Understanding and Accommodating Executive Function in Schools

Executive function underpins every aspect of learning - from planning and organisation to memory, attention and self-regulation. When these skills are underdeveloped or overwhelmed, even the most capable learners can struggle to reach their potential.

This practical, evidence-informed workshop explores how executive functioning affects learning, why it is so important for many neurodivergent learners, and the simple, effective strategies that can make a lasting difference. You'll leave with practical tools to build confidence, reduce barriers, and help every student become a more independent and successful learner.

Discover the importance of executive function strengths, skills and difficulties within teaching and learning and how to apply adaptive approaches and strategies to support your students.

All of us have a range of executive function strengths, skills and difficulties, but for our neurodivergent learners, or those who have identified SEND, these can be overwhelming.

Understanding and supporting executive functioning is often transformative in reducing barriers to engagement and learning, and accelerating progress for all students, and it is a crucial aspect to identify, support and enable for those with ADHD, Autism and Dyslexia.

Attend this session to learn some basics to apply within your context in order to better support your students. Within this session you will be introduced to what executive function skills are and how to support learners to:

• cultivate confidence
• extend engagement
• optimise organisation
• maximise metacognition
• reinforce resilience
  
  

This session is for Teachers, Teaching Assistants, School Leaders, SENDCOs, in all phases.

About the facilitator | Dr Martin Bloomfield

Martin has worked in the field of neurodiversity for over twenty years, helping organisations and educators create more inclusive environments. He received a British Council Commendation for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, and co-founded the National Dyslexia in Business Awards with the UK’s National Federation of Enterprise Agencies. An experienced trainer, teacher trainer, and international keynote speaker, Martin has delivered talks and workshops in India, Singapore, Dubai, Qatar, Ghana, and across Europe. Alongside this, he is editor-in-chief of the neurodiversity-focused academic journal NeuroConverse, and serves as a Trustee of the charity the Accessible Learning Foundation.