever considered what it would be like to suddenly suffer a life-changing injury necessitating hours of rehabilitation? Or what it would be like to require weekly physiotherapy for most of your life? Painful? Tedious? Boring? Exploring some of the alternatives to purely conventional physiotherapy illustrates how young people’s motivation & ability can be enhanced by reframing therapy goals. Case studies demonstrate what those with complex disabilities can achieve with a ‘slight’ change of environment.
ResearchSEND was co-founded by Michelle Haywood & Professor Michelle Lowe, Institute of Education, University of Wolverhampton to promote the importance of research in meeting the needs of learners with SEND. ResearchSEND encourages teachers undertaking their own personal research, supporting their CPD & their interest in further study projects, for example a master’s degree. The Journal Club will discuss a different journal article in each session.
ResearchSEND was co-founded by Michelle Haywood & Professor Michelle Lowe, Institute of Education, University of Wolverhampton to promote the importance of research in meeting the needs of learners with SEND. ResearchSEND encourages teachers undertaking their own personal research, supporting their CPD & their interest in further study projects, for example a master’s degree. The Journal Club will discuss a different journal article in each session.
Eleanor is widely respected as a trainer, speaker & advisor on children’s rights in education & the process of Education, Health & Care assessment. Here, Eleanor presents one of her very popular workshops for parents, providing essential information & expertise to support their journey through the system.
This workshop explores ‘listening’ using stories, photographs & text. A common complaint about services is ‘they don’t listen’ yet professionals think they do listen. So what’s going on? What is it you want others to hear? What stops you from listening? How do your words, facial expressions or body language show that you’re listening (or not)?
This workshop explores ‘listening’ using stories, photographs & text. A common complaint about services is ‘they don’t listen’ yet professionals think they do listen. So what’s going on? What is it you want others to hear? What stops you from listening? How do your words, facial expressions or body language show that you’re listening (or not)?
This workshop explores ‘listening’ using stories, photographs & text. A common complaint about services is ‘they don’t listen’ yet professionals think they do listen. So what’s going on? What is it you want others to hear? What stops you from listening? How do your words, facial expressions or body language show that you’re listening (or not)?
TwoCan has brought to life the colourful story by David McKee (the creator of Elmer the patchwork elephant). The mischievous theatrical adventure integrates a creative use of sign language & audio description, making the story something for everyone to enjoy.
TwoCan has brought to life the colourful story by David McKee (the creator of Elmer the patchwork elephant). The mischievous theatrical adventure integrates a creative use of sign language & audio description, making the story something for everyone to enjoy.
TwoCan has brought to life the colourful story by David McKee (the creator of Elmer the patchwork elephant). The mischievous theatrical adventure integrates a creative use of sign language & audio description, making the story something for everyone to enjoy.
The inadequate level of SEN support for children in schools is revealed in this documentary. MA Broadcast Journalism students, Imogen & Philip, speak to families, teachers & experts about the current problems & potential solutions. Central to this film is a consideration of society’s failure to understand & therefore support SEN children.
TwoCan has brought to life the colourful story by David McKee (the creator of Elmer the patchwork elephant). The mischievous theatrical adventure integrates a creative use of sign language & audio description, making the story something for everyone to enjoy.
National Star led creative art children’s workshop. This workshop will involve making customised bunting, sun catchers & Mexican mirror pictures with National Star creative arts volunteer staff. Visit Art & Design to book.
10 spaces available on a first-come-first-served, booked on the day. Must be age 4+. Please note booked spaces do not include support.
National Star led creative art children’s workshop. This workshop will involve making customised bunting, sun catchers & Mexican mirror pictures with National Star creative arts volunteer staff. Visit Art & Design to book.
10 spaces available on a first-come-first-served, booked on the day. Must be age 4+. Please note booked spaces do not include support.
Make sure you attend the UK’s first national festival of specialist learning. Get your tickets today!
FestABLE brings together an impressive group of speakers who work across Specialist Education. All are renowned for their commitment to young people with disabilities and learning difficulties and for their expertise.
