Conference programme
09:15 Joining, welcome and introduction - Katarina Tasinkiewicz, Lead Advisory Teacher, Ethnically Diverse Education Achievement Service
09:25 Linguistic Diversity and EDI: Building bridges between languages and communities - Dr Eowyn Crisfield, Director, Crisfield Educational Consulting
Language is central to identity, culture, and community, and therefore also central to EDI efforts. Taking an inclusive approach to languages in classrooms and schools allows our learners connect to prior knowledge, access funds of knowledge, build confidence, and create community with families. In this talk we will explore the ‘why’ of including linguistic diversity as well as the ‘how’, with some simple strategies and protocols.
10:15 Comfort break
10:20 Healing classrooms - A trauma informed approach to education - Josh Corlett, Education Manager UK, International rescue committee
The International Rescue Committee’s Healing Classrooms programme was developed in 1997 to support children and teachers fleeing conflict and disaster. Since then, it has been delivered in over 20 countries, supporting over 1.5 million children. Its latest iteration came in 2022 when it was adapted to fit the UK context in response to large numbers of refugee children arriving from Ukraine and Afghanistan. Since then, over 800 schools have become Healing Classrooms schools and nearly 2,000 teachers have completed the course. In this talk we will discuss what a Healing Classroom is and why it is so vital in modern Britian.
11:10 Comfort Break
11:15 A seat at the table, a space on the wall - Richard O'Neill, Lead Storyteller, O'Neill Consulting
All children want to feel included they want to feel a sense of belonging, in fact they do their best educationally and socially when they feel part of their school community.
Richard O’Neill will share his experience and practical strategies for creating a sense of belonging for all children. Being the only Traveller child in the many schools he went to and being the only Traveller person in the many organisations he has worked with he understands what a sense of belonging can do in terms of real inclusion and belonging.
12:10 LIVE Q&A and closing comments - all speakers
12:30 Close of conference
