A new national conference and exhibition is launching in Coventry to help schools create better inclusive learning environments for pupils.
The inaugural Inclusive Learning Environments Show will be held at Coventry Building Society Arena on Tuesday, June 14 and Wednesday, June 15.
Studies show that more than 350,000 children and young people under 18 in the UK benefit from some form of extra support in their learning and day-to-day life – but 90 per cent of children with special education needs and disability (SEND) attend non-specialist schools.
The event will seek to help schools, colleges and universities to be more inclusive and deliver learning environments that can better support people with SEND in their development.
It will see more than 35 exhibitors, including manufacturers, distributors and service providers along with major national and international companies attend, including Morgan Sindall, Galliford Try and many more.
The show is expected to attract visitors from across the built environment sector for education, from head teachers, directors of education and special educational needs coordinators, to architects, planners, estates professionals and local authorities.
A comprehensive conference programme will also be running alongside the event, with the programme having been shaped by key industry members – including the Department of Education, The Society of British & International Design, Scottish Futures Trust, and many more.
Highlights from the CPD accredited programme include a joint session with André Imich, SEN and Disability Professional Adviser for the Department of Education, and Anita Devi, Education Consultant and CEO of #TeamADL, a not-for-profit organisation specialising in SEND leadership.
Philip Watson, Director at HLM Architects, and Shona Crichton, Associate Principal at Springwell Leeds Academy, will highlight how schools can work with architects to create spaces that support teaching that transforms outcomes for young people.
James Lee, Managing Director of Step Connect 2 – the organisers of Inclusive Learning Environments Show – said: “We hope the show will raise awareness in education of the support available to make learning spaces more inclusive.
“It will introduce delegates to products, ideas, companies and opportunities that will help them take the next steps to creating inclusive environments.
“At our 2019 Education Estates® event, we had conversations with a number of key stakeholders in the SEND built environment sector, and it became clear that there was scope to hold an event entirely devoted to inclusive learning environments.
“That need has only increased over the course of the pandemic, and it is increasingly vital that schools, colleges and universities have the appropriate, well-equipped space to cater for the requirements of children and young people with SEND.
“That could be everything from the acoustics and sensory aspects of a room, to ensuring that inclusion is at the heart of design from the outset of creating a new building.”
The show will be held in the Exhibition Halls at Coventry Building Society Arena.
Paul Michael, Commercial Director at Coventry Building Society Arena, added: “We have a great track record of supporting the launch of national conferences and exhibitions.
“We’re delighted to be working with Step Connect 2 to launch its brand-new event – which tackles important issues and will help to ensure that education becomes more inclusive for all children and young people.”
Inclusive Learning Environments Show is organised by the creators of Education Estates®, which is now in its 10th year and is delivered in partnership with the Department of Education.
To find out more about the Inclusive Learning Environments Show visit https://www.inclusivelearningenvironments.com/