The Future of Sen Conference

Press Release – For immediate release (6th May 2014)

THE FUTURE OF SEN CONFERENCE

London Leadership Strategy brings leading SEN experts, organisations and professionals together to debate the impact of new reforms on classroom practice

Edward Timpson MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families, is providing the keynote speech at the London Leadership Strategy The Future of SEN Conference 2014,run in partnership with Scope and the National Autistic Society (NAS) on the 10th June at The Crystal Venue on Royal Victoria Docks, London.

London Leadership Strategy (LLS), a not-for-profit organisation run by experienced Headteachers to empower schools to take forward school-to-school improvement in London and beyond, has timed the conference to support schools as the Children and Families Act changes the law to create a new system to help children with special educational needs and disabilities.

Designed to help primary and secondary school leaders, special schools and SEN specialists, other speakers at the conference include Charlie Henry HMI, National Lead for Disability and Special Educational Needs, Jean Gross, leading SEN expert and formerly the government’s Communication Champion, Malcolm Reeve, Chair of the Federation of Leaders in Special Education, Jane McConnell, Chief Executive of IPSEA, Philippa Stobbs, Assistant Director of the Council for Disabled Children (CDC) and Sharon Gray, Pride of Britain Teacher of the Year 2013.

Conference workshops are being delivered by outstanding schools and organisations including the Council for Disabled Children and Scope exploring the impact on classroom practice empowering attendees to take away action plans and practical ideas that can be easily implemented.

Topics include putting the new code into practice, assessing the progress of children with SEN, Preparing for OFSTED, legal implications of the code and how teaching assistants can use technology to improve outcomes for children with SEN.

David Bartram, LLS SEN Director who has led a team of outstanding schools around SEN in the UK and internationally, says: “The Children and Families Act is widely recognised as the most significant legislative reform to special education provision in the last 30 years. The impact on schools and school leaders is vast as they face an array of changes around SEN provision.

“LLS believe in sharing the knowledge of good SEN practice across the wider education system. The Act alone will not improve outcomes for children for SEN; it will be the drive, moral purpose and high expectations of school leaders that will make the biggest difference.

“This conference has been designed by Heads, for Heads and other school leaders, to help them learn from leading SEN voices and gain practical advice and support. We are concerned that there is a growing gap between the needs and voices of parents, children, young people and schools and between SEN policy and wider education policy. The Future of SEN Conference will create a shared focus on what works to immediately improve outcomes for children and young people and ultimately bridge these false divides.”

The conference will feature contributions from Headteachers and Teachers at outstanding schools including Lampton School, Lilian Bayliss Technology School and Swiss Cottage School amongst others.

The conference will provide the ideal environment for delegates to network with other SEN providers, share best practice and practical solutions, alongside creating an action plan for schools to help them implement policy changes.

For more information on the Future of SEN and to view the agenda, visit

Further Information

For Further information please contact Laura Smith: / 07766 651366 or Charlotte Hussey: / 07881 365140

Notes to editors

About The Future of SEN Conference 2014

The conference will take place on the 10th June 2014 at The Crystal, One Siemens Brothers Way, Royal Victoria Docks, London, E16 1G from 10am-4pm.
The conference has been organised by the London Leadership Strategy in partnership with Scope and the National Autistic Society.
A number of schools and organisations have contributed to the event including Swiss Cottage Special School, Woodfield School, Lampton School, Lilian Bayliss Technology School, Netherfield Primary School, Southfields Academy and Hayes School.
The Crystal is a world-class centre for dialogue, discovery and learning about future issues. It is an unusual and fitting venue in which to hear from an array of inspirational speakers about the future of SEN provision.
The London Leadership Strategy recently released the 10 characteristics of SEN provision, available from
Follow David Bartram on Twitter
David has supported over 100 schools and worked closely with schools and third sector partners.

About London Leadership Strategy

It is now 11 years since the London Challenge was launched by Professor Tim Brighouse and subsequently led by Professor David Woods.
In 2002 London was the lowest performing region in the country and it is now the highest performing. This is an unprecedented achievement and is a testimony of London teachers and school leaders who have worked hard to raise standards.
The London Leadership Strategy is the not for profit successor organisation, led by London Headteachers, which is keeping alive the spirit and mission of London Challenge.
Run by Heads and School Leaders, LLS have an extensive network of school improvement reaching across all London Boroughs as well as offering support in specific projects and partnerships across England.
London Leadership Strategy offer programmes at primary, secondary and within SEN and their network includes all school sectors – maintained and non-maintained, members of multi academy trusts (MATs), independent schools, free schools and Non Maintained Special Schools (NMSS).
LLS’s programmes support schools at every point of their development journey – from needing improvement through to maintaining outstanding provision and supports leadership from entry to the profession through to outstanding heads supporting each other.
London Leadership Strategy have a lead school in each London Borough; a network of National Leaders of Education (NLE), Local Leaders of Education (LLEs), Specialist Leaders of Education (SLEs) and outstanding heads and teachers and teaching school partnerships.
For further information, visit
Follow LLS on Twitter