St Dominic’s School brings families together for a Big SEN Conversation
St Dominic’s School welcomed families for a Big SEN Conversation event on Tuesday 21 April, bringing together parents, carers and staff for a full day of discussion, learning and collaboration. The event was attended by 40 families and played a key role in strengthening relationships and helping to shape future SEND provision across the school.
The day began with a warm welcome from Principal, Vicky Perry, who set an open, inclusive and collaborative tone for the day. Speaking afterwards she said, “The Big SEN Conversation was a fantastic opportunity to listen, learn and work together with our families. The openness, engagement and honesty shown throughout the day really highlighted the strength of our school community and our shared commitment to supporting every child to thrive.”
Families heard from keynote speaker Ruth Noble from Smoothwall, who delivered an engaging webinar entitled ‘Building safe and resilient internet users’. The session prompted valuable discussion around online safety and digital resilience, with a particular focus on supporting children and young people with additional needs.
Following the keynote speaker, attendees had the opportunity to connect informally over coffee and explore a marketplace in the Performing Arts area. This was followed by a series of well attended workshops, which allowed families to choose topics most relevant to their experiences, encouraging meaningful conversation, shared learning and practical takeaways.
The afternoon session focused on setting the direction for St Dominic’s School together, giving families an important voice in shaping SEND priorities moving forward. Parent focus groups provided a supportive space for open discussion, constructive feedback and shared ideas, reinforcing the strong partnership between home and school.
The event was widely praised by attendees for its organisation, relevance and welcoming atmosphere. The Big SEN Conversation successfully amplified parent voices, shared professional expertise and strengthened the wider school community.