SEND Leadership - Digital - Speakers

Anita Devi, SEND Consultant

As a former SENCO, Senior Leader, School Improvement Advisor and local authority SEND Advisory Teacher and Healthwatch Trustee Anita Devi carries a wealth of experience in developing leaders of learning.  Her own teaching career spans early years to post grad in the UK and overseas and Anita lives her why through her belief in the joy of learning.  In 2017, Anita was awarded the prestigious international Influential Educational Leaders Award for her SEND Pipeline strategy developing professionals from initial teacher training to advanced and experienced SENCOs.  Currently a PT PhD student, Changemaker Education Consultant & Founding Director of #TeamADL, Finalists 2019 for The Disability Awards.

Listen to Anita Devi's Chair's introduction to the SEND Leadership conference.

Professor Adam Boddison, Chief Executive, nasen

Professor Adam Boddison is the Chief Executive for nasen (National Association for Special Educational Needs) with responsibility for strategic direction and operational delivery across the full breadth of nasen’s activity. He is also the Chair of the Whole School SEND consortium, Chair of the National SEND Reference Group and Visiting Professor at the University of Wolverhampton. Adam is a National Leader of Governance and a Trustee at two Multi-Academy Trusts, spanning primary, secondary and specialist settings. Adam is a Trustee of the Potential Trust and a Fellow of the RSA. Prior to this, Adam held a number of senior education roles including Director of the Centre for Professional Education at the University of Warwick and Academic Principal for IGGY (a global educational social network for gifted teenagers). He has published a range of education books and is a qualified clinical hypnotherapist.

Watch Adam introduce his session on Looking ahead: What's on the horizon?

Ginny Bootman, Special Needs co-ordinator

Ginny Bootman is a Special Needs co-ordinator who has over 25 years' experience as a class teacher, having also been a headteacher. She is now SENCO of 2 primary schools in Northamptonshire. Her passion for the role which empathy plays in the job of the class teacher shines through articles she has written for publications including TES. She shares this passion in her talks to a variety of audiences.  Find her at www.ginnybootman.com @sencogirl

Watch Ginny introduce her session on working successfully with carers and families.

Jenny Bowers, Director, Purplemoon Supervision and Coaching Ltd

Jenny Bowers worked in the primary sector for over 20 years. She was a senior leader for 9 years, a SENDCo for 12 years and the safeguarding lead for 15 years. She is accredited in clinical supervision by the APT as well as being a leadership coach. She recently left headship to pursue her passion for ensuring all SENDCos, DSLs, school leaders and headteachers have a positive wellbeing and are fully supported to be the best they can be in their frequently multiple roles. You can find her on twitter @jennypurplemoon or at www.purplemoon.uk

Watch Jenny introduce her session on SENCO Wellbeing.

Ruth Bright, Founder and Lead SEN Advocate, Bright Futures Consultancy

Bright Futures is a small team of highly experienced SEN consultants who help parents and professionals to navigate the complex legal system of Education, Health & Care Plans (EHCPs). They advise on the whole process, including from the creation of a good EHCP to delivery of the content.

Sam Garner, Director, Garner Education Services

Sam is a renowned speaker, trainer and author specialising in mental health and SEN. She has been a SENCo in a large secondary school and is a qualified Cognitive Behaviour Therapist and a Child and Adolescent Counsellor. Sam also set up a company providing mental health CBT programmes for schools. She is in high demand to speak at conferences and events and provides in-house training for schools and companies, nationally and internationally. Lauded for her humour and ‘telling it like it is’ approach to mental health, Sam has had her book Mental Health in Education published by Routledge, and regularly writes for several publications with more books in the pipeline for publication.

Watch Sam introduce her session on Support Staff Development

Simon Knight, Joint Headteacher, Frank Wise School

Simon is Joint Headteacher at Frank Wise school, a school for children aged between 2 and 19 with severe or profound and multiple learning disabilities. He is also a National SEND Leader for Whole School SEND - a consortium committed to enhancing the quality of education for learners with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

Watch Simon introduce his session on Mainstream and Special Schools: the importance of partnership

Nina Jackson, SEND, Mental Health and Wellbeing Consultant

Nina Jackson is a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Consultant with over 30 years' experience as a teacher, senior leader and therapist. She now works as an International Advisor and trainer working with children, teachers, leaders and parents. Her most recent award winning book ‘Of Teaching, Learning and Sherbet Lemons’ has a wide range of SEND related chapters to help you find your ‘fizz’ when it comes to supporting everyone and anyone in the field of SEND. You can find her at www.teachlearncreate.com and as an Associate Director with Independent Thinking Ltd as well as on twitter as @musicmind.

Watch Nina introduce her session on managing workload.

Natalie Packer, Education Consultant

Natalie is an independent Education Consultant specialising in SEND and school improvement.  She develops and delivers a wide range of training and support to schools and multi-academy trusts. She is also a trustee of Learn-AT multi-academy trust in the East Midlands and supports the Whole School SEND review process. Natalie is the author of The Perfect SENCO and The Teacher’s Guide to SEN.

Watch Natalie introduce her session on SEND policy updates:reflecting back and empowering class teachers.