The SOS!SEN Education Conference

As CEO of SOS!SEN, I am incredibly proud to launch our first-ever Education Conference, created to support educators in meeting the increasing demands placed on schools. Our goal is to work alongside you, providing the tools and insights you need to help children and young people navigate their education and achieve their full potential.

We recognise the challenges facing educators today, and we are committed to supporting you in any way we can. The strategies and adjustments we’ll explore won’t just benefit students with SEND—they will create a more inclusive and effective learning environment for all.

Thank you for joining us on this journey. Together, we can make a real and lasting impact.

Richard Orchard-Rowe
CEO, SOS!SEN

• Learn from leading experts – Gain insights from top speakers, including Dean Beadle, Laura Kerbey, Karen Garner, and Gary Aubin.
• Practical strategies you can implement – Take away actionable solutions for your school or organisation.
• Engage in meaningful discussions – Participate in breakout sessions tackling real-world challenges.
• Hear real case studies – Understand the impact of educational decisions on children’s well-being.
• Network with key decision-makers – Build connections with education leaders, and SEND specialists.

Find out more about our speakers below.

This conference is designed for education professionals and policymakers who shape the learning environment, including:

• Headteachers & SENDCOs
• Academy Leads
• Local Authority Representatives & Heads of Children’s Services
• Decision Makers
• Local Councillors
• MPs & Department for Education Representatives

• Keynote Talks – Hear from experts with professional and personal experience in SEND education.
• Groupwork Sessions – Engage in discussions about overcoming key challenges in mainstream schools.
• Case Studies – See the real-life impact of educational policies and adjustments.
• Live Q&A – Ask direct questions and get expert advice.

What’s on the agenda? Find out more below.

We know that time and travel can be barriers, so we’re offering virtual attendance to ensure as many education professionals as possible can benefit from this essential event.

Experience the event live from wherever you are. Purchase a virtual ticket to receive a link that allows you to watch the event from the comfort of your home or office. As a virtual attendee, you’ll have the chance to participate in the speakers’ Q&A sessions by submitting your questions online through our streaming platform and watching as the speakers respond live.

Spaces are limited—don’t miss out on this opportunity to gain invaluable knowledge, connect with industry leaders, and be part of the conversation shaping the future of inclusive education.

Getting It Right For Autistic Young People

This humorous and thought-provoking keynote will look at common barriers to accessibility for autistic young people in education. Based on personal experience and current research, this session highlights what adjustments need to be made to make school a safe space for autistic learners.

Dean Beadle has spent over twenty years sharing his experiences of being autistic at conferences, inset days and community talks across the UK. He has also spoken at conferences and seminars across Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Dean is patron of three autism related charities.

Making Reasonable Adjustments for Learners with PDA that Benefit the Wider Learning Environment

In this presentation Laura will be giving an overview of the key characteristics of Pathological Demand Avoidance and the impact that PDA has on individuals.  She will also discuss the strategies and reasonable adjustments that can be implemented in learning environments which not only remove barriers to learning that PDAers experience, but that can also be beneficial to all learners.

Laura Kerbey has been working with autistic children and young people for over 22 years.

Laura started her teaching career as a lecturer in the Supported Learning Department of a large Mainstream College. She specialised in Autism in 2002 and has been an Assistant Head Teacher, then Head Teacher at an independent special school for autistic children.

Laura is the author of “The Educator’s Experience of PDA” and “The Teen’s Guide to PDA. She also has 3 books that will be published in 2025.

In March 2013 Laura founded Positive Autism Support and Training (PAST). PAST provided support to families who have autistic children and other associated conditions. In March of 2023 PAST became Positive Assessments Support and Training. In October 2018 Laura launched KITE Therapeutic Learning Services with a colleague.

As well as working closely with young people and families Laura works as an Educational Consultant working with schools, colleges and universities providing training and advice to ensure that the needs of autistic learners and PDA are fully met.

