Specialist Spotlight: Promoting independence (Primary)

Online
30 Sep 2024 (15:30 - 16:30)

Universal SEND Services

Online Units

Live Discussion

Join us for a FREE discussion exploring ‘promoting independence’ in primary settings.

Featuring Sharon Smith: Sharon Smith is mother to a 19-year-old daughter who has Down syndrome. As a result, she has volunteered and worked for several disability related organisations over the past 18 years, including being co-founder of a Down syndrome support group and being the Chair of her local parent carer forum. Sharon is also in the final stages of undertaking PhD research in which she explores the experiences of mothers of disabled children in relation to their education. Sharon's daughter has benefited from using person-centred ways of working with her education settings at key transition points, and she is happy to share this personal experience.

The discussion will be hosted by Whole School SEND’s National Delivery Coordinator, Caroline Sutton-Reid, 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 promoting learners’ independence in academic contexts and in preparation for adulthood.
The complementary roles of teachers and teaching assistants in helping all learners to make progress towards independent learning.
Evidence-based strategies for promoting independence in lessons and when preparing learners for adulthood.
The importance of self-advocacy if learners with SEND are to be as independent as they can.

The discussion builds on our online SEND CPD units, each one can be completed in under an hour. 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

Online

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

Meet your trainer

Sharon Smith

Sharon Smith is mother to a 19-year-old daughter who has Down syndrome. As a result, she has volunteered and worked for several disability related organisations over the past 18 years, including being co-founder of a Down syndrome support group and being the Chair of her local parent carer forum. Sharon is also in the final stages of undertaking PhD research in which she explores the experiences of mothers of disabled children in relation to their education. Sharon's daughter has benefited from using person-centred ways of working with her education settings at key transition points, and she is happy to share this personal experience.

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.

Meet your trainer

Caroline Sutton-Reid

Caroline has worked in education since 2009 and has a passion for supporting learners with SEND. She took on the role of SENDCo and developed this working across multiple schools. Prior to taking on the role of National Delivery Coordinator for Whole School SEND, she worked as a Regional SENDCo (leading and coaching other SENDCos) for a large MAT.