
9 November 2023 - London
16 November 2023 - Manchester
#oeWellbeing
IBIS ILEC Conference Centre, SW6 1UD
Registration and refreshments (08:30 - 09:15)
Welcome from Optimus Education (09:15)
Chair's Welcome (09:20)
We are delighted to announce that the day will be chaired by Shahana Knight, Founder and Director of TPC Therapy Ltd.
Equipping staff and students to deal with anxiety (09:25 - 09:55)
Gain impactful tools that children and colleagues can use to alleviate anxiety, enabling them to self-regulate.
- Anxiety in schools - Insights found from YoungMinds projects and services working directly with students, schools and parents.
- Responding to anxiety - Anxiety with a big 'A' and small 'a'; what signs should we be looking out for and best ways to respond to different levels of anxiety.
- Grounding techniques - Practical tips and methods to support young people with anxiety.
Resilience in the classroom starts in the staffroom (09:55 - 10:25)
Practical and affordable strategies for boosting staff morale and improving wellbeing through SUMO.
Falling through the gaps (10:25 - 10:45)
Identify pupils with the greatest need and stretch limited resources to support them.
Panel Q&A (10:45 - 10:55)
Morning refreshments, networking and exhibition (10:55 - 11:35)
Workshop Choices 1 (11:35 - 12:25)
1A Leading on staff wellbeing
Build effective communication with your team and leave with new ideas on what you might want to offer in your setting.
- Five ways to create a culture of openness at work around wellbeing.
- Communicate with your team using active listening and empathy.
- Identify some steps forward to improve communication in your setting (using a checklist).
Suzanne Allies, Mental Health and Wellbeing Trainer and Psychotherapist
1B The art of communication: engaging parents and outside services in conversation
Take away effective strategies to engage parents and services in conversations around young people's mental health.
Hugo Metcalfe, Psychologist, Wellbeing Culture Specialist, Director of the Happy Mind Tribe Ltd.
1C Stress: Coping Strategies, How to Remain Positive and In Control
Explore the difference between making sub-conscious and conscious decisions; the positive impact improving our awareness of the decision we make can have and understanding what causes us stress and some practical approaches and techniques that both adults and children can use to help decrease stress, remain positive and stay more in control.
Lunch, networking and exhibition (12:25 - 13:20)
Workshop Choices 2 (13:20 - 14:10)
2A Writing a relationships policy
Raise emotional intelligence and embed wellbeing by putting connection at the core of your behaviour policy.
Shahana Knight, Founder and Director of TPC Therapy Ltd.
2B Eating disorders: steps to follow
Identify students with potential eating disorders at your setting and ensure you have procedures in place with clear steps to follow.
- Information about the three main eating disorders.
- Practical and replicable steps to support pupils with eating disorders.
- Proactive messaging about food and coping strategies that can be built into the curriculum.
Rachel Hart, Deputy Head Pastoral & DSL, Roedean School
2C Supporting students with additional needs
Deepen your support for neurodiverse children effectively, and employ therapeutic interventions that you and your staff can facilitate.
Afternoon refreshments, networking and exhibition (14:10 - 14:30)
Workshop Choices 3 (14:30 - 15:20)
3A Respond confidently to student need
Ensure that you are employing the most impactful interventions in this interactive session packed with engaging scenarios and time to reflect.
Sam Garner, Mental Health & Inclusion Consultant
3B Whole-school approach to wellbeing
Ensure your school’s vision, mission, values, and culture are centered around wellbeing and care for all.
- What does a successful whole school approach to wellbeing look like?
- Respond proactively rather than reactively to student’s wellbeing needs to ensure a healthier, happier school.
- Practical tips, tools, techniques to whole school wellbeing regardless of setting, resourcing and time.
Helen O'Connor, Psychologist, St. Swithun's School
Graham Yates, Deputy Head Pastoral, St. Swithun's School
3C Suicide prevention
Manage difficult, but necessary, conversations with young people, and ensure you have effective policies and systems in place.
Therapeutic classrooms and student voice (15:25 - 16:00)
Create purposeful designed environments that have wellbeing at the core, building on children's voices and cultivating learning.
Build self-compassion (16:00 - 16:20)
Equip yourself with tools to ensure your own wellbeing is looked after, and affirm the value you bring to your setting.