Laura is neurodivergent herself and received a diagnosis of ADHD in her forties. She also self identifies as autistic.

Think Like a Learner, Adapt Like an Educator: Building Inclusive 21st Century Classrooms

Karen Garner is a professional and experienced Specialist Occupational Therapist, Managing Director and Owner of The Sensory Smart Child Ltd, a multi-disciplinary children’s therapy centre in Surrey. She is passionate about supporting children and families to reach their goals, understand their strengths, needs and challenges and support development and progression.

In 2005 Karen set up The Sensory Smart Child Ltd, an independent children’s therapy centre, providing children all over the country with Specialist Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy Services.

The past 20 years have seen the growth and development of The Sensory Smart Child, to a team of 40, and the development of specialist therapy provisions including, SEN, EHCP tribunal support, MDT Feeding clinic, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Psychology, Psychotherapy and Family and Parental support services.

Over 9000 children have been supported since 2005, working with families, schools, local authorities and adoption support agencies to meet the growing needs of children and their families.

Karen has a wealth of knowledge and expertise to share.

High-quality teaching and SEND: what the evidence suggests

Within this session, Gary will share the evidence base around high-quality teaching for pupils with SEND, with careful consideration of what it means in classrooms, and with practical examples for teachers, TAs and leaders.

Gary Aubin leads on a SEND School Improvement programme with Whole Education, supporting schools and Trusts to drive a whole-school approach to supporting pupils with SEND. Gary sits on the Government’s Curriculum and Assessment Review panel.

Gary is the Education Endowment Foundation’s SEND Associate. In this role, he has worked extensively on sharing the evidence base behind high-quality teaching for SEND, as well as advised on the development of the SENCO NPQ.

As a Consultant, Gary has spoken internationally, advised the BBC, written content for the National Institute of Teaching and given talks to hundreds of Trust, Local Authority and school audiences.

Gary Aubin is the author of The Lone SENDCO, a handbook of 300 questions and answers for busy SENDCOs, and The Parent’s Guide to SEND. Gary led on SEND provision for a Multi Academy Trust of 10 primary and secondary schools for several years. He is a secondary teacher, former primary and secondary SENDCO and former secondary Head of Year. Gary also authors the SENDMattersUK blog.

09.30 –

Registration & Welcome drink

09.40 –

Virtual stream of conference starts

09.45 –

Welcome from Chief Executive of SOS!SEN, Richard Orchard-Rowe

10.00 –

Dean Beadle – Getting It Right For Autistic Young People

11.00 –

Groupwork – Inclusion

11.35 –

Refreshment break

11.45 –

Laura Kerbey – Making Reasonable Adjustments for Learners with PDA that Benefit the Wider Learning Environment 

12.45 –

Lunch

13.30 –

Karen Garner – Think Like a Learner, Adapt Like an Educator: Building Inclusive 21st Century Classrooms

14.30 –

Groupwork – Reflective

15.00 –

Networking/refreshment break

15.20 –

Gary Aubin – High-quality teaching and SEND: what the evidence suggests

16.20 –

Final thoughts with Eleanor Wright from SOS!SEN

16.45 –

Conference close

The conference will be held at X+Why, Fivefields, 8-10 Grosvenor Gardens, London, SW1W 0DH

Unfortunately, there is no car park at this venue.

Public Transport: Bus

There are a number of bus stops within a short distance from the venue.

• Grosvenor Gardens (Stop Q) – 2, 6, 13, 36, 38, 52, 148, 390
• Wilton Street (Stop S) – 2, 6, 13, 36, 38, 52, 390
• Victoria Station (Stop R) – 11, C1
• Victoria Station (Stop G) – 44, 170, C10

Public Transport: Trains

Victoria mainline and underground station is nearby.

• London Victoria Station (Wheelchair accessible entrance)
  4 mins walking distance.
• Underground: Victoria Underground Station via Victoria Line, District Line or Circle Line
• Train services: Gatwick Express, Southern, Thames Link and Southeastern