nasen LIVE 2024 - Speakers

Amelie is Assistant Director of Education - SEND and Specialist Provision at Greenshaw Learning Trust. Amelie has also worked as a SENCO and Deputy Headteacher with a focus on SEND/Inclusion. Prior to moving into Senior Leadership positions, Amelie worked as an Advanced Skills Teacher based in classrooms. Her practice has always been focused on the impact of Quality First Teaching in the classroom to support access to a broad, balanced, and meaningful curriculum for all learners. She is passionate about CPD with a particular focus on building opportunities to develop reflective practice. She was a Lead Author on Teacher Handbook: SEND.

Toni is the Digital Teaching and Learning lead at The Stour Academy Trust. As a teacher, Toni spent most of her teaching career driving the use of technology to enhance teaching and learning. She is passionate about inclusion, accessibility and equitable learning opportunities for all children in the classroom and throughout education. Looking at ways technology can enhance this, to achieve best outcomes for educators and students. Toni is a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert, Microsoft Master training and ambassador for many technology communities, including Book Creator and happy to share ideas and ideas for Teaching and Learning on her X @ToniHammy

Clare is Head of Southampton Inclusion Partnership and Outreach Service, based at Springwell Special School in Southampton. She holds an MSc in Specific Learning Difficulties from the University of Southampton and an MA Ed in Special Needs and Inclusion from the University of Winchester. Clare is also Director of SEND for the HISP Learning Partnership and provides coaching, training and strategic support for SEND improvement across a range of schools within and beyond Southampton.

Emma graduated from Cambridge University in 1998 and has been a teacher in mainstream primary schools, in Alternative Provision with both Primary and Secondary. After setting up the first Key Stage 3 Nurture Class in Cornwall she became Lead SENDCo across the Multi Academy Trust, ensuring that children and young people have opportunities to engage and make the best progress possible in their learning and emotional/social development. During her career she has developed her passion to develop the creative/outdoors opportunities alongside the academic curriculum, instilling a love of learning, curiosity, and positivity.

Emma is now Headteacher of Sky Primary and Eden Project Nursery, part of Kernow Learning Trust, a newly opened school with a nurture inspired, sustainability, climate wise connection with learning beyond the classroom curriculum. The school is currently based at the Eden Project, and the new school building will be in the heart of West Carclaze Garden Village, an eco development, and is a carbon net zero school.

Kerry Kernan is the Head of Children, Young People and Families at Guide Dogs UK. She has been a part of the charity for nearly four years, having come from an education background and is responsible for our central UK wide offer of  Children & Young People’s Services.  This comprises the Family Support, Education, Family Events, Buddy Dogs and Technology Teams. It also includes our CustomEyes Books service.

These teams provide specialist advice and support to young people, families and professionals that helps them to live the lives they choose.
Kerry believes that for children with sight loss and their parents and families, early intervention from Guide Dogs is life changing.  Offering advice from the point of diagnosis, we can help children with sight loss and their families understand what support is available to them. We can facilitate this from offering advice on how to get the best from education, experiencing the joy of a Buddy Dog companion through to encouraging participation at our range of Family Events.

Kim is an occupational therapist with over 20 years’ experience supporting children, young people, their families, and teachers.  She is passionate about ensuring children and young people can participate successfully in the activities that are important to them.  Her interest areas are self-regulation, play, sensory processing and autism.  Kim’s website GriffinOT.com provides online training and programmes for those who want to learn more about sensory processing, motor skills and handwriting.  She also offers online sensory assessments for children and adults.  Kim is the author of Success with Sensory Supports (JKP) and 100 ideas for Sensory Processing (Bloomsbury).

Matt McArthur is Assistant Headteacher at Frank Wise School in Banbury, a special school for children and young adults aged between 2 and 19. Matt currently teaches in both primary and secondary classes, and is the subject-leader for Numeracy. He was Director of Teaching School at the school for five years, and continues to support the Oxfordshire Teaching School Hub with SEND-specific strands of Continuing Professional Development, School-to-School support and Initial Teacher Training. Matt is seconded to Whole School SEND as the Deputy Regional SEND Lead for the South Central and North West London region, supporting in the delivery of the Department for Education’s Universal SEND Services contract. Matt enjoys cooking, keeping fit and reading, and is a committed life-long learner. He has a Masters degree in Educational Leadership, and has recently finished his NPQH.

Natalie is an Independent Education Consultant, specialising in SEND and school improvement.  She develops and delivers a wide range of training and support, including SEND reviews, to schools and multi-academy trusts. She works closely with several trusts to support their strategic development of SEND and is a trustee of Learn-AT in Leicestershire. She is an associate for national organisations nasen, Whole Education, Forum Strategy and Leadership Matters. Natalie regularly writes online articles for Optimus and The Key for School Leaders and is the author of The Perfect SENCO, and The Teacher’s Guide to SEN. 

Roisin McEvoy is the Head of Schools Training and National Programmes at Anna Freud. She leads the team of education and clinical experts who deliver professional learning and national programmes around whole-school approaches to mental health and wellbeing. She is a former teacher and school leader in London secondary schools.

Stella is a School Improvement Partner for The Stour Academy Trust. She leads on SEND and Inclusion and has a doctorate in this area.  
Stella actively promotes inclusive practice based on providing equitable opportunities for all through developing learning spaces in which all children feel a sense of belonging, improved accessibility and personalised learning approaches. Her experience in education includes working in pre-school settings and primary schools. Her current schools have specialist resource provisions for pupils with a primary need of Autism.

Stella is happy to share insights into SEND education and inclusive practice and welcomes visitors to The Stour Academy Trust Microsoft Show Case schools.

Tina Harvey has been the Headteacher at Perseid School in Merton for more than 25 years and is the joint lead of the Merton Special Training Association, a provider of specialist training and outreach. Tina has been a teacher for more than 30 years and, for three years until Summer 2018, was also the Executive Head of a local primary school. Tina holds a M.Ed in Childhood Autism from Birmingham University and has a particular interest in leadership at all levels, coaching teachers throughout their leadership journey and the teaching of PSHE.

Vincenza De Falco (Vinny) is a distinguished autism and learning disabilities specialist, fuelled by a passion for systemic change. As an influential leader and dedicated changemaker, she has amassed a wealth of experience across the third sector and various educational settings. Her areas of expertise include learning disabilities, autism, behavioural needs, supported employment, internships, and fostering employer engagement.

Currently, Vinny is a key member of the senior leadership team at ThinkForward UK, an organisation dedicated to providing comprehensive, long-term, holistic coaching to prepare young people for the workforce. She leads their supported employment initiatives, including the innovative 'Making Strides' programme.