We’ve all been there.
You’ve cleared a whole day and then trekked for hours to be at an education conference that promised so much, then delivered so little.
The biggest takeaway? Indigestion from overdoing it at the buffet lunch.
The highlight of the day? The free pen.
The whole thing can feel a bit meh.
But IncludEd, the UK’s go-to education conference dedicated to school inclusion, is different.
It’s been built, designed and delivered by the team at The Difference – people who work in schools. Every. Single. Day.
It consistently delivers great CPD for all staff – from multi-academy trust (MAT) and local authority (LA) leaders through to headteachers, senior leaders, classroom practitioners and support staff. In fact, many schools bring whole staff teams along…
Starting back in 2017, in a school hall on the Isle of Dogs with just under 100 attendees, IncludEd has grown rapidly to become one of the biggest conferences for whole school inclusion. Last year the conference welcomed over 650 guests, trended worldwide on X, and received huge plaudits. This year IncludEd has partnered with Schools Week as the conference’s official media partner.
The conference is delivering cutting-edge insights that could help to drive whole-school inclusion forward in your setting through five key areas:
- Internal Alternative Provision (IAP)
The Difference has been conducting research and leading our National Network for Internal Alternative Provision to begin to codify what works when it comes to IAP. With content including planning your space, establishing an admission criteria, structuring curricula and a focus on successful reintegration, the conference is perfect for anyone working on their adapted and enhanced provisions.
- Cultivating a Sense of Belonging
Building pupil motivation and a sense of belonging is crucial to intrinsic motivation. Through a focus on interactions with their pupils, schools and academies can drive improved attainment and attendance, and reduce emotionally-based school avoidance (EBSA). Sessions will explore practical advice and strategic planning to drive culture change and increase whole-staff capacity to improve interactions with pupils.
- A Beginner’s Guide to Trauma and Stress
At first glance, Trauma-Informed Practice (or TIP) can be a daunting concept. For a start, the name doesn’t make it simple to understand what it actually is. IncludEd strips that back. Our sessions with Haringey Learning Partnership and Jamie’s Farm will share the fundamentals of TIP and where to start in your school – cutting through the jargon.
- Pupil Voice
IncludEd is one of the few conferences that is committed to a young person keynote each and every year. As Jade Barnet, keynote speaker in 2022, put it in her speech: ‘nothing about us, without us’. This theme is interwoven throughout the conference, with input on how Pupil Voice Surveys can provide actionable insights and support successful whole-school inclusion.
- Leading Inclusion Across Groups of Schools
Leading inclusion across LAs and MATs can be a lonely role – and IncludEd knows it. That’s why we bring together sessions focused on system-level thinking to support those developing inclusive practices across groups of schools – backing it up with examples of tactics, strategy and implementation. There’s even a pre-conference network dinner for those leading inclusion across MATs and LAs.
Start 2025 as you mean to go on by coming along to IncludEd on Saturday 11th January 10.00am to 4.00pm at the UCL Institute of Education – just a short five-minute stroll from London Euston and Kings Cross.
Tickets can be purchased now from just £50 per person with group CPD packages available, and include refreshments and a delicious buffet lunch – which you are still welcome to overdo!
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