Science Subject Leaders' Conference: Matching Task to Talent RB803 / E02

Keynote from Professor Nick Hodge - Professor in Education, Childhood and Inclusion, Leader of the Equality, Principal Lecturer in Autism within The Autism Centre:

Maintaining curiosity: recognising and developing the talents of pupils with SEND within the science classroom

Ofsted (2013) has identified maintaining curiosity within the classroom and matching task to talent as two key enablers and signifiers of outstanding teaching. This presentation will explore what these two concepts might mean for providing high quality teaching and learning for pupils with SEND in the inclusive science classroom. Questions will be asked such as whose curiosity needs to be maintained and how can this be achieved and what might it mean to match a talent to a task for pupils with SEND. In responding to these the key fundamentals of inclusive policy and practice will be revisited and an argument will be made that how we position ourselves as teachers in relation to these to create our own 'frame of reference' (Skrtic 1995: xi) is the critical element that enables or disables the learning of pupils. Science is about exploration and understanding: only by remaining curious, exploring and understanding ourselves can we enable others to achieve.

Nick Hodge is Professor of Inclusive Practice in the Sheffield Institute of Education at Sheffield Hallam University. Before becoming a lecturer in Autism in 1998, Nick worked for over 15 years as a teacher of pupils with special educational needs. Nick's research and publications focus on all areas that concern the education and well-being of children and young people with SEND and their families. Nick lectures on the MA (Autism) course at Sheffield Hallam and is supervisor to a number of doctoral research students.

Workshops

There will be the option to attend phase-specific and cross-phase sessions.