Special Needs, Inclusion seminars Saturday

Saturday
11:45
Using ICT to Inspire!

Tim Rylands, Chew Magna School

Back by popular demand, after 'sell-out' sessions last year, Tim Rylands will give you the opportunity to explore accessible ways of inspiring creativity in music, writing, speaking and listening with children of all abilities. Tim has been described as an extremely gifted and inspirational teacher, with a love of the creative potential of technology. He believes that ICT is about communication rather than technology...and that it should be FUN!!!!

What creative and inspirational practice would you hope to see delivered by attendance at this session? Post your own thoughts and join the BETT community debate on the professional development opportunities available at BETT.

Special Needs, Inclusion seminars Friday

Friday

10:45
Helping Children with Autism Recognise Emotions - The Transporters

Professor Simon Baron-Cohen and Claire Harcup, NASEN/DCMS

The Transporters is a ground-breaking animation series featuring a lovable cast of vehicles with real human faces designed to help children with autism recognise emotions. Episodes centre around a key emotion to help children recognise and understand emotions in context. The session shares findings from the project evaluation and describes how carers can get the best out of this free resource.

12:00
Introducing Children with Learning Difficulties to the Computer

Bob Black, Downs Syndrome Association

Developing the link between reading and spoken language skills, Bob will explore software that can assist with this. He will discuss the types of programme available and demonstrate tried and tested programmes used in homes and schools including new resources.

12:30
ICT Excellence in Action Day for Leaders session

Isobel Mair School, East Renfrewshire, Scotland & Horndean Infant School, Hampshire

Isobel Mair School, East Renfrewshire, Scotland (ICT Excellence Awards Inclusion Primary winner) Described as an “excellent” school, Isobel Mair believe that ICT enables their pupils to achieve things which would ordinarily be beyond their capabilities. Technology has been crucial in supporting the school community and provides an opportunity for everyone to share their expertise both in and beyond the school.

Horndean Infant School, Hampshire (ICT Excellence Awards Curriculum Primary Joint winner) A wide range of ICT equipment is used across Horndean to support every aspect of the curriculum. The school has undertaken a journey to transform learning, and ICT is seen as a natural part of the toolkit used to develop knowledge, skills and capabilities. The staff have a clear vision of how ICT supports their work and a strong commitment to innovation and professional development.

13:15
Even Difficult to Teach Children Matter

John Galloway, Tower Hamlets LEA

Making every child matter can be difficult when their behavioural and emotional difficulties mean they find a school a difficult place to be. This session will look at the ways in which ICT can support changes in information sharing and approaches to learning that can help to change this.

What examples of good practice would you hope to take away with you by attendance at any of these sessions? Could more be done to support the Inclusion agenda at BETT? Post your views and help shape future BETT seminar programmes.

Special Needs, Inclusion seminars Thursday

Thursday
10:45
Learning to Read with ICT

Duncan Milne, PATOSS

Use the power of ICT to develop better readers in your class! Discover how to teach synthetic phonics effectively with ICT. Examine concepts including: understanding reading acquisition, utilising ICT and multi-sensory learning, recognising and overcoming reading problems and developing a successful reading programme.

12:00
Making the Best Use of ICT to Support Dyslexic Learners

Victoria Crivelli, BDA

Ways in which ICT can help overcome barriers to learning, including: Making the best use of existing technology, How ICT can help create Dyslexia friendly environments, Guidance on selecting programs and tools to support planning, organisation and recording of information, access to the curriculum and literacy skills.

13:15
Making Learning Special

Pete Wells, Sunderland City Learning Centre

Join Pete Wells, winner of Becta's ICT Practitioner of the Year for Inclusion, for a fun filled seminar! Pete will show how you can use ICT in a variety of ways to engage all learners. Experience a disgusting sensory story, a range of sensory based lesson ideas and watch some fantastic Chromakey films! Come along and prepare to be gunged!

14:30
Is It Accessible? Choosing and Using Software Titles

Adrian Higginbotham, Becta & David Colven Ace Advisory Trust

In these enlightened days of the DDA and SENDA all software should be accessible to everyone shouldn't it? But what to we mean by Accessible, how do we know when we've found it and what happens when we can't find it. A Becta lead discussion on what Teachers and suppliers can expect of each other to support personalisation when using ICT.

In terms of your own continuing professional development, what would you hope to gain by attendance at any of the above sessions? Could more be done to support the Inclusion agenda at BETT? Post your views and help shape future BETT seminar programmes.

Special Needs, Inclusion seminars Wednesday

Wednesday
10:45
Technology in Transition

E A Draffan, BDA

Introducing ways of helping students with dyslexia to make the most of the assistive technologies available to enhance coping strategies throughout their educational career. Examples will be provided to show how to use specialist software alongside general technologies found in schools, colleges and universities - some free, some expensive!

12:00
Personalised Learning for All

Carol Allen, NASEN

Personalised learning has been a key feature of effective working practice for students who experience barriers to learning for many years. This session will look at how the same principles can be extended to support staff and voluntary helpers to provide an inclusive learning environment for all by using ICT and technology. Practical examples and ideas will be demonstrated.

13:15
The Right to Read: Reasonable Adjustments for Reading Impaired Students

Ian Litterick, BDA

What does the law say? How can you help your visually and other reading impaired students, including those with dyslexia to access the written curriculum under SENDA? Present reality and future vision for services, techniques and technology for providing reading materials in accessible alternative formats throughout education.

14:30
Special Schools - Becta's Self-Review Framework and the ICT Mark

Chris Stevens and Sally McKeown, Becta

Chris and Sally will outline the ways in which special schools should approach using the Self-review framework to reflect their good practice and how they will achieve recognition through the ICT mark for work they do with pupils who have the most complex needs.

What ideas or practice would you hope to adapt and incorporate into your own classroom practice from attendance at any of these sessions? Are there enough SEN/Inclusion sessions in the BETT seminar programme? Post your thoughts and help shape the discussions about the future of the BETT seminar programme.