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Staffordshire's yearly Special Educational Needs conference provides a holistic resource to supporting those with SEN such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, autism, speech and language, auditory processing and visual processing.

This is an ideal one day event for parents who want to know more about special educational needs as well as for specialist SEN teachers or other educational professionals who want to update their knowledge on the very latest topics surrounding SEN. CPD certificates are available (see ticketing options).

The SEN Jigsaw Conference 2019 will bring you plenary talks based on Autism and Dyscalculia as well as a selection of topical workshops and an exhibition of SEN focused suppliers of products and services.

In 2019 we will be back at The Bridge Centre in Stoke-on-Trent which was very popular with delegates last year.

Check out the video below to find out about what happened last year.

Announcing our plenary talks based on Autism and Dyscalculia.

We are thrilled to be able to announce the following plenary speakers for the SEN Jigsaw Conference.

Peter Jarrett - Defining Dyslcalculia: What have we learnt about maths difficulties and maths learning?

Peter is an experienced specialist teacher and assessor with a particular interest in maths difficulties and he has written and lectured on this area of practice throughout the UK.

Peter is a member of the British Dyslexia Association Dyscalculia and Maths Learning Difficulties Committee, the only national body working to improve awareness of these difficulties and to provide a structure of training and assessment to ensure that practitioners working with learners with these difficulties are qualified and well trained. Peter is currently working to improve recognition of maths difficulties in the exam access arrangements process. Peter has published chapters on Dyscalculia and a Dyscalculia classroom checklist in the BDA Dyslexia Friendly Schools Good Practice Guide, and a series of case studies that was published in 'The Fear of Maths: Sum Hope 3' by Steve Chinn.

Find out more about Peter by clicking here.

Ruth Fidler - Understanding and supporting pupils with Pathological Demand Avoidance

Ruth Fidler is an Education Consultant specialising in complex autism, Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), interactive approaches and emotional well being.

She worked at an all age non-maintained special school for 94 pupils across the autism spectrum for 22 years until 2014 and has worked independently since then. During her time on the senior leadership team the school sustained Ofsted outstanding status. Ruth worked within the school promoting interactive approaches and emotional well being for pupils with complex autism. As a member of the leadership team she had a strategic role and contributed to continuing professional development for all staff. She also led an outreach pilot project working with other agencies to meet the needs of children and young people currently unable to attend school. She has experience of using music to promote interaction.

As well as providing training, she regularly observes and monitors teaching and learning supporting staff to embed and refine good autism and SEND practice.

Find out more about Ruth by clicking here.

Announcing our SEN focused workshops.

We will be maintaining the format (with a slight change to timings) that we used for 2018's conference which worked well according to the feedback we received. So added to the exciting plenary lineup, we will have a choice of six SEN focused workshops as well as an exhibition of SEN based suppliers of products and services.

We are thrilled to be announcing the workshops for 2019 and these are listed below.

Note that if you purchase tickets to be with us for the whole day you will also get a hot lunch and refreshments as a part of the package. With the 'Educational Professional' ticket you will also get a CPD Certificate Of Attendance.

This year you will also have an option to attend just the workshops in the afternoon with our 'HALF DAY' ticket. This is for anyone who would like to take advantage of being at the workshops but who can't attend the plenary talks. Note that this ticket does not include lunch nor will you get a CPD certificate with this ticket.

What is the timetable for the day?

09:00 Registration and Exhibition

09:30 Welcome and introduction to the day.

09:40 Plenary 1 - Understanding and Supporting Pupils With Pathological Demand Avoidance

Ruth Fidler

10:40 Tea Break, Exhibition Time & Networking.

11:30 Plenary 2 - Defining Dyscalculia: What have we learnt about maths difficulties and maths learning?

Peter Jarrett

12:30 Lunch

13:30 Workshop Session 1 (with your choice of three workshops).

14:15 Break and change over.

14:30 Workshop Session 2 (with your choice of three workshops).

15:15 Ask The Panel: Question time with speakers and workshop leaders.

15:45 Close

Please let others know about the SEN Jigsaw Conference by clicking here.

Our lead sponsors.

Once again we welcome our founding sponsor for the SEN Jigsaw Conference, SprintPlus. SprintPlus software helps students with dyslexia develop their confidence with reading and writing as well as being able to access electronic curriculum based text books when printed text is challenging.

This year we also welcome as joint lead sponsor, St David's College.

St David's are a mainstream independent boarding and day school with 50 years experience of educating children from 9 to 19 years of age. Through partnership with parents they discover the gifts of each child,
remove the barriers to learning and lead young people to realise their full potential. Their highly regarded SEN provision, helping those with dyslexia and associated learning needs, works seamlessly within their mainstream environment.

This uniquely innovative approach provides children with the freedom to flourish.

Our lead Exhibitors

As usual, we will have a small exhibition of products and services that are centred around Special Educational Needs.

We are currently booking our exhibitors in and as we do we will be listing them below: