Best of British Very Special Education Programme
“The Best of British Very Special Education: Bridging the void between the past and future”
at Swiss Cottage School, London
The Forum is dedicated to baby Sara, new life, and to the charity New Hope Village, Western Orissa, India
Programme Day One - Thursday, 28 November 2019
Main Presenter - Flo Longhorn
9 30 am - Welcome and Overview: Flo Longhorn, special needs consultant and author; Alison Pettitt, mother and special needs teacher at Hillside Specialist School & College, Preston
- Dedication of the Forum to new life Sara and remembering Timmy and Michael.
9 50 am - “Pushing curriculum boundaries within a school: why, how and what?” – Ellen Croft, Vice-principal, Director of Teaching School, Ash Field Academy, Leicester [Presentation]
10 30 am - “Sensory processing disorders: interoception, internal sensations and behaviours” – Becky Lyddon, Founder, Sensory Spectacle [Presentation]
11 00 am - Coffee Break and a visit to the Workshop room with Clare Hobson, Creative Art Teacher and Deputy Head, Ysgol Clug Glas, Swansea, Wales; Sarah Hall and Beverley Williams, Willow Sensory Service, Solihull; Alison Pettitt, Hillside Specialist School & College, Preston; Hannah Underwood, PMLD Teacher, John Fielding School, Boston
11 25 am - “Intent, impact and implementation: reassessing the relationship between pedagogy, curriculum and assessment” – Peter Imray, Author, Special Education Training Consultant, Bedfordshire [Presentation]
12 10 pm - “The significance of research in the field of SPLMD: informing good practice” – Dr. Lila Kossyvaki, chartered psychologist, Lecturer in severe profound and multiple learning disabilities and member of the Autism Centre for Education and Research, Univ of Birmingham, School of Education [Presentation]
12 45 pm - “Sounds aloud! Watch out ears!”- Sarah Hall, sensory expert, aromatherapist and reflexologist, plus Beverley Williams, Willows Sensory Service [Handout]
13 00 pm - Buffet Lunch and Workshops - “Sounds OK!”; “Fifty ways to use a potato”; “Messing around in the classroom”
13 45 pm - “Chair and wheelchair yoga” – Maria Gunstone, Founder of YOU & ME Yoga [Handout]
14 00 pm - "A Whistle-stop Tour of 50 Years in Very Special Education" - Flo Longhorn
14 45 pm - “I’ve been told I can’t do this ... just watch me!” – Meriel Green, Head of Seymour Department, Chailey Heritage Foundation - and Team: Amy Perkins, Oliver Dixon and Sian Cox-Aldridge – “A presentation of case studies and pupil journeys based on how we use individualized pathways and curricula - coproduced by many - to enable pupils to share their voice, views, feelings and talents.”
16 00 pm - Close - and Bubbles for new books and prizes!
Programme Day Two - Friday, 29 November 2019
Main Presenter - Flo Longhorn
Call & Response! Troubadour for the day is Keith Park
9 30 am - Welcome and Overview: Flo Longhorn, Author and Special Needs Consultant and Keith Park, Troubadour, Author and Interactive Storyteller
9 40 am - “A dip into the past” – Flo Longhorn
9 50 am - “What is happening inside our Multi-sensory rooms?” – Joanna Grace, Author, Trainer, Sensory Engagement and Inclusion Specialist, Originator of The Sensory Projects [Presentationi]
10 30 am - “Positive behaviours – improving the quality of a person’s life and that of the people around them” – Pablo Menendez, Lead practitioner, The Garden School, Hackney; Dididai, Special School, Kathmandu [Presentation]
11 05 am - Coffee and Workshop experiences
11 25 am - “Flip the curriculum: using the PMLD Standards to underpin curricula provision … and beyond!” – Lisa Needs, PMLD Teacher, Medina House School, Isle of Wight; Artsmark Award (Arts Council) [Presentation]
11 55 am - “The unmeasurables: autonomy, well-being and community participation - future research” – Andrew Colley, post-graduate student, Wolfson College, Cambridge and occasional Lecturer, University of Suffolk, former PMLD Teacher. [Survey Intro] [Survey Link]
[Andrew Colley, in association with the University of Cambridge Faculty of Education, is launching a major survey of special schools who teach young people aged 14 - 19 with PMLD. He will be introducing the survey at the FPL 2-Day Forum on Friday, 29 November, when you will also be encouraged to fill it in online or in hard copy. f you prefer you can fill it in online prior to the conference using the link below. It should only take about 15 minutes. Many thanks in advance. https://cambridge.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9mCWWIZATURk2up ]
12 15 pm - “The arts of serving and returning - communication and the sensory roots of learning” – Les Staves, Senior Consultant, Author, Very Special Maths Guru, Leeds [Presentation]
13 00 pm Buffet Lunch and Workshops - “Sounds OK!”; “Fifty ways to use a potato”; “Messing around in the classroom” plus Functional Reflex Therapy display
13 45 pm - “Sound, silence and the sacred” – Eleanor Gibson, Special needs Teacher, Phoenix School, Peterborough; member of the Natural Voice Network; Farmington Scholarship [Presentation]
14 15 pm - “Mental health and well-being in education: tools to help the educator” – Nicola Harvey, Mindful Nicstars, Special needs Teacher, Author of ‘Mindful Little Yogis” [Presentation]
14 45 pm - “Functional reflex therapy: communicating through positive touch” – Lorraine Senior, Founder of Functional Reflex Therapy (FRT), Teacher, Reflexologist [Presentation]
15 15 pm - “Dangers ahead! Overcoming the fear of continuing to use past established curricula in the future” – Flo Longhorn, Author, retired Special Needs Consultant
15 40 pm - “Sounds aloud! Watch out ears!”- Sarah Hall, sensory expert, aromatherapist and reflexologist, plus Beverley Williams, Willows Sensory Service [Handout]
16 00 pm - Close and Bubbles to say Goodbye!
