Meet Our Speakers

Belinda Edington, MindSpark

Inclusive Classrooms and Executive Function: Practical, Neuroscience-Informed Strategies for Student Success

Discover how neuroscience-informed executive function (EF) strategies can make classrooms more inclusive and benefit all learners, especially those with neurodiverse profiles. In this practical session, Belinda Edington from MindSpark shares strategies to build students’ EF skills and metacognition, strengthening self-regulation, resilience, and academic confidence. Learn simple teaching practices that boost motivation, well-being, and goal-directed behaviour. Leave with practical tools to embed EF development across your school and help every student thrive, both in the classroom and beyond.  

Fin O'Regan, SF30 Limited

Neuroinclusive Schools:
The 7 key factors for policy, process and practice

Every school has a different vibe, every school has different range of experience/expertise of its staff, every school will have a unique student cohort and of course a diverse set of parents. However every school also has some common threads and approaches and if nurtured and developed can make neuroinclusion a reality. This presentation will outline the 7 key features that can facilitate policy, process and practice.

Dr Helen Ross, Helen's Place Education Consultancy

The Human Experience and Cost of Dyslexia

 This talk will explore the manifestations of dyslexia in education and how this can impact young people holistically. Strategies to support young people will be shared, with classroom suggestions located within teaching frameworks as well as legislation. Rather than focussing on debates as to the nature of dyslexia, this talk will focus on young people’s rights, those of their families and building relationships between school and home will be touched on as part of this short, pragmatic talk on what dyslexia ‘does’ and ‘feels like’.

Liz Day, Collectively Diverse CIC

Mental Health in Neurodiverse Young People 

In today’s classrooms, neurodiverse learners bring a rich variety of strengths, yet too often, the focus remains on what they can’t do, rather than what they can. In this talk, I explore how educators can shift the lens from deficit to strength, using protective factors to support the mental health and wellbeing of students with ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, and other learning differences. By recognising and nurturing these students’ unique ways of thinking, we not only boost resilience but also unlock their full potential. With practical strategies and real-world insights, I invite you to empower every young person to thrive.

Andrew Whitehouse, Andrew Whitehouse Limited

ADHD and Autism: Is Masking a Superpower?

An investigation into the effects of masking for neurodivergent people; is it a superpower? Is it a curse? Does it support mental health, or will it exacerbate? 

Rosie Elvin, ADHD Focus

Supporting Neurodivergent Learners: Feedback, Inclusion and the Learning Journey 

In education, a one-size-fits-all approach often leaves neurodivergent learners misunderstood or unsupported. This session explores how we can better recognise and meet the diverse needs of students across all age groups, from early years to higher education. We’ll look at what it means to create truly neuro-inclusive learning environments, from sensory-friendly spaces to the importance of structure and flexibility. A key focus will be on the impact of feedback: how the way we give feedback can either support or undermine learning, and how to adapt our communication styles to be clearer, more constructive, and emotionally safe for neurodivergent students. The session will also share practical strategies to help learners develop study skills that work with their neurotype, not against it, and highlight useful resources and services. Whether you're an educator, support staff, or simply curious, you’ll come away with ideas to help all students thrive. 

Compass Group