Learning Enabled: The NIACE Annual Disability Conference Incorporating the 4th Tomlinson Memorial Lecture

[Background] [The event will be of particular interest to staff from] [Programme] [Application Form]

Background

This year theNIACE Annual Disability Conference, sponsored by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), will take place in Sheffield. NIACE is delighted that the National Development Team for inclusion (NDTi) have agreed to partner us. Rob Grieg, the Chief Executive of NTDi, will chair the event.

Jonathan Shaw, Minister for Disabled People has kindly agreed to deliver a keynote address to the conference. This will be followed by the 4th John Tomlinson Memorial Lecture.. Professor Tomlinson chaired the committee of inquiry which
resulted in the groundbreaking report, Inclusive Learning (HMSO, 1996). This year the lecture will be delivered by Toni Fazaeli, Chief Executive, Institute for Learning.
The lecture will focus on supporting teachers and other staff in better quality teaching and learning, a topic close to Professor Tomlinson’s heart and one he concentrated on in Chapter 6 of the report.

In addition, participants will get a chance to hear from Hannah Ostermeyer about her experiences of Further Education as a learner with mental health difficulties – the good, the bad and the indifferent.

Naturally enough NIACE wants participants to hear from key people in relation to policy. The afternoon session will focus on the Machinery of Government changes.  there will be a reflection on protecting the legacy of the LSC in relation to disabled learners.

Also invited to speak are representatives from the two new agencies which will replace the LSC, the Young Peoples Learning Agency (YPLA) and the Skills Funding Agency
(SFA) who have been asked to give participants a glimpse into the future.

The conference will also host stands from key organisations in the disability world.

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The event will be of particular interest to staff from:

• Government departments
• Learning and Skills Council

Managers and policy officers from:

• Adult and community education
• Colleges
• Health sector
• Social services
• Voluntary and Community organisations
• Work-based learning

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Programme

09:30 Arrival and registration (tea/coffee available)

10:00 Welcome and introduction to the day from
Chair: Rob Greig, Chief Executive, National Development Team for inclusion (NDTi)

10:10 Protecting the legacy of the Learning and Skills Council
David Barker MBE, Director of Adult Services, The Percy Hedley Foundation

10:30 Keynote address:
Jonathan Shaw, Minister for Disabled People

10:45 The 4th John Tomlinson Memorial Lecture – ‘Why teaching matters?’
Toni Fazaeli, Chief Executive, Institute for Learning

11:30 Tea/coffee break

11:45 Questions from the floor

12:00 Round Table Discussion

13:00 Lunch

14:00 My experiences of FE: The good, the bad and the indifferent
Hannah Ostermeyer, talks about her experiences as an FE student with mental health difficulties

14:30 A glimpse into the future
Julie Harrison, Senior Policy Manger – LLDD, Learning and Skills Council and Ann Jones Employee Development Director, Learning and Skills Council

14:50 Questions to the panel Summing up from the Chair Raffle

15:10 Close of conference (tea/coffee available)

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Application Form