April 21, 2022, Devon Live: Ground-breaking SEND conference to take place in Devon https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/ground-breaking-send-conference-take-6977777
SW England
The Outdoors Group is holding its first ever conference on July 7 with a programme designed for those working outdoors with students who have special educational needs and disabilities. Entitled ‘The Benefits of Outdoor Learning’ the one-day event will focus on how neurodiverse learners can be supported and empowered to achieve through outdoor learning.
Three impressive keynote speakers have been lined up. Headline speaker is celebrity gardener Alan Gardner who was diagnosed with autism in his 50s. Alan presented Channel 4’s The Autistic Gardener and is a Cultural Ambassador for the National Autistic Society, helping the charity to have a positive impact on people living with autism and campaigning to champion the rights and interests of autistic people and their families.
He is joined by Michael James, the author of Forest School and Autism, a book that works to fill an existing gap between forest school practitioners, autistic people and those who support them; and Andy Smith, Inclusion Ambassador and SEND advocate for Bury Council, and founder of Spectrum Gaming, an online community for autistic young people which works to create a community and friendships….
Co-founder of The Outdoors Group, Shevek Pring said: “We’re genuinely excited to be holding our first conference, facilitating a day of learning, inspiration and the chance to share experiences - attendees will gain greater knowledge as well as learning about best practice.
There’s more and more acknowledgement in the world of education about how opportunities for outdoor learning can make a huge difference to young people who just don’t fit comfortably into the traditional classroom environment. This event both highlights the need for taking education outside and celebrates what’s already being achieved.”
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