Inclusion & Wellbeing MENA 2023 - Dubai - SOLD OUT - Wellbeing (Day 2)

Deepen and enrich your inclusion and wellbeing strategy and culture, evidence impact, and ensure everyone thrives.

#oeMENA

Chaired by Shahana Knight, our Wellbeing progamme takes place on Wednesday 15 March at the Sofitel Downtown Dubai.

Registration (08:00 - 08:40)

Welcome from Optimus Education (08:40)

Chair's Welcome (08:45)

Creating your whole school wellbeing culture (08:55 - 09:35)

Adpating our vision of what education should be to meet the emotional and mental health needs of all children.

• Why is it so important to prioritise mental health?
• Adapting our approach to meet the needs of children in today's society.
• How can we begin to do this in schools' language, environment, behaviour approaches and mindset?

Shahana Knight, Childhood Trauma and Behaviour Specialist, Founder and Director of TPC Therapy Ltd.

Facilitated discussion: Challenges and successes  (09:35 - 09:55)

Questions and answers (09:55 - 10:05)

Workshop Choices (10:10 - 11:10)

1A. What the science says: How to help pupils feel safe, supported and ready to learn

Lee Prichard, Head of Partnerships, Thrive

1B. Embed wellbeing

Explore a model of how to foster and embed wellbeing and bring a sustained change.

Ambika Gulati, Principal and Priyanka Bhattacharya, Head of Senior School, The Millennium School

1C. Staff wellbeing: practices that work 

Fun-filled interactive session on some lessons of lasting wellbeing, centered on three key elements of change:

• Wellbeing is a two -way street
• Weniger, Aber, Besser (Less But Better)
• Practices that work with your routine (context), rhythm (personality) and reason (purpose)

Andaleeb Ishteyaq, Head of Inclusion and Pastoral Care, JSS Private School Dubai

Morning refreshments, networking and exhibition (11:10 - 11:50)

Workshop choices (11:50 - 12:50)

2A. Managing difficult emotions

Gain practical tips and strategies to embed a behaviour management approach that puts wellbeing at the core.

• Helping children to develop the skills they need to understand and identity their own emotions and then have the tools to manage them.
• Not just stopping behaviour but helping teach and guide children through the tough stuff so they have the emotional intelligence skills in the future.
• Changing behaviour policies to connection and regulation policies.
• Developing emotionally safe environments and approaches for all children. 

Shahana Knight, Childhood Trauma and Behaviour Specialist, Founder and Director of TPC Therapy Ltd.

2B. A whole school approach to the management of safeguarding and wellbeing 

Explore the importance of a whole school approach to safeguarding and wellbeing and how that can be implemented effectively. In this interactive workshop, understand the key principles of good safeguarding and wellbeing practice and the important steps that school leaders can take to ensure success.

Mike Glanville, Chief Safeguarding Officer, The Safeguarding Company

2C. Transition

Equip students with the confidence and skills to flourish as they transition to secondary school education.

Mark Swaine, Transition Lead and Grade 6 Learning Coordinator, Swiss International Scientific School Dubai

Lunch, networking and exhibition (12:50 - 13:50)

Workshop choices (13:50 - 14:50)

3A. Secondary wellbeing curriculum

Share best practice, discuss challenges and gain new strategies to enhance your wellbeing teaching.

Joe Hall, Head of Sixth Form, Brighton College Dubai

3B. Self-esteem

Explore practical ways to boost pupil self-esteem.

Julia Knight, Head of Senior Girls and Primary School, Beech Hall Riyadh

3C. Solutions-focused counselling

Using a crisis to set up solution-focused counselling.

Lou Lynton, School Counsellor, Inclusion Team, Hartland International School

Afternoon refreshments, networking and exhibition (14:50 - 15:10)

Stress awareness (15:10 - 15:35)

Recognise early signs of staff stress and support colleagues to respond.

Mark Samways, Director of Wellbeing, The Free Spirit Collective

Therapeutic classrooms with student voice at the core (15:35 - 16:15)

Creating purposeful designed environments that have wellbeing at the core, building on children's voices and cultivating learning.

Shahana Knight, Childhood Trauma and Behaviour Specialist, Founder and Director of TPC Therapy Ltd.

Conference closes 16:15