Oak Farm Primary School: VLT staff conference 2025, plenary by

Sam

2025-11-27 14:09:20 UTC

Certain elements of neurodivergence aren't changeable - eye contact, stimming

Poonum

2025-11-27 14:10:17 UTC

Link on SEN school - Cherry Garden - checklists to support SEN children

Saira

2025-11-27 14:11:15 UTC

Inclusivity workshop was really good - taught how to step out of comfort zone ad improve outlook on inclusivity - nice to talk to someone new who you don't speak to normally amongst staff

Trauma -

2025-11-27 14:12:26 UTC

how trauma can affect behaviour - not naughty - reflects child feels unsafe or in survival mode - small things can trigger big emotions - importance of understanding what is behind behaviour
using non verbal signals to keep atmosphere calm
importance of building positive relationships
leaving classroom might be sign of not feeling safe
children masking emotions
impact that home life has on children's behaviour
using the word resilience can put some children off - has negative connotations

Andrew

2025-11-27 14:13:39 UTC

Strategies to support diff types of children e.g. distractable, 'daydreamers', impulsive, perseverative (encourage to do in 3 different ways and then critique their options)- enquiring during daydreaming rather than 'stop' might help to remove the thought

Google Classroom

2025-11-27 14:14:05 UTC

How technology can be used for inclusive practice: -EAL support through translations with different dialects; podcasrs with captions; create social stories; tools to simplify texts; and support children with dyslexia.

Inclusive Language

2025-11-27 14:14:38 UTC

Thoughts around consistency across the school including the office, etc.

Trauma

2025-11-27 14:15:16 UTC

The impact of trauma on a child's brain. Approaching children through a trauma-informed approached.

Nandi

2025-11-27 14:15:48 UTC

'rules' set my schools are general but they work against children with ASD - understand a child and to what extent they can follow rules and expectations, and then adapt them for the individual. Why force a child who needs quiet space to work in group situation?

Executive functions -

2025-11-27 14:16:07 UTC

Dorsal network - voluntary choice - how to support chn who find that difficult eg now and next

Ventral attention - sthg in environment that you're not in control of ( eg noise) - takes you away from task - how to switch between the 2 - avoid distractions for some

Classroom music - no more than 8 beats per minute - otherwise too distracting

Working as a team

2025-11-27 14:16:15 UTC

The importance of working as a team and coming together. Sharing ideas and communicating with eachother. How well do we know the people that we are working with?

Cultural Awareness

2025-11-27 14:16:20 UTC

A need to develop our awareness of people's perspections and differences and how these impact on choices, etc.

Boys

2025-11-27 14:19:08 UTC

So many external factors that affect their approach to learning. Use of negative language eg toxic masculinity - switch off - change to positive eg wellbeing.

Talk to the boys - what is going on in their life

Careful of stereotyping - man of the house/ man up etc

Cold calling and questioning

2025-11-27 14:19:18 UTC

The langauge that we are using reflefcts the children that we are talking with. Creating an enviornment that is warm and welcoming and not anxiety inducing. by considering the questions that we are asking. Supporting children in growing thier confidence to answer questions in the classroom.

Diversity

2025-11-27 14:19:45 UTC

Need to reflect our community and evolve to meet the needs of the community we serve; working alongside people from all walks of life to gain different perspectives.

Roya

2025-11-27 14:21:12 UTC

Regulation - if walking and dancing around - let them do it and take time to use their interests and help them expel their energy.

Google accessibility

2025-11-27 14:21:37 UTC

Add ons e.g. read out loud, gemini AI - can be used to create social stories, picture books. Can set up templates.

Frustration that word processing skills are not on computing curriculum

Supprorting Autism

2025-11-27 14:21:43 UTC

Supprorting learning that is appropriate for the child that we are working with.

Amie

2025-11-27 14:22:17 UTC

The importance of showing a child you see their needs ad want to help them - you can see they need to move so you encourage them to move - builds a trusting relationship

KARIS

2025-11-27 14:25:56 UTC

Known- Accepted- Respected- Included- Supported

Autism

2025-11-27 14:30:18 UTC

Girls masking - calm at school but erupt at home. Teachers need to listen to parents. Not always choosing the kind child to sit next to the autistic child - not helpful

2025-11-27 14:37:04 UTC

Every interaction mattersm and has the power to make a difference.

To develop a consistent, inclusive approach to language

2025-11-27 14:48:18 UTC

e.g. Top 20% instead of bottom 20% - maybe 'Top priority'

'Yes and' instead of 'Yes but'

..yet

Away from a deficit language

Respect children's/family's preferences

Have professional curiosity to understand each child's circumstances

2025-11-27 14:53:04 UTC

To improve communication about factors affecting key children

2025-11-27 14:54:31 UTC