nasen LIVE 2026 - Speakers and Panellists
We're thrilled to confirm our speakers and panellists at this year's nasen LIVE event! Please see our session titles, description and speakers' bios below. This page will be regularly updated.
Accessibility planning that drives inclusion, not just compliance
Ever feel like accessibility plans need improvement?
This session helps you to see what goes wrong and how things can be better.
You’ll be clear on how to lead, deliver or monitor your accessibility planning so that you see a real change in inclusion.
Aaron King
Aaron King is a SEND advisor to councils, trusts and schools.
His work improves the lives of some of our most vulnerable pupils, schools and staff.
His earlier career was spent teaching and leading in mainstream schools, resource provision, special schools, and LA SEND services.
His published works focus on inclusion and leadership. TES, BECOME, and National Governance Association have all featured his guidance. DfE governance guides refer to Aaron’s advice on SEND.
His training breathes life into crucial inclusion topics.
Beyond Readiness: High Expectations and Literacy for Every Learner
This session explores why meaningful, progressive, age-respectful literacy
education is an entitlement for every pupil, including those with complex
needs and non-speaking learners. We examine how expectations shape
opportunity, what inclusive literacy looks like in practice, how barriers can be
removed, and how partnership with families strengthens progress.
Chantal Bryan OBE
Chantal Bryan OBE is a founder of Teach Us Too and a passionate advocate for inclusive literacy. Inspired by her experience teaching her son Jonathan to read and write outside of special school, the charity was established to champion the right of all children, including those with complex needs, to be taught literacy in their school setting. Chantal leads the organisation’s strategic vision and partnerships, amplifying voices often overlooked and calling for change in education policy and practice.
From Barriers to Breakthroughs: Turning Tricky Parent Meetings into Powerful Partnerships
This powerful speaker session introduces the VOICE framework — a clear, memorable approach to building trust, reducing conflict, and creating calmer, more collaborative partnerships with parents that improve outcomes for every child.
Emma Shackleton
Emma Shackleton is a primary teacher turned SEMH and behaviour specialist, with almost 30 years’ experience in education.
She is co-founder of Beacon School Support an impactful and dynamic company with inclusion and support at its core - helping schools nationwide to tackle behaviour challenges head-on through whole-school audits, coaching and training in person and via their hugely popular online CPD platform: Behaviour 360.
As both a national speaker and co-host of the hit School Behaviour Secrets podcast, Emma shares practical strategies that inspire educators to create classrooms where every pupil can thrive.
Internal Provision with Purpose
Many settings are now forming internal provision in response to rising need. This session introduces a practical framework to help leaders keep provision purposeful, reviewed and connected to meaningful learning and appropriate next steps.
Faye Whittle
Faye Whittle is an experienced inclusion adviser with over 25 years’ experience working across primary, secondary and alternative settings. She specialises in strategic SEND practice and strengthening inclusive systems that secure meaningful outcomes for pupils with additional needs.
Throughout her career, Faye has held a range of leadership roles including SENCO, Deputy Headteacher, and MAT SEND Leader. She has worked with individual schools, multi-academy trusts and local authority partners to develop approaches to SEND that balance statutory responsibilities with practical, sustainable provision.
Faye has a particular interest in how schools design internal alternative provision that protects belonging, strengthens regulation and keeps pathways open for pupils. Her work focuses on ensuring provision remains purposeful, reviewed and aligned with the graduated approach.
Through her training and advisory work, Faye equips leaders with clear frameworks and reflective tools that support confident decision-making and long-term inclusive development.
What is the Best SEN STRATEGY? It might not be what you think!
With teacher stress at record highs, burned-out educators can't co-regulate the children who need them most. Rowena Hicks reveals why you are the most powerful SEN strategy in your setting, and shares sustainable, low-energy tools to protect your wellbeing while helping students thrive.
Rowena Hicks
Rowena Hicks has over 30 years of experience in education, supporting staff and students to recognise their strengths, believe in their value, and thrive. Beginning her career as a primary class teacher in Brixton, London with one of the most diverse classes imaginable, she quickly developed a passion for working with vulnerable children and those with additional needs.
Her journey has taken her from SENCO to Deputy Head, across the UK, Poland, and East Africa, working in mainstream, international, and missionary schools. Rowena holds a master’s degree in Inclusion and has taught and mentored SENCOs undertaking the National Award.
She is especially passionate about speaking to and coaching school staff to build confidence, shift mindsets, and see their daily impact. A mother of four, Rowena brings warmth, honesty, and humour to her work, and a deep belief that both children and adults flourish when they feel seen, supported, and valued.
Beyond Readiness: High Expectations and Literacy for Every Learner
This session explores why meaningful, progressive, age-respectful literacy
education is an entitlement for every pupil, including those with complex
needs and non-speaking learners. We examine how expectations shape
opportunity, what inclusive literacy looks like in practice, how barriers can be
removed, and how partnership with families strengthens progress.
Sarah Giles
Sarah Giles is a qualified primary school teacher and experienced SENCO who worked as Jonathan Bryan’s home education tutor throughout his Key Stage 2 education. Since its inception, Sarah has led the educational work of Teach Us Too, developing and championing inclusive, literacy-rich educational approaches for pupils with complex communication and learning needs, with a particular focus on meaningful access to reading and writing.