Join us for our Midlands Inclusion and Belonging Summit helping educators translate inclusive vision into measurable impact.

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Join us for our Midlands Inclusion and Belonging Summit, hosted at Burton and South Derbyshire College. This flagship event brings together school and college leaders, educators, support staff, and apprenticeship providers to translate inclusive vision into measurable impact.

Aligned closely with current regulatory guidance, the summit focuses on meeting the needs of all learners and embedding a culture of true belonging across primary, secondary, post-16, and apprenticeship provision.

Learn directly from practitioners, specialists, and national experts to gain evidence-informed, practical insights. You will return to your organisation equipped to ensure your classroom and workplace delivery provides high-quality education, strong personal development, and positive outcomes for every learner.

Why this summit matters now

Meeting regulatory requirements and national guidance is vital, with true impact going far beyond compliance. Today's providers must demonstrate how a culture of inclusion and learner wellbeing is embedded across every aspect of delivery.

This summit offers a dedicated space to learn, collaborate, and address key challenges:

Defining Belonging: What does a genuinely inclusive setting look like across classroom and work-based environments?

Driving Outcomes: How do inclusive cultures systematically improve attendance, behaviour, and academic achievement?

Sustaining Engagement: How do we protect vulnerable learners during key transition points?

By focusing on belonging as a driver for success, this event offers guidance and support, enabling you to create spaces where all learners can become more confident, stay focused and reach their full potential.

A joined-up conversation across education and training

One of the defining strengths of this summit is its focus on cross-phase perspectives. With inclusion not resetting when a learner transitions between primary and secondary education, or into college or onto an apprenticeship, neither should our approaches.

Throughout the day, you will gain practical strategies and learn directly from

School leaders and inclusion specialists

College and post-16 practitioners

Apprenticeship providers and workplace learning specialists

Researchers, sector experts, and national charities

Together we will explore how consistency and embedded approaches to empathy, purpose, and a culture of belonging can support learners across all key stages and post-16 provision, particularly at critical points of transition where disengagement, outside influences and vulnerability are most likely.

What you’ll gain from attending

With an agenda that is designed to drive real change through practical, thought-provoking concepts, those attending will:

Gain clear, evidence-informed strategies you can apply immediately

Develop a deeper understanding of how belonging underpins behaviour, attendance and wellbeing

Strengthen your confidence in responding to broader regulatory and quality assurance expectations

Learn how to better support disadvantaged learners and those with additional needs

Connect with peers across primary, secondary, post-16, and apprenticeship settings facing similar challenges.

You will leave not only inspired, but equipped with impactful tools, language and strategies that can be shared across your teams.

A whole-community approach to inclusion

A central theme of the summit is that belonging cannot be created solely by one role or a department, instead it is a multi-faceted approach with contributions vital from key stakeholders including:

Educators and leaders

Pastoral and support teams

Parents and carers

Learners themselves

Employers, communities, and other external partners

What to expect on the day

This event will focus on real-world insights from experts and providers, with a particular focus the importance of positive transitions, social mobility and current challenges. There will be multiple opportunities to ask questions, as well as time to collaborate, discuss and network with your peers.

Chaired by Schools Week Deputy Editor, Samantha Booth, the day will include a host of inputs from leaders and educators from across the sector. We are currently finalising the full programme for the day, so watch this space for more information coming soon.

This is not just about understanding the problem, it’s about acting on it.

Venue

This event will take place at Burton and South Derbyshire College, Lichfield St, Burton-on-Trent, DE14 3RL

Car parking is available at Fleet Street Car Park, 1 Green Street, DE14 3RT.

Please note: Parking charges apply between 8:00am and 8:00pm.

What our previous attendees have said:

'Thank you for the opportunity to have time out at a great event.'

'The Inclusion and Belonging summit was a seamless event, with sector specialists openly sharing their experiences and successes.'

'The summit pr

Description supplied by the event organiser.