Keynote Speakers

Ben Kingston-Hughes, Inspired Children

Ben Kingston-Hughes is an international keynote speaker, author and multi award-winning trainer. He delivers inspirational training to schools, nursery settings, out of school settings and for parents, as well as for local authorities and national charities. He is also the Managing Director of Inspired Children and has worked with vulnerable children across the UK for over 35 years. He has appeared on television several times working on a variety of children’s projects and his distinctive blend of humour, neuroscience and real-life practical experiences have made his training invaluable for anyone working with children. His game-changing book about play, “A Very Unusual Journey into Play” has gained widespread acclaim and his new book, “Why Children Need Joy” was a finalist for a Nursery World Award for best professional book 2024, where it was awarded “highly commended”.

This unique keynote looks at the problems and anxieties that some children face on a daily basis and how we can help those children to cope and thrive in their School or Nursery environment. Seen through the perspective of an adult with ADHD the keynote also looks at some of the difficulties facing children with ADHD and how we can help those children who may feel alienated and “non neuro typical”. With humorous and often emotional real-life stories, this eye-opening keynote gives a unique insight into the mind and behaviour of a struggling child.

Practical Inclusion – Belonging not attending

This vibrant practical workshop explores inclusive experiences to cater to a broad range of children’s needs. By focusing on the process rather than any perceived outcomes we can significantly increase engagement levels among our SEND children and create unique play opportunities for them to thrive. The workshops asks not “what activity are the children doing?” but rather, “what experience are they having?” and proposes simple strategies to adapt, scaffold and support those wonderful experiences for our children. Practical and fun but with a core message of the profound importance of inclusive practice this workshop is an essential addition to any practitioner’s toolkit.

Emma Storey, Nottingham Trent University

Emma Storey is a Technical Specialist in Biosciences, coach, and neurodiversity advocate. A late‑discovered autistic woman and parent of a neurodivergent son excluded from mainstream education, she brings lived experience and professional expertise to reimagining inclusive educational spaces, focusing on psychological safety, accessibility, and authentic belonging.

This keynote explores how autistic people who appear neurotypical- often through masking, compensation, and significant invisible effort- are frequently assumed to be included when they are not. Drawing on my experience as a late‑discovered autistic woman, I outline how “NT‑passing” can create blind spots in educational and conference environments, where support needs go unnoticed and the emotional and cognitive load of participation is underestimated. Through personal examples and reflections on my son’s exclusion from mainstream education, I highlight how systems often reward conformity rather than genuine accessibility. This session invites delegates to reconsider what it truly means to have inclusive conferences, considering the privilege of being noticed as worthy of a space at the table.

Prof. Ben Simmons, Bath Spa University

I am a Professor of Inclusive Education and Disability Research at the School of Education, Bath Spa University. I work at the intersection of inclusive research and inclusive education, and I am currently exploring how universities can best support community-led disability research. I have written extensively about research involving people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, and my work has been funded by the Welcome Trust, Cabinet Office, AHRC, and the British Academy.

During this talk I will introduce the ‘We Are The People’ project (‘WATP’). WATP is a five-year Wellcome-funded project that supports change-oriented, co-produced disability research. Our team is inspired by inclusive and emancipatory research approaches, and we develop projects that matter to disabled communities in South West England. During the talk I will shed light on our methodological developments and discuss how inclusive research can enrich understandings of inclusive education, particularly regarding ethics, power, epistemology and participation. I conclude by suggesting that the education sector should take seriously the rallying cry of ‘Nothing about us without us!’. A more inclusive education system is one that empowers students to be creators of policy and interventions, rather than its targets.

This workshop will be led by members of the ‘We Are The People’ team. The team will work with the audience to explore and interrogate the meaning of inclusion as it relates to research and education. The workshop will be visually transcribed by a creative artist to capture salient views about inclusion, and extend ideas introduced during the keynote by Ben Simmons. The audience is very welcome to celebrate or reject the keynote – we want to spark debate create a ‘critical snapshot’, not indoctrinate.

International Keynote Speakers

Prof. Maria Dardanou, UiT The Arctic University of Norway

Maria Dardanou is Professor in Early Childhood Education at UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Department of Teacher Education and Pedagogy. Her research focuses on early childhood education, with particular emphasis on digitalisation, children’s participation, creativity, and professional digital competence. She is involved in several international projects exploring technology, pedagogy, and learning in early childhood education.

Assistant Prof. Eirin Gamst-Nergård, UiT The Arctic University of Norway

Eirin Gamst-Nergård is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Teacher Education and Pedagogy at UiT – The Arctic University of Norway. She has extensive experience as a special education teacher within Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (BUP), focusing on the assessment and follow-up of children and adolescents with various neurodevelopmental disorders. Her research primarily focuses on children’s well-being and resilience, as well as participatory practices in early childhood education and care.

This keynote discusses inclusive education in Norway, highlighting the country’s robust welfare system that promotes universal access to healthcare and education. Norway’s commitment to social inclusion is reflected in its educational policies which are shaped by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and national acts that support the indigenous Sami population. Despite positive attitudes towards inclusion among educators, challenges remain, particularly regarding adequate training and resources for managing diverse classroom needs. The keynote underlines the importance of early intervention and continuous professional development to enhance educators’ competencies in inclusive practice. It also outlines the Competence Programme, designed to address disparities in knowledge and support partnerships between municipalities and universities. The programme aims to empower teachers to create inclusive learning environments by fostering mutual understanding and collaboration. Recent assessment data from northern Norway indicate a need for improved training in inclusive education, as many educators express a desire for further professional development. Finally, the keynote underscores the significance of adapting educational practices to embrace diversity and ensure that all children, regardless of their backgrounds or abilities, can participate fully in the learning community.

Keynote Speakers

Ben Kingston-Hughes, Inspired Children

Keynote: Anxiety, ADHD and thriving!

Workshop (7th July)

Emma Storey, Nottingham Trent University

Keynote: The Hidden Work of NT‑Passing: Rethinking Inclusion for Neurodivergent People in Education and Conferences

Prof. Ben Simmons, Bath Spa University

Keynote: What can inclusive education learn from research co-production? Methodological lessons from the “We Are The People” project

Workshop (8th July)

International Keynote Speakers

Prof. Maria Dardanou, UiT The Arctic University of Norway

Assistant Prof. Eirin Gamst-Nergård, UiT The Arctic University of Norway

Keynote: Inclusive education in Norway: Professional development for teachers in early childhood and primary education