Welcome to January’s MembershipFocus

TostartJanuary’s Membership Focus, we would like to warmly welcome you all back following the recent festivities. On behalf of the nasen team, we wish you all aHappy New Year,and we look forward to an exciting year ahead.

If youhaven’tyet purchased your ticket, there’sstill time to join us at nasen LIVE, which proudly returns to the Vox Conference Centre, Birmingham, on July 7 2023 with the theme ‘SEND &Beyond.’ There is still time to take advantage of our unmissable early release offer,with tickets at just £79.00; asaving of £20.00 on the standard ticket price. But be quick, this offer won’tbeavailable for long!

Our one-day SEND CPD event promises to showcase adiverse range of seminars from some of the leading specialists within the sector.Join us for an unmissable SEND event where you can network with like-minded professionals and access afull SEND exhibition from award-winning suppliers.

We will be inviting members to take partinour annual membership survey, so if you haven’talready received an email, do look out for one. As partof the survey,there will be an opportunity to feed into aresearchpaper that we are compiling, entitled ‘Status of SEND’.

The membership survey is akey opportunity for you to let us know how your nasen membership is working for you, and for you to have your say about what else you might want nasen to offer Tell us what you think to be in with achance of winning some great prizes.

If youhaveany queriesregarding yourmembership, please do not hesitateto reach outtousat membership@nasen.org.uk

We look forwarding to supporting you throughout 2023 and beyond.

Kind Regards, The Membership Team www.nasen.org.uk

Ihave been undertaking the nasen Recognised Teacher of SEND course over the last eight months and recently attended the live session to talk about the professional artefact to be produced. Ifeltveryprivileged to have the chance to engage with others, have some constructive feedback on my plans and hear what others are working on. Once this project is complete, is there away to showcase the projects and other opportunities to come together and talk?

SENCO, Bradford

Editor: Thank you forthe feedback.Itisgreat to hear that thelivesessions areproviding an opportunitytoengagewithothers and create acommunityofpractice. We areworking on thebestway to showcase the projectsand to supportmembership engagement overthe next year.Keep checking the website for updates.

As an Englishteacherina specialistsetting, Iwas really pleased to read thepiece on film and the Into Film charity in the September editionof nasen Connect.Wehave used their screeningsinlocal cinemasaspartof the enjoyment of engaging with mediaand as partofpupils’social and life skills.For our young people,getting outinthe community can be ahugechallenge, so it was great to seethatthey are providing autism-friendly sessions. These allow our pupils and staff to relax and feel that others in thecinema are aware, shouldany issuesarise, that the young personisgenerallyoverwhelmed, and their behaviourisasa result of this. We have bookedanumber of different films forthis year’s festivaland want to saythank you to the teamatInto Film andkeep up thegood work!

English Teacher,Woodford

Followingthe bookreview in theNovember issue IboughtParklands –‘ASchoolBuilt on Love’ to read over theChristmas break.I felt the reviewdid notfullydoitjustice. Ilaughed, cried andhighlighted my waythrough thebook. Inow followthe author, Chris Dyson, onTwitter andaminspiredbyall that he is providing for his children and thelocal community. In these uncertaineconomic times, Iamtaking hislead and will be engaging more withlocal businesses

Editor: Thanksfor the feedback.Wehope our articlesare part inspiration,part affirmationand wholly interesting.Itis lovely to hearfromthose whohavegone beyond reading the articletoactually taking action; it is good that there are relaxed performances.However it would be great, as partofaninclusive society, if peopleunderstoodthe needsofothers andwereabletoappreciatedifference. This is partofwhatweare working to achieve, i.e. atruly inclusivesociety

Thanks for feedback We hop andthe community to seewhat we can do to make ourschool more of ahub for all.

Headteacher,Gravesend

Editor: We aim to review adiverse set of books for people to take inspiration from and you can always get involved. If you areinterested in becoming abook reviewer for nasen Connect,then please get in touch via email at education@nasen.org.uk.