We had such an amazing day coming together with delegates, speakers and exhibitors on 14 March 2024 at our national SEND conference, ‘A Different Journey – The best life from the start’. Our fantastic line-up of high-profile national speakers presented on the current national SEND priorities and ambitions to improve outcomes and reduce inequalities for babies and young children with SEND.
Professor Monica Lakhanpaul
The conference provided an excellent opportunity to network with multi-agency professionals and leading SEND experts from across the UK, as well as charities and exhibitors working to improve support for families. We were proud to be sponsored by NHS England who shared their national work on least restrictive practices, and with press coverage provided by the Nursing Times.
We had a fabulous line up of speakers covering a breadth of hot topics for SEND, including but not limited to:
- Dame Rachel de Souza – Children’s Commissioner for England – speaking about the current landscape for children with SEND in England.
- Chris Read – Songwriter and producer who shared his lived experience of being dad to Theo, who has Down syndrome.
- Professor Simon Kenny OBE – National Clinical Director for Children and Young People NHS England – the national picture for integrating care for children and young people with SEND.
- Professor Monica Lakhanpaul – Professor of Integrated Community Child Health – speaking about children who are underserved, unheard and falling through the gaps.
- Kenny Gibson MBE – Deputy Director for NHS Safeguarding – who presented on Safeguarding children with special educational needs & disabilities.
- June Rogers MBE – Independent Practitioner & Consultant – Down Syndrome UK – who shared her work on a step-by-step toilet skill programme.
Chris Read performing ‘Every Atom of You’
