Regional Annual SEND Conference -SEND Forward: Evidence, Insight and Action

Please join us for this years Regional Annual SEND Conference. The day is aimed at all educational professionals who work with children and young people in any area of SEND.

Our speakers for the day are:

Dr Lauren Powell, Senior Lecturer in Psychology and Education, University of Sheffield - “From Deficit To Difference: Embracing Neurodiversity In Mainstream Education”

Lauren is a researcher whose work centres neurodivergent lived experience through participatory, co-produced methodologies. She co-created two nationally adopted UK psychoeducational resources — The ADHD Hero Activity Book and Learning About Autism — developed with neurodivergent children and young people and now used across NHS services, schools, and local authorities.

Her research increasingly informs national policy. Lauren is a co-author of several Child of the North parliamentary reports on autism assessment, SEND/alternative provision, and early years inequalities, and contributed to national reviews of health inequities and the Autism Act 2009.

A late-diagnosed autistic and ADHD academic, she delivers neuroinclusive training for universities, schools, and local authorities and supervises doctoral research on neurodivergence.

Lauren will explore how mainstream schools can embrace neurodiversity by moving away from deficit-based approaches towards inclusive, strengths-focused practice. Drawing on research, lived experience, and co-produced psychoeducation resources, her talk will examine the neurodiversity paradigm, the importance of affirming language, and practical strategies to support neurodivergent learners. Attendees will leave with concrete ideas to create more inclusive environments where neurodivergent children can thrive. For more information about Lauren, click here.

Karima Esmail, Co-Founder, Dynamo Maths and Puffin Maths – “Unlocking potential with maths difficulties: from screening to targeted support”.

Karima is an international speaker, author and advocate for children and adults with special educational needs and disabilities. Co-creator of numerous dyscalculia screeners and interventions she has dedicated her career to ensuring no learner at risk of dyscalculia goes unnoticed. A Chartered Engineer and former Senior Lecturer, Karima works globally with schools, charities, governments and NGOs to champion inclusive practice. Karima is passionate about sharing knowledge, sparking collaboration, and celebrating every learner’s potential. For more information about Karima,

Gary Aubin, Whole Education SEND Consultant, EEF SEND Associate, Curriculum and Assessment Review panel member, author

Gary is a leading SEND specialist and the author of The Lone SENDCO: A Handbook for Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators. As SEND Associate at the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), he supports schools to embed evidence-informed practice, and he also leads SEND provision across a large Multi-Academy Trust. A former secondary teacher, SENDCO and Head of Year, Gary writes the SENDMatters blog and provides training, consultancy, and national guidance on effective SEND practice. For more information about Gary,

Elizabeth (Libby) Colbert, ESRC-funded PhD Student, School of Education, The University of Sheffield

Libby is a doctoral researcher whose work focuses on improving school staff knowledge and understanding of paediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This has led to the co-creation of a practical psychoeducational comic with children and young people with OCD, families, and education/clinical professionals - reflecting the belief that lived experience is essential to making school guidance accurate, meaningful, and usable in real classrooms.

Libby’s broader interests and research publications include paediatric mental health, mental health literacy and stigma, and participatory research methods. She has professional experience supporting children, young people, and families across community and education settings (including Family Time services, work with the YWCA, and SEND support roles).

Drawing on her own lived experience of OCD from an early age, Libby also has experience volunteering with OCD Action, facilitating support groups for young people with OCD and parents/carers. For more information about Libby and the project, see her University profile and project page here.

OCD can be invisible, misunderstood, and incredibly isolating for young people, often leaving pupils struggling with distressing intrusive thoughts and compulsions that significantly impact their school day and wider wellbeing. This talk will present Libby Colbert’s PhD research on the co-creation of a psychoeducational comic. The comic was created with the aim of building on school-staff knowledge and confidence in recognising and responding supportively to children and young people with OCD. Libby will outline why co-creation was used, the key messages embedded in the comic (such as how OCD may present and its potential impacts), and how children and young people wanted their OCD to be represented. The session hopes to offer practical, school-ready takeaways for understanding OCD and supporting pupils effectively.

Note: We are committed to ensuring that the conference is accessible and comfortable for all attendees. Please let us know if you have any access requirements or need any adjustments that would support you during the event. Conference Access Requirements and Additional Needs Request – Fill in form

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