Overview:
The SENCo Summit is a focused professional learning experience designed for educators LSC and SENCo who are leading learning support in increasingly complex school environments.
The summit brings together research-informed practice, systems thinking, courageous leadership, and hope-filled professional formation. Participants will engage with expert speakers and facilitators across the key domains shaping effective LSC / SENCo practice today: professional identity, legal and system context, cultural competency, data and information systems, leadership, influence, and courageous communication.
The summit opens with Dr Ashley Bloomfield, whose leadership through complex national challenges offers a compelling lens for SENCo navigating change, uncertainty, pressure, and responsibility. His keynote will explore what it means to lead with clarity, calm, courage, and humanity when the needs are great and the systems are stretched.
In the middle sessions we will transition from inspiration into implementation, with keynote sessions, breakouts, panel discussion, and practical workshops designed to strengthen both the technical capability and professional confidence of LSC and SENCo. Sessions will examine how LSC / SENCo can understand their role within legal and policy frameworks, build inclusive and culturally responsive systems, use data to identify need and evaluate impact, and exercise influence across classrooms, leadership teams, whānau, and external agencies.
Breakouts:
1. Professional Identity: Leading with purpose, integrity, cultural responsiveness, and a strong sense of self.
2. Legal & Systems Context: Strengthen your understanding of your role within policy, legal frameworks, and systems.
3. Courageous Communication: Having brave conversations that build trust, clarity and connections.
4. A.I. Admin Tools: Leading with effieceny using key agents to streamline your workflow.
This is not just a conference about learning support. It is a summit for the people who hold some of the most complex, relational, and strategically important work in our schools.
The SENCO Summit exists to equip, encourage, and connect those who are speaking life into learners, whānau, teachers, and school communities every day.
Cost:
$399
Early bird Special $275
Sir Ashley Bloomfield
Sir Ashley Bloomfield KNZM is one of New Zealand’s most respected public leaders, known for his calm, compassionate, and courageous leadership during times of great challenge. For SENCOs, whose work often sits at the intersection of complexity, advocacy, wellbeing, and system change, Sir Ashley’s leadership expereinces offers timely encouragement and practical wisdom. His message speaks to the courage, clarity, and humanity required to keep serving learners, whānau, staff, and schools with hope.
Barbara Ala'alatoa
Barbara Ala'alatoa embodies the Samoan proverb "O le ala i le pule o le tautua" (The pathway to leadership is through service). A strong advocate for education's transformative power, she has excelled as a principal [Sylvia Park Primary School], chaired the Education Council and Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu, and in 2022 was recognized with the Officer of the NZ Order of Merit. During her time as Chair, the Education Council developed key professional standards and leadership strategies for teachers.
Bex Rose
Bex is a passionate advocate for education with 20 years of experience in the field. Committed to ongoing learning and professional development, Bex has a strong track record of success, including facilitating Digital Technology for 2 years and demonstrating strong business acumen through 2 years in Business Development for an education-based PD provider. Known for galvanising teams and innovative problem-solving skills.
Marshall Diggs
Marshall has a background as a principal, community leader and keynote speaker, Marshall’s role as Director at the Growth Culture Leadership Academy perfectly combines his incredible ability to inspire educators, with his strengths in leadership, coaching and mentoring.
