Three early years children playing with plastic balls

nasen’s Early Years SEND seminar 2026: Making the Early Years count

  • Online
  • 16 Mar 2026 (09:30 - 12:30)

We will explore the current Early Years SEND landscape and reflect on areas that truly make a difference for young children with SEND. With sessions looking at the strategic development of inclusive support in settings and at home, we aim to support reflection, shared learning and early action to improve outcomes for young children and their families.

Agenda to include:

  • National update (Annamarie Hassall MBE, CEO, nasen) 
  • Early Years SEND Reviews: Embedding effective review cycles (Andrea Gamman, Caverstede Nursery School and Apricot Day Nursery, Peterborough Local Authority)
  • Supporting early language and literacy for children with SEND (Theresa Johnson, Programme Lead – Early Childhood Unit, National Children’s Bureau)

 

Online

Suitable for: Other

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A photograph of Anna Speke

Meet your trainer

Anna Speke

Anna is an Education Officer at nasen, and leads on their Early Years work.  She is an experienced primary school teacher, SENCO and SEND Lead, having worked across different local authorities and within multi-academy trusts.  Anna has experience in both specialist and mainstream settings, and has led a communication and interaction hub provision, working between specialist and mainstream settings to support children with a range of additional needs.   

As well as being an advocate for inclusion by design in all settings, Anna has a particular interest in animal assisted therapies, outdoor learning and Forest School, and how these are of holistic benefit to all learners, particularly those with SEND.     

Meet your trainer

Annamarie Hassall

Annamarie Hassall MBE is the Chief Executive (CEO) of nasen with responsibility for strategic direction and operational delivery across the full breadth of nasen’s activity. nasen CEO is the main point of contact for the board of trustees and has a close working relationship with the Department for Education (DfE). Annamarie also has overall responsibility for external relations and business development.