The SEN Jigsaw 2019: A Overview By John Hicks.
On Saturday June 8th Georgina Smith and I organised the 4th SEN Jigsaw 2019.
This article will give you a brief overview on what happened and give you an opportunity to be kept up to date on the latest news about 2020’s conference.
Who would have thought that when myself and Georgina Smith had the concept of the SEN Jigsaw Conference in 2016 it was going to reach it’s fourth year!
Don’t miss our announcement for the SEN Jigsaw Conference 2020.
When we first thought about organising the conference we wanted to have a Special Educational Needs focused event that informed delegates about the wide range of topics that are associated with SEN. We both believed that it is in knowing more about the whole range of needs and conditions, we as supporters will be better equipped to support the children in our care.
The format this year provided two plenary talks and a series of afternoon workshops which had been put together for educational professionals as well as parents of child with SEN. Surrounding all of these were an exhibition of SEN focused products and services as well as refreshments and an included hot lunch.
The main topics this year were Dyscalculia and Pathological Demand Avoidance covered in our morning plenary talks by Peter Jarrett and Ruth Fidler respectively.
Below are some comments that some of our delegates fed back regarding the plenary talks:
“Another enjoyable conference, thank you. There was a good balance between 'mingling time' and speakers. Both plenary speakers had interesting ideas that I can take back to my schools.”
“Particularly valuable was the talk on Pathological Demand Avoidance as understanding is not as diverse as Autism Spectrum Disorder.”
“Really informative day - dyscalculia talk was very very informative”
After our hot lunch (yummy lasagne) the conference moved into the workshop afternoon which covered topics such as assistive technology, synthetic phonics. auditory processing disorder, autism, speech and language therapy and dyspraxia. This gave the delegates a chance to steer themselves to workshops that related more to their individual circumstances.
Delegates enjoying one of the afternoon workshops at the SEN Jigsaw Conference 2019.
Our delegates said the following about the workshops:
“Useful hearing workshops but shame they clashed as would have liked to do them all. But it is hard to do this to suit everyone. Thank you.”
“A range of different SEN issues which has been interesting. Applicable to my professional career and as a mum of a dyslexic child. Thank you.”
“Auditory Processing was another excellent workshop.”
“Libby (Levels of Questioning) workshop was great and a real eye opener. Thank you”
During the the conference had a range of exhibition stands available from companies that provide products and services related to SEN.
Many of our professional delegates liked being able to purchase useful learning resources that could help the children that they supported.
Matt Gower from St David’s College leading the panel discussion at the SEN Jigsaw Conference.
The SEN Jigsaw Conference finished off the day with a panel discussion lead by Matt Gower from St David’s College giving all the delegates a chance to ask any questions that perhaps came to them throughout the day. We found that this was quite a popular activity for our delegates.
As one of the organisers it never fails to surprise me as to how hungry teachers and parents are for information that will help them to support a child with special educational needs. Whilst each individual child is different and has a range of needs that are diverse, sharing information at the SEN Jigsaw Conference seems to be a vital experience.
We know that our talks and workshops feed the latest information and resources informs good practice in schools across the UK.
Some of our delegates said the following about the conference in general:
“Another enjoyable conference, thank you. There was a good balance between 'mingling time' and speakers. Both plenary speakers had interesting ideas that I can take back to my schools.”
“Extremely enjoyable day worth travelling so far from Northumberland.”
“Networking has been good and getting info on the different neurodiversities.”
“An excellent affordable day. I will be taking what I have learnt back into my practice having learnt something new.”
On behalf of Georgina Smith and myself, we would like to thank SprintPlus and St David’s College for their support as sponsors of the SEN Jigsaw Conference and also a special thank you to Libby Hill who ran an extra workshop on Autism at the last minute as one of our workshop leaders was not able to make the day due to injury .
Want to be kept up to date on next year’s SEN Jigsaw Conference?
Click here to be one of the first to know when the SEN Jigsaw Conference 2020 is taking place as well as being informed as to when the discounted ‘Early Bird’ tickets are going to be available.