17th Annual SEND Update - Speakers

Daniel Sobel, CEO, Inclusion Experts (Chair)

Daniel is Inclusion Expert’s founder and lead consultant. An internationally respected leader in inclusive education, he has advised the DfE, the EU and governments abroad. Daniel is author of the 'Narrowing the Attainment Gap' and writes regularly for Headteacher Update and The Guardian.

Dr Helen Curran, Senior Lecturer, Bath Spa University

Prior to her current role Dr Curran worked  as a specialist advisor in SEN for Wiltshire Council, working with schools across the authority to develop and support SEN at an operational and strategic level. As part of this role she trained as an Early Bird Plus practitioner delivering support programmes for parents who children are on the autism spectrum. She subsequently worked as independent SEN/ Dyslexia consultant, working with schools and parents in the South-West providing assessments for dyslexia, individual and school consultancy in addition to whole school training.

Sarah Dove, Director, Phoenix Education Consultancy

Sarah’s own experiences of adversity, drive her understanding that there needs to be a wider systems approach to drive change within the education system. Sarah has a strategic background in education services, within in-patient services, children’s care homes, secure units, specialist resource provision and mainstream education.

Natalie Packer, Consultant, Natalie Packer Education Consultancy

Natalie develops and delivers a wide range of professional development opportunities to primary, secondary and special schools. She is an Associate Consultant for Nasen and works with Whole School SEND (WSS) on the SEND review and MAT review projects. She is the author of 'The Perfect SENCO' and 'The Teacher's Guide to SEN' publications. She is a consultant governor for a large 4-18 school in Dubai and is also a trustee of Learn-AT multi-academy trust in the East Midlands.

Dr Deborah Robinson, Director of the Centre for Educational Research and Innovation, University of Derby

Dr Robinson’s research and teaching expertise is in the area of special educational needs, disability and inclusive practice and she has a passionate interest in developing confidence and preparedness for diverse learners among classroom practitioners. She also has a broad interest in teacher education (at secondary and primary level) and in how models of teacher education might be developed to better prepare teachers for supporting children with special educational needs in mainstream classrooms.

Elizabeth Stanley, Partnerships Specialist, Wraparound Partnership

Having worked extensively in a professional capacity within the field of special needs and disability for over 20 years as a TA, SEN Teacher, SENCO and Director of Learning in inner city Manchester and abroad, Elizabeth understands families know their children best, but that it’s the collaborative effort of families, education, health and social care working together that will have the most impact on them achieving their aspirations.