2025 sees a brand new northern edition of the Tes SEND Show! Taking place at the Bolton Wanderers Stadium, the two-day event will consist of learning, sharing, and connecting—designed specifically for the North's SEND community. To give you more insight into what to expect, here is a quick overview of three talks taking place on 6-7 February.

The event’s Programmer Director, Beverley Waters, is joined by Clinical Psychologist and CEO of Innovating Minds, Dr Asha Patel for the first keynote discussion – ‘SEND, forensic mental health and the young offender’s unit: a journey too close for comfort’. During her time in forensic services that Dr. Patel encountered a recurring theme: many of her patients had endured significant childhood trauma, often compounded by a lack of early support. The systems surrounding these children had failed to recognise and address their needs, setting them on paths marked by worsening mental health, substance abuse, poverty, and neglect. Dr Asha Patel reflects on these experiences and discusses the need for systemic change.

Opening day two of Tes SEND Show North, are two talks. Wendy Lee and Liz Murray explore the links between SLCN and SEMH, how to identify pupils at risk and suggest practical strategies to support pupils with SLCN in the classroom and provide targeted support, in their talk ‘Identifying and supporting students with Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) and Social and Emotional Mental Health (SEMH)’. If you are looking for something more about relationships with students, in her talk ‘Build an empathy-based approach with regard to SEND in your school’, Special Needs and Relationship Specialist, Ginny Bootman, looks at practical ways to build these relationships and references the work of Brene Brown and The PACE Approach by Dan Hughes.  

The seminar programme for the 2025 Tes SEND Show North hosts a range of talks, covering the four broad areas of need, leadership, and preparing for adulthood. While you're at the show, you can also check out this year’s exhibitors in the main exhibition room – including AP company Academy 21, AQA, Speech & Language Link, and, of course, the SEND Network! 

The Tes SEND Show takes place at Bolton Wanderers Stadium on 6-7 February. To register, click here. You can view the full programme on the Tes SEND Show North website.