The conference will explore good practice in pastoral care and support for learners that support inclusion and a sense of belonging.

Expert keynote speakers sharing current thinking and ideas about education, good practice presentations about effective pastoral care and support for learners and a Question Time Panel to explore issues in depth. A meeting of minds and sharing of practical ideas to explore how to support children and young people to achieve their full potetential from their education and support their personal development. An opportunity to be inspired by the speakers, presentations, displays and networking with other delegates to make a difference in your work with children and young people. An experience that will motivate and inspire delegates to feel confident about providing effective pastoral care and support for learners in the weeks, months and years after attending the conference.

NAPCE Annual Conference 2026

Inclusion and Belonging in Education.

Sharing Good Practice in Effective Pastoral Care and Support for Learners

Purpose

· To explore the current challenges for schools and colleges to demonstrate inclusion and belonging.

· To examine how effective pastoral care support can support inclusion and belonging

Date

· Friday 9th October 2026, 9.00am registration and refreshments

Venue

· The Graeme Hick Pavilion

· Worcestershire County Cricket Ground, Worcester

Delegates experience.

· Keynote expert speakers.

· Schools sharing good practice.

· Question Time Panel

· Discussions

· Networking with other delegates

· Displays

Tickets - on Eventbrite at https://NAPCEANNUALCONFERENCE26.eventbrite.co.uk

· Limited to maximum of one hundred delegates

· Available on Eventbrite

· link https://NAPCEANNUALCONFERENCE26.eventbrite.co.uk

· NAPCE Members £40.00

· Early Booking delegates £50.00 until Tuesday 10th March

· Delegates £100.00

· Any questions contact admin@napce.org.uk

· Website www.napce.org.uk email admin@napce.org.uk

Programme

9-00am Registration and refreshments

9-20am Welcome and arrangements for the conference. Is Inclusion an Achievable Goal?

Phil Jones, National Chair, The National Association for Pastoral Care in Education

9-30am Headline Conference Sponsors, Brendon Nell, Pupil Pathways. ‘Effective Pastoral Care and Support for Transition’.

9-40am Keynote Speaker – Andrew Wright OBE, Chair of The Attachment Research Community. Supporting the Learning Experience of Children and Young People.

10-30 am Keynote Speaker – Zoe Ali, Deputy Headteacher, Thornhill Community Academy, Dewsbury, England. ‘Achieving a Sense of Belonging in Schools’

11-15am Break -refreshments -networking

11-30am Keynote Speaker – Dr Anne Emerson. Speech and language therapist, teacher, trainer, parent-support worker, counsellor, researcher and author. ‘Developing a Compassionate Culture in Schools’

12-20 pm Lunch – networking

1-00 pm Good Practice Presentation –Sam Cotton, ‘Empowering Change, and Personal Growth’

1-30pm Good Practice Presentation - Vicki Blackburn, Dame Alice Owens School

Supporting learners, staff and families

2-00pm Good Practice Presentation - Chris Tooley, Principal Netherhall School in Cambridge. A vision for effective pastoral care in schools.

2-30pm Good Practice Presentation – David Griffiths, Deputy Director of School Improvement for ISA International Education GroupHead of ISA Liwan International School. Co-Head of ISA Wenhua Liwan School. Introducing Daniel Machin, Principal at Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate and Independent Day and boarding School in York

‘Pro-active Pastoral Care Across Cultures: Meeting the Needs of Overseas Students’.

3-00pm Break and refreshments

3-10pm Pastoral Question Time Panel

Chaired by Phil Jones with an invited panel of expert guests.

3-50pm Close – Phil Jones

For information and to reserve tickets go to https://NAPCEANNUALCONFERENCE26.eventbrite.co.uk

Description supplied by the event organiser.