Gill Taha (Mind Northamptonshire) leads this session.

Audience: The session is suitable for School-based staff - teaching and non-teaching, including leadership (primary and secondary phase colleagues).

Self-harm is more common than many realise, affecting thousands of people in the UK across all ages and backgrounds. Knowing how to respond can be difficult—whether you are worried about saying the wrong thing, feeling embarrassed, or simply lacking the tools to help.

The session will explore:

• Understanding Behaviours: Gain a deeper insight into self-harming actions and why they occur.
• Challenging Stigma: Explore common myths and examine how personal and societal attitudes impact those affected.
• Triggers & Factors: Discuss the underlying causes and specific situations that may lead to self-harm.
• Identifying Signs: Learn how to recognise the physical and emotional indicators that someone may be struggling.
• Effective Responses: Practical guidance on how to respond helpfully and compassionately to someone in distress.
• Self-Care & Wellbeing: Reflect on the emotional impact of supporting others and learn strategies to maintain your own mental health.

Adam Drake facilitates this training.

Neurodiversity is not a buzzword; it is the reality of the modern classroom. Are your teaching methods reaching every brain in the room? Join us for a hands-on session designed to transform how you support students with neurodiverse needs.

Designed for Teaching Assistants, HLTAs, Teachers, School Leaders, and SENCOs.

The session will explore:

• Neurodiversity in practice - What do we mean by neurodiversity, and how might neurodiverse students present 
• Practical teaching strategies
• Sensory & Attention Support - techniques for managing sensory overload and engaging students with short attention spans.
• Behaviour management that works for neurodiverse pupils.

A Specialist Masterclass with Lorraine Petersen OBE

With over 25 years in education and an OBE for services to SEND, former Naseen CEO Lorraine Petersen is a renowned consultant providing expert training, policy support, and mental health advocacy.

The world of SEND in mainstream schools is changing. There is a rise in the number of children and young people with more complex needs. The new Ofsted category of Inclusion is being embedded within the inspection process, and the government SEND Reforms have been proposed. This will ultimately have an impact on how we identify, assess, intervene, monitor, and track students in the future.

This one-day training will offer an insight into how all these changes will impact on the education of our SEND students in the future.

Who Should Attend?

Primary and Secondary School SENCOs, Assistant SENCOs, and those aspiring to the role.

Focus:

• Identify with Confidence: Master the tools and strategies to accurately identify students with diverse SEND.
• Effective Interventions: Gain practical guidance on implementing evidence-based universal and targeted support strategies.
• Measure Impact: Learn how to monitor interventions effectively to ensure tangible progress and improved outcomes for every learner.

Outline of the Day

• Session 1 | Identifying Needs: Neurodiversity, the Four Broad Areas, working with parent-carers and external support.
• Session 2 | Embedding Provision: Universal vs. specialist support, evidence-based interventions, use of technology to support, and staff deployment.
• Session 3 | Monitoring & Tracking: Assessment systems, student progress meetings, communicating with parents, and measuring outcomes.

Gill Taha (Mind Northamptonshire) leads this session.

Audience: The session is suitable for School-based staff - teaching and non-teaching, including leadership (primary and secondary phase colleagues).

Grief is a deeply personal experience, yet we often face pressure—from ourselves or others—to "move on" within a set timeframe. This session shifts the focus away from "getting over" pain and instead explores loss as a continuous journey.

While the loss itself remains a part of our lives, our relationship to it evolves. We will discuss how to navigate this individual path at your own pace, helping you understand that while the journey is different for everyone, it can become easier to carry over time.

The session will explore:

• Understanding Loss: Explore several types of loss and how to support an individual through it.
• Confidence in Conversation: Develop the skills to initiate sensitive discussions about death and loss, and gain confidence in managing highly emotional situations.
• Cultural & Spiritual Perspectives: Briefly explore how diverse beliefs shape the grieving process.
• Holistic Support: Learn how to balance emotional empathy with practical, hands-on support.
• Practitioner Wellbeing: Understand the vital importance of self-care and maintaining your own boundaries while supporting others experiencing grief or loss.

Delivered by Stephen Burnage

Steve Burnage FCCT FRSA M.Ed is an experienced education consultant, author, and fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching with over 35 years’ experience in teaching and leadership.

The school office is a high-pressure environment where safeguarding, customer service, and administration collide. This half-day intensive workshop is designed to sharpen communication, build resilience, and streamline efficiency.

Who Should Attend?

Specifically designed for School Receptionists, Office Administrators, and Front-of-House Staff who want to reduce stress while increasing their professional impact.

Key Areas of Focus:

• The Quality Service Chain: Ensuring every interaction—from the first "hello" to the final sign-out—reflects your school’s values.
• Mastering the Phones: Beyond etiquette—learning the psychology of tone, voice-pattern matching, and the "smile while dialling" technique.
• De-escalation & Boundaries: Practical toolkits for handling upset parents, confidential inquiries, and unannounced visitors with empathy and firm professional boundaries.
• The Priority Matrix: Strategies for planning and prioritisation