Official Helpers for both days of the Forum are Annie Fergusson, PMLD Link and PMLD Training Team, and Rosie Rushton, Univ of Birmingham, PhD Student.
Forum Cost: £180 for one day - £320 for both days
Includes: Delegates information pack, coffee/teas & lunch, free sensory book and reduced price on FPL publications.
(Discounts available for multiple staff attending the Forum).
Download the programme above here (PDF).
Access booking forms here (.doc and .pdf). Please return booking forms by email attachment to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or fax to 0845 127-5281.
All queries to Course Administration: Roger Longhorn (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
Best of British Special Education
Advance Notice - Flo Longhorn’s final two-day Forum 2019
“The Best of British Very Special Education: Bridging the void between the past and future”
Where: Swiss Cottage School Conference Centre, London
When: Thursday, 28 & Friday, 29 November 2019
Timing: 9.30 am to 4.30 pm daily
Who should attend: Practitioners involved with learners with PMLD/SLD or significant autism.
Forum Content
- Relevant – Realistic – Engaging!
- Fun and enjoyable!
- 20 Presenters – both practitioners and academics
- Workshops and hands-on sensory playroom!
- ‘Bubbles Launch’ for new books!
- Join a like-minded inclusive audience for two absorbing days!
Cost: £180 for one day - £320 for both days
Includes: Delegates information pack, coffee/teas & lunch, free sensory book and reduced price on FPL publications
(Discounts available for multiple staff attending the Forum).
View online the Best of British Very Special Education Programme or download the final programme here (PDF).
Access booking forms here (.doc and .pdf). Please return booking forms by email attachment to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or
All queries to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
No Ticks - No Boxes Forum - 30 Nov and 1 Dec 2017
‘No Ticks - No Boxes’
Outstanding Practice in the Education of SLD/PMLD Learners
Two-day Forum
Led by Flo Longhorn with 20 Presenters
to be held at Swiss Cottage School Conference Centre, Central London
30 November and 1 December 2017
This forum is dedicated to the memory of Timmy Pettitt, the Sunshine Boy, a very special person.
Presentation Topics
- A wandering minstrel with a squeeze box
- Bio behaviours
- Child/student centred approaches - whole school development
- Engagement - new perspectives
- Equals SLD/PMLD semi-formal curriculum
- Experiential playfulness with elephants’ trunks and paper plates
- Happiness and Life Satisfaction for the very special person
- How do I know what I am feeling? Interoception
- Immersive environments
- Lilli Nielsen’s legacy - active learning, little rooms, resonance boards
- Meaningful observations
- No boxes, no ticks?
- Outstanding school approaches from Chailey Heritage, Woodlands and Ash Field Academy
- Personalised assessment, personalised curricula - a whole school approach
- Social justice and people with SLD/PMLD
- Resonance boards - calling and responding
- Schematic learning - supporting early development of repeated behaviours
- Sensing the world around and forming secure attachments
- The brain, neurology, sounds and music
- Sensory science, story of a star
- Routes for Learning - updates!
- ‘Teaching the unteachable: managing the unmanageable’- one school’s approach
- Blogging the sensory dispensary
- Mental health - developing well-being plans
The Presenters
- Andrew Colley, Special Education Lecturer, University of East London
- Ellen Croft, PMLD Curriculum Leader, Ash Field Academy, Leicester
- Flo Longhorn, Principal Consultant in Special/Multisensory Educ0tion, Belgium
- Gillian Carver, St. Ann's School, London
- Helen Lane, Neurologic Music Therapist, Woodlands School, London
- Dr James Galpin, Developmental Psychologist, The Bridge School, London
- Jane Thistlethwaite (N.Z.), Teaching Fellow, Birmingham University
- Joanna Grace, Author, Trainer and Founder of the Sensory Project, Cornwall
- Julie Tilbury, Lead Teacher SPMLD, Chailey Heritage School
- Hannah McCarthy, SPMLD Teacher, Chailey Heritage School
- Hannah Underwood, John Fielding School
- Keith Park, Independent Special Interactions Consultant, London
- Les Staves, Very Special Maths Consultant, Leeds
- Lucy Allen, John Fielding School
- Dr Maria Robinson, Early Years Author, Bedfordshire
- Peter Imray, Special Educational Training and Advice, Bedfordshire
- Phil Martin, Retired Special School Headteacher, Routes for Learning Wales
- Sarah Hall, Founder Willows Sensory Service, Birmingham
- Simon Yates, Chailey Heritage School, East Sussex
- Timothy Holdsworth, St. Ann's School, London
- Spotlight on the work of Dr Lilli Nielsen, Denmark
View the full Programme details here.
