Seminars and Workshops
Morning seminars and workshops
1A
Public living rooms: Camerados
The Association of Camerados supports the Camerados movement to create public living rooms, where folk get together and get each other through times. Public living rooms are created by communities for communities and are in; Schools, FE colleges, Universities, libraries, community centres, parks, cafes, hospitals, GP surgeries and online.
2A
Trauma-informed practice in mainstream secondary schools: School staff perceptions towards a framework for practice.
Aisha Hackett-Evans
In this seminar, Aisha will share the findings of a thesis research project which explored secondary school staff’s understanding and perceptions of trauma-informed practice, and the barriers to adopting the approach at a whole school level. The outcomes of Aisha’s research included the development of an organisational framework for implementing trauma-informed practice in school settings. In the seminar, Aisha will discuss key research around complex trauma, share the outcomes of the study and offer opportunity to reflect upon and discuss trauma-informed practice in your role. Whilst Aisha’s research was focused on secondary school staff experiences, this seminar will be relevant for school staff working across all age groups and other professionals working in the education sector.
Aisha Hackett-Evans is a third year Trainee Educational Psychologist at the University of Nottingham, on placement with East Riding of Yorkshire Council. Aisha currently lives in York, but grew up in Manchester and is looking forward to returning to the city for the conference. Professionally, Aisha’s areas of interest include supporting young people with SEMH needs, and also vulnerable children.
3A
Sandwell Wellbeing Charter Mark: Lessons in teacher wellbeing
Dr Paula Muir and Rebecca Moynihan
Rebecca and Paula have been delivering the Wellbeing Charter Mark to schools for just over two years. In this seminar, they will introduce the psychology and theory behind the Charter Mark, share the positive impact it has had in schools so far, and discuss teacher wellbeing and start to explore strategies to support this.
Dr Paula Muir is a Senior Educational Psychologist working with Catalyst Psychology. Her specialist interests are in the areas of mental health and wellbeing, trauma informed practice and healthy relationships. Paula has been supporting schools holistically though the Wellbeing Charter Mark for over two years now. Rebecca Moynihan is an Assistant Psychologist with Catalyst Psychology. As part of her role, she works with Paula Muir to lead schools through the Wellbeing Charter Mark process. In September, Rebecca will be starting her first year as a Trainee Educational Psychologist at the University of Manchester.
4A
Are our schools safe spaces for all children?
Allia Fredricks & Saara Quested: Maslaha
We will look critically at how current safeguarding cultures, structures and practices in English schools often actively cause harm to the most marginalised young people and their families. Through our Radical Safeguarding Workbook, we will suggest some models for understanding child safety and a range of practical approaches that we hope can support practitioners in fostering alternative safeguarding practices.
Allia is the Senior Project Manager at Muslim Girls Fence. A collaboration between Maslaha and British fencing which aims to facilitate spaces in secondary schools and grassroots community spaces across the country for Muslim girls and women to challenge assumptions and narratives relating to their gender, racial, religious and other identities through both physical and creative methods. Allia has a background in grassroots community and youth work, working with young women and girls, refugee and migrant young people and LGBTQ+ young people.
Saara is the Senior Project Manager for the Schools With Roots Programme at Maslaha, which supports primary schools to develop sustainable and anti-racist practice around engaging with their local communities and families. Saara has over 10 years' experience in the education sector, from classroom delivery to managing education programmes. All her work has had a focus on social justice and supporting marginalised communities.
5A
The Village in Motion - connecting through movement
Nicola Forshaw
This practical session will offer an experiential insight into Nicola’s work that focuses on building meaningful connections through dance. The workshop will guide you through some of the games and sensory movement tasks that build embodied understanding of one another and support relationships where movement is the key form of communication. This workshop will involve moving with props and materials, music, play and enjoyment of sharing physical time and space.
