Our first Engaging Children with Complex Needs Conference
On Friday 8th June we held the first joint conference with our sister school Dysart/ Bedelsford at Bedelsford School. There was a great turn out, approximately 60 people, including parents, school staff and colleagues from other provisions. The conference started with an amazing and inspirational speech by Professor Barry Carpenter which highlighted the current issues our pupils face as well as identifying ways we can ensure we are supporting our pupils to be the best they can. This highly inspirational speech was followed by two members of Professor Barry Carpenter’s team, Bev Cockbill and Jo Egerton, who provided information and case study examples of the Engagement Profile and its impact.
The development of the Engagement Profile has had a huge impact on how we support our pupils to access their learning and in turn make progress across a wide range of areas. The finale of the conference saw two teachers, one from Dysart (Jack Toogood) and one from Bedelsford (Clair Wilcock), present case studies of how they have used the engagement profile and scales with two of their pupils. It was fantastic to be able to show how the engagement profile is helping our pupils grow and develop to be the best they possibly can and was absolutely wonderful to share the work and achievements with Professor Barry Carpenter and his team as well as with our parents and colleagues.
We have received some fantastic feedback following the conference including –
‘The final two presentations inspiring . To see the work being used so professionally to benefit our children was a beautiful thing.
The day was crowned as I walked out of the school by a parent , who said she had found the day uplifting , and that I had given her hope . ‘ Barry Carpenter’
‘I enjoyed and was greatly inspired by the conference today. Thank you to you and Bedelsford for putting it on and allowing parents to come. Your school seems lovely and it is great to have a SW London school leading on advancements in complex needs education. ‘Parent of Special school pupil at another provision
‘Brilliant conference, really insightful and will change the way we engage and progress our learners for the future’. College Lecturer
The conference was excellent – current research, sharing practice and pitched at the right level so relevant to a wide audience – parents, staff, other schools, college. Strategic Manager
Bedelsford and Dysart are once again collaborating on an upcoming conference, October 16th 2018, the focus of which will be Mental Health and Well Being for pupils. We are once again delighted that Professor Barry Carpenter has agreed to be our key note speaker, with Bev Cockbill and Jo Egerton providing one of the workshops. Please watch out for further information which will be coming soon.
