After the sell-out success of last year, Island educators welcomed back the Neurodiversity conference, hosted by Islander and dyslexic expert Jo Rees.
It is estimated that 15-20% of the population are neurodivergent and the conference covering subjects such as ADHD, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia and SEND in schools.
With 37 provisions in attendance at the Lakeside Hotel, the event saw people travel far and wide to hear expert key note speakers share their advice, strategies and resources to help aid students and people living with learning differences. Parents, sencos, council teams, teachers and teaching assistants all came along to increase their knowledge and gain expertise in the area.
Dyslexia Expert Jo was joined by Dysgraphia specialist Dr Helen Ross, Fin O’Regan – one of the leading Behaviour and Learning specialists in the UK was there discussing ADHD in the classroom, Cat Eadle Co-Founder of the Dyscalculia Network gave a practical workshop on maths skills and author and SEND professional Georgina Durrant joined virtually to discuss SEND in schools.
Exhibitors at the conference included AT Superstore and Frewen College, who contributed to the Expert Panel. Feedback from the event was incredibly positive with island educators sharing their thanks and already expressing further interest for future events.
Social Media content creator and dyslexia assessor Jo explained why the event was so important for the Island:
“So many neurodivergent pupils don’t get identified at school, and better identification and support for neurodivergent pupils in school is something I am passionate about improving.
Article continues below this advertisement “Once again, we had representation from so many Island provisions keen to expand their knowledge of neurodivergence. The enthusiasm and a willingness to learn from the delegates was wonderful.
“Facilitating an opportunity for Island educators to access and hear leading UK trainers in SEND and neurodiversity share their expertise and collaborate with each other is something I feel proud to have created.”
Delegate Maggie Sanderson Executive head of St Boniface foundation said:
“The Conference was a great success for the team. Staff have come away inspired to explore how we can continue to develop the support for the children in our schools. The Conference was practical and inspiring!”
To find out more about Jo and her work with dyslexia visit www.dyslexiclifewithjorees.com
‘Sell out success’ ‘practical workshopping,’ and a figure apparently plucked out of the air that 15 to 20 percent of us may be ‘neuro divergent’? This is very worrying. I thought we were all supposed to be a bit different,with some children cleverer, more thoughtful and more willing to learn than others. ‘Dysgraphia’ and ‘Dyscaculia’? Hmmm. Are we looking too hard for justification for what we used to call inattention, thoughtlessness and simple bad behaviour? Sounds a bit of an earnest jolly to me, and a grave danger that this sort of however well intended obsessive diagnosing will make the actual teaching and learning process almost impossible. This sort of thing feeds on itself as we have seen with puberty blocking madness. Also, just a thought but is it a coincidence that most of the delegates and attendees pictured appeared to be female and clinically obese? Just an observation…