Nicola trained at Northern Ballet School and performed in dance theatre companies in Europe early in her career. She then taught in Dance Conservatoire settings focusing on professional dance training involving research into safe practices and the psychological and physical wellbeing of young dancers. Whilst studying for an MA in Applied Theatre at York St John University her focus shifted towards dance in the community with social justice and wellbeing at the core of her practice. As a postgraduate Nicola set up the award winning Converge Dance courses held within the university for people with lived experience of mental health. Currently a Senior Lecturer in Dance at York St John University, Nicola has led dance based participatory research projects with teachers and children in SEN schools, fathers and their children at HMP Wealston and older adults living in the community. The outcomes of these projects have demonstrated that dance is a catalyst for wellbeing and building meaningful relationships.
Afternoon seminars and workshops
1B
Public living rooms: Camerados
The Association of Camerados supports the Camerados movement to create public living rooms, where folk get together and get each other through times. Public living rooms are created by communities for communities and are in; Schools, FE colleges, Universities, libraries, community centres, parks, cafes, hospitals, GP surgeries and online.
2B
A Qualitative Exploration of Young People's (YP) Experiences of the Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) Curriculum.
Sophie Cave
The research explores young people's experiences of the RSE curriculum. Participants shared feelings of dissatisfaction around RSE, particularly regarding how sexual consent has been taught. The study empowers the voice of YP and highlights recommendations for school staff, EPs and policy makers regarding curriculum content and delivery.
Sophie Cave is a third year TEP from the University of Nottingham. Before starting the course Sophie worked in an all-boys SEMH provision and as a researcher at the University of York.
3B
The Impact of Childhood Adversity and Trauma on the Whole Family
Dave Nuttall
The workshop will look at how the adversity the children can experience as well as trauma that can impact the whole family. We will address the importance of validating people's traumatic experiences, how they can impair people's stress response and consider how we can support families through trauma.
Dave Nuttall is the CEO and Trauma Lead at Thrive Manchester, a health CIO based in Wythenshawe. He has been exploring the impact of Childhood Adversity and Trauma for several years, training and teaching people across the city about Adversity and Trauma as well as delivering the "Understanding Your Trauma, Building Resilience" workshops that he wrote in 2020
4B
Language Difference vs Language Disorder: Identification and Support
Rachael Tuckley
It can sometimes be challenging to differentiate children who have a language difference related to acquiring English as an additional language, vs those who may be showing signs of a Language Disorder. This session is a whistle-stop guide by two experienced Speech and Language Therapists, outlining how to spot the difference, what to do to help and key messages to share with families.
Rachael is a Specialist Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist who is passionate about working with bilingual children who have Speech, Language and Communication Needs and their families. She has worked in Manchester, the North West and overseas in a range of settings, including clinics, nurseries, primary schools, community centres and family homes. Setting up an independent practice Sound Talk SLT in 2015, Rachael currently provides speech and language therapy services to primary schools.
Isabelle is a Specialist Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist with 17 years of experience working in Manchester clinics, schools, nurseries and family homes. Isabelle’s particular interests are supporting children with Developmental Language Disorder in the school setting, and working with children with Speech Sound Disorders. Her professional experience includes a secondment to the Cleft Lip and Palate Team at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, and she has recently completed a Postgraduate qualification in Speech Sound Disorders.
5B
The Village in Motion - connecting through movement
Nicola Forshaw
This practical session will offer an experiential insight into Nicola’s work that focuses on building meaningful connections through dance. The workshop will guide you through some of the games and sensory movement tasks that build embodied understanding of one another and support relationships where movement is the key form of communication. This workshop will involve moving with props and materials, music, play and enjoyment of sharing physical time and space.
Nicola trained at Northern Ballet School and performed in dance theatre companies in Europe early in her career. She then taught in Dance Conservatoire settings focusing on professional dance training involving research into safe practices and the psychological and physical wellbeing of young dancers. Whilst studying for an MA in Applied Theatre at York St John University her focus shifted towards dance in the community with social justice and wellbeing at the core of her practice. As a postgraduate Nicola set up the award winning Converge Dance courses held within the university for people with lived experience of mental health. Currently a Senior Lecturer in Dance at York St John University, Nicola has led dance based participatory research projects with teachers and children in SEN schools, fathers and their children at HMP Wealston and older adults living in the community. The outcomes of these projects have demonstrated that dance is a catalyst for wellbeing and building meaningful relationships.