BSA virtual day seminar – An inclusive approach to neurodiversity in boarding schools

• Date: February 24, 2022
• Time: 10:30 – 16:00
• Cost: Full Member – £135,  Affiliate Member – £205, Non-member – £270
• Audience: Heads, Deputy Heads, SENCos, Head of Boarding, Boarding Staff, Teachers.
• Venue: Zoom (online)

• To outline the importance of understanding and implementing an inclusive neurodiversity approach in boarding schools
• To demystify the term neurodiversity in terms of learning, behaviour and socialisation differences
• To consider how to deliver an inclusive neurodiversity approach in terms of leadership and implementation to staff and the whole student body.

Training topics will include:

• A range of terms within the neurodiversity spectrum including ASD, ADHD, BD, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dyspraxia (SpLD), EFD and ODD will be explained and explored
• How to develop an Inclusive approach across the Boarding School community will be outlined considering leadership, admissions, implementation and communication with parents
• We will develop a complete understanding of the implications of living with neurodiversity through student voice and will consider issues of living, bullying, social isolation, wellbeing and preparing for future transitions.

Learning outcomes:

• We will be focus on neurodiversity traits and not labels in order to support all students within the boarding school community with the opportunity to fulfil their potential in all academic and socialisation settings
• Attendees will have much better understanding of how students (and colleagues) with traits of neurodiversity may interpret the world. We will as a result in some cases confirm but also direct and nudge changes in policies and process where necessary
• We will show the importance of how the world needs neurodiversity in terms not of deficits but differences in order to facilitate future change and innovation throughout society.

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Speakers: Fin O’Regan MA. PGCE, BSc Hons, ADHD and Neurodiversity trainer and consultant

Fin is one of the leading behaviour and learning specialists in the UK. He is currently an ADHD and Neurodiversity consultant and trainer for number of schools and organisations, an associate lecturer for Leicester University, NASEN, the Helen Arkell Charity and the Institute of Education.

He was the Headmaster of the Centre Academy School, regarded as the first specialist school within the UK for children with ADHD/ODD from 1996 -2002. Prior to that, he was a Deputy Head Teacher, the Head of the Science Department and a Science/PE teacher in London, Newcastle and Washington DC.

He is a current member of the Special Education Consortium, the SpLD Assessment Standards Committee, and The London CDC and is a council member of CReSTeD.

Fintan is an internationally acclaimed presenter has presented over 2000 seminars throughout Europe, the Middle East, the Far East, Australia, New Zealand and North America and has published over 10 books on learning, behaviour and socialisation issues.

www.fintanoregan.com

Jennifer Donovan, Senior Lecturer, Bath Spa University

Dr Jennifer Donovan AMBDA is a Senior Lecturer at Bath Spa University where she is the Award Leader for the SpLD (dyslexia) programme. Her research interests include the assessment and support of literacy difficulties with learners of all ages, with a particular interest in spelling assessment and intervention. Her current research project involves working with Specialist Teachers to investigate the effectiveness of a dynamic assessment approach to spelling.

Natasha Dangerfield, Headmistress, Westonbirt School

Charismatic leader, Natasha Dangerfield, took the helm as Westonbirt Headmistress in 2013. In the years preceding her headship, Natasha enjoyed success as Head of PE and Sixth Form Boarding at North Foreland Lodge, Director of Pastoral Care at Gordonstoun and Deputy Headmistress at Harrogate Ladies.

A mother of three teens who is described by the Good Schools Guide as “energetic, fiercely determined and a force to be reckoned with,” Natasha is passionate about inspiring young minds. She has fostered a nurturing environment at Westonbirt where students are supported to become the best version of themselves, and has driven significant growth at the school which successfully transitioned to co-education in 2019.

Linzi Williams, Head of Teaching and Learning Support, SENDCo, Christ’s Hospital School

Having qualified as a History teacher at secondary level in 1999, Linzi moved into the area of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities in 2005 more by luck than judgement.  It was not something that she had planned on doing but it has been the most rewarding, challenging, exasperating, wonderful move that she could have made. Her special needs teaching (and learning) journey started in a special school in the South Wales valleys and has taken her to Dubai, Bristol, back to Dubai and now to Christ’s Hospital.
She is a qualified SENDCO, Teacher of the Deaf and a specialist assessor. She has developed a keen interest in all things neurodiverse/divergent over recent years, in particular autism.  However, she sees herself as a ‘jack of all trades’ as a SENDCO with experience across a broad range of needs from specific learning differences through to profound and multiple learning difficulties. She has also had experience of working in Early Years and Primary levels which has enabled her to see how support can happen throughout a young person’s education. She is keen on supporting and enabling colleagues to develop their own skills in working with our young people and is very much an advocate of ‘good teaching for SEND means good teaching for all.’

Christy Ward BSc, PGCE, PGDip SpLD, AMBDA, Christ’s Hospital School

Christy has spent the last 25 years teaching in the independent school sector, working across the Prep and Senior age range. With a background in Design, she has used problem solving and innovation to break down barriers for neurodivergent learners. As a SEND specialist and experienced boarding Houseparent, she has gained a unique perspective on special educational needs in a boarding setting.

Tracie Coultas-Pitman, CEO, Beyond Autism

Tracie has a wealth of leadership and management experience within the field of special educational needs and disability; she worked for Scope for over 20 years, where she held two headships and ultimately rose to the position of Regional Director for the South of England. More recently Tracie was Executive Head of the Autism Schools Trust where she led on setting up a Free School. Tracie has experience of developing early year’s provision, establishing outreach and training services, providing strategic leadership to schools and developing Post 19 and adult services.

Dr Emma Watts is a GP at Shere Surgery & Dispensary, in the Surrey Hills.  She has been part of the team at Cranleigh School since 2010.  Winners of National GP Award for Innovation in Women’s Health in 2018, and Finalist for Health Equity at the Royal Society for Public Health Awards 2021,  the practice team are dedicated to streamlining and improving systems with the goal of developing and sharing best practice.