Welcome

from nasen Connect July/August 2023

by nasenCONNECT

Events Diary

By Annamarie Hassall MBE, Chief Executive, nasen

Published by

#40

Did you join us at nasen Live 2023? Our annual conference is always a great place for connecting and hearing from lively speakers. Our theme this year, ‘SEND and beyond’, opened many thought-provoking conversations about culture, gender, language, the relevance of community and identity, through a lens of intersectionality. Future editions of Connect magazine will feature articles from some of the speakers, providing stimulating content to continue those conversations.

This edition includes the second article in a two-part series, ‘Developing a culture of compassion for school staff’. You can catch up online if you missed part one, ‘The emotional impact of teaching’.

Digital related content includes articles on assistive technology and a further one on mental health and artificial intelligence (AI). Particularly topical is the article, ‘Supporting pupils with autism in schools’.

The DfE published the annual update of SEND data in England on 22 June, showing an increase in pupils diagnosed as autistic, an increase to 4.3 per cent for those with an EHC plan and up to 13 per cent for those at SEN Support. Make sure to look out for our September issue of Connect for a closer look at the figures.

As the end of term or a summer break approaches, on behalf of the nasen team I want to extend our thanks and appreciation for your professional interest in education, in SEND and developing inclusive practice in your school, college or setting.

Since nasen Connect magazine relocated to the front of the nasen website, you have been able to freely share a link with your colleagues, so please do distribute this widely across your networks.

elcome to the 40th edition of nasen Connect.On behalf of the nasen team I want to extend our thanks and appreciation for your professional interest in education.

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Regulars

8 JULY/AUGUST 2023 / ISSUE 40

7 44 / Reviews 45 / Ask the team 46 / Events diary

Features

14 / Northern Ireland update

Ken Perry, principal of Dundonald High School in Northern Ireland, offers a look at the school’s use of funding and how it can benefit the students and the wider community.

16 / Supporting pupils with autism

We hear from Eve Godwin, educator and parent, on strategies to support pupils with autism.

19 / Teaching emotional literacy

Johanna Aiyathurai, CEO of Learn and Thrive, outlines why emotional literacy plays such a vital role in supporting young people with learning difficulties.

23 / Compassionate support for teachers’ emotional work

In the second article in the series, Jon Reid examines the need for compassionate support for teachers to enable them to effectively manage the emotional aspects of their role.

27 / Mental health and marginalised communities

Nathan Rutter outlines some of the challenges facing children of colour with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs in mainstream education.

30 / Learning disability and the employment gap

Zoe Mather asks if our examination system is failing pupils with a learning disability and, if so, what can employers and colleges do?

34 / Can tech help teen mental health?

Emma Taylor, children’s clinical lead of Wysa, discusses the potential role that artificial intelligence (AI) could play in supporting youth mental health.

38 / Inclusivity in practice

Shelly Wood, founder of The Plane Tree Shop, discusses inclusivity in the workplace, and the ways it can have a meaningful impact on the whole community.