Get the venue details here (PDF) or online and how to find the Conference Centre (PDF).
Your Forum Participation Fees at work!
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Your Forum Participation Fees at Work
Your Forum Participation Fees at Work
From the proceeds of the forum, Flo Publications will make a donation to New Hope Children’s Village situated in Western Orissa, India, …
… to fund a special needs teacher for a year.
No Ticks - No Boxes Forum - Programme
Programme for Days 1 and 2
‘No Ticks - No Boxes’
Outstanding Practice in the Education of SLD/PMLD Learners
Two-day Forum
Led by Flo Longhorn with 20 Presenters
Swiss Cottage School Conference Centre, Central London
30 November and 1 December 2017
This forum is dedicated to the memory of Timmy Pettitt,
the Sunshine Boy, a very special person.
30 November - Programme Day 1
The white rabbit put on his spectacles. “Where shall I begin please, your majesty?”, he asked. “Begin at the beginning”, the king said gravely, “and go on until you come to the end and then stop”.
Lewis Carroll - Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
|
9 00 am |
Registration - Roger Longhorn, FPL Admin |
|
9 30 am |
Welcome and Introduction - Flo Longhorn, Helen Prosser (Swiss Cottage School) and Keith Park (Wandering Minstrel!) |
|
9 45 am |
No boxes - no ticks? - Simon Yates, Chailey Heritage School |
|
10 40 am |
The musical brain - Helen Lane, Neurologic Music Therapist, Woodlands School, London |
|
11 10 am |
Break |
|
11 35 am |
Engagement: New perspectives - Jane Thistlethwaite, Teaching Fellow, Birmingham University |
|
12 25 pm |
Social justice and people with SLD/PMLD - Andrew Colley, University of East London |
|
13 10 pm |
Lunch and Sensory Delights - Sarah Hall, Willows Sensory Service, Birmingham |
|
13 50 pm |
Schemas - Early development of learning through repeated behaviours - Les Staves, Very Special Maths Consultant, Leeds |
|
14 05 pm |
How do I know what I am feeling? Interoception - James Galpin, Psychologist, The Bridge School, London |
|
14 35 pm |
Securing attachments - emotional strength - Maria Robinson, Early Years Author, Bedfordshire |
|
15 05 pm |
Break |
|
15 15 pm |
‘My spiritual need for silence and solitude’ - Flo Longhorn |
|
15 20 pm |
Developing plans for mental health & wellbeing within a school setting - Ellen Croft, PMLD Curriculum Leader, SLE, Ash Field Academy, Leicester |
|
16 05 pm |
The sensory story of a star - Jo Grace, Author, Trainer and Founder of The Sensory Project, Cornwall |
|
16 20 pm |
Close |
1 December - Programme Day 2
|
9 00 am |
Registration - Roger Longhorn, FPL Admin |
|
9 30 am |
Introduction & Recap- Flo Longhorn and Keith Park (Wandering Minstrel!) |
|
9 45 am |
Observe and then teach - Julie Tilbury, Lead Teacher SPMLD and Hannah McCarthy, Teacher SPMLD, Chailey Heritage School |
|
10 35 am |
Happiness and life satisfaction - Flo Longhorn |
|
11 10 am |
Break |
|
11 35 am |
Child/student centred approaches: Whole school development - Ellen Croft, PMLD Curriculum Leader, SLE, Ash Field Academy, Leicester |
|
12 25 pm |
The Sensory Dispensary - Hannah Underwood and Lucy Allen, Teachers, John Fielding School, Lincolnshire |
|
12 40 pm |
The semi-formal curriculum: The Equals Approach - Peter Imray, Special Educational Training and Advice, Bedfordshire |
|
13 10 pm |
Lunch & Sensory Surprises - Sarah Hall, Willows Sensory Service and Lucy Allen & Hannah Underwood, John Fielding School, Lincolnshire |
|
13 45 pm |
‘Teaching the unteachable - managing the unmanageable’- Gillian Carver and Timothy Holdsworth, St Ann’s School, London |
|
14 45 pm |
Routes for learning: updates from Wales - Phil Martin, Retired Headteacher, Wales |
|
15 15 pm |
Break |
|
15 40 pm |
Lilli Nielsen’s legacy, little rooms, resonance boards, HOPSA suits and active learning - Flo Longhorn and Keith Park (Wandering Minstrel!) |
|
16 15 pm |
Close – Flo Longhorn |
Further information from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The full two-day Programme can also be downloaded here (PDF).
Get the Venue details here (PDF) or online and how to find the Conference Centre (PDF).
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