Portsmouth schools unite to champion inclusive practice at annual conference

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Education professionals in Portsmouth came together on 9 October 2025 to celebrate and strengthen inclusive practice across early years, primary, and secondary settings in the city.

The annual conference aims to improve outcomes for children and young people by sharing expertise and promoting collaboration across the education sector.

Delegates were inspired by keynote speaker Ginny Bootman, SENCO and author of Independent Thinking On Being A SENDCO, who shared practical, proven strategies for building meaningful relationships between children with additional needs and education professionals.

Attendees also took part in eight interactive workshops covering topics such as neurodiversity resources, developing attendance plans, understanding masking behaviours, and normalising anxiety.

The event featured a range of exhibitors including Portsmouth Parent Voice, Portsmouth Family Hubs, the Parent Carer Board, SENDIASS, and other local services supporting children and families.

Sarah Daly, director of children, families and education at Portsmouth City Council, said:

“Inclusive education is not just a principle, it’s a promise we make to every child in Portsmouth. This conference is a testament to the dedication of our schools and services, who work tirelessly to ensure that children and young people with additional needs are supported to learn and to fulfil their potential.  Making sure pupils feel seen, understood, and safe is a crucial starting point for supporting a child’s sense of belonging in their education provision.

“By sharing best practice and learning from one another, we’re building a city-wide culture where inclusion is embedded in everything we do—from the classroom to the community.”

The Inclusion Conference is in its 12th year and continues to be a cornerstone of Portsmouth’s commitment to inclusive education, fostering collaboration and shared learning across the city’s schools.

Portsmouth The Digital City project

Portsmouth recognised nationally for digital innovation and inclusive education

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Portsmouth’s commitment to digital transformation in education has been recognised with multiple national awards, celebrating the city’s collaborative efforts to improve learning outcomes and promote inclusion through technology.

The Portsmouth: Digital City project has received a prestigious Silver Award in the Pearson National Teaching Awards for Transformational Use of Digital Technology. The project, which began before the pandemic and accelerated during lockdowns, now includes 61 schools across the city. It is built around a shared vision with three clear strands: technology for children, technology for adults, and technology for all. The initiative is now in the running for a Gold Award, to be announced later this year at a ceremony in London and featured on BBC One’s The One Show.

Cllr Nick Dorrington, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education at Portsmouth City Council, said:

“It’s fantastic to see Portsmouth recognised on a national stage. The work of all involved in the project shows how digital tools can be used creatively to support learning and improve outcomes for young people.”

Gemma Gwilliam, Head of Digital Learning, Education and Innovation for the Portsmouth: Digital City project, added:

“It’s an honour to present not just a Silver Pearson Award, but two Certificates of Excellence that reflect our city-wide mission. This isn’t just a project — it’s a shared commitment to supporting every member of our community through digital innovation.”

Katie Quinn, Principal and Chief Executive at City of Portsmouth College, said:

“Contributing to Portsmouth: The Digital City is at the heart of our mission as an anchor institution. Supporting digital training for adults — many of whom are parents of local students — has been a privilege and a vital part of promoting digital inclusion across our communities.”

In addition to the Silver Award, two local initiatives have been honoured with Certificates of Excellence at a separate national awards ceremony.

City of Portsmouth College and UTC Portsmouth were jointly recognised in the School or College Partnership of the Year category for their work on the Portsmouth: The Digital City project. Their efforts have helped improve digital equity through targeted outreach, increased access to STEM opportunities, and the development of clearer career pathways for students and their families.

A second Certificate of Excellence was awarded to the Digital City Inclusion Project for its Outstanding Contribution to SEND Education. This initiative brings together Google for Education, Canopy for Education, and local schools including Craneswater Junior School, St Paul’s Catholic Primary School, Springfield School, Solent Junior School, and Priory School.

By embedding assistive technologies, training staff, and supporting families, the project has significantly improved access to learning for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), English as an additional language (EAL), and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Jack Jones, Headteacher at New Horizons Primary School, said:

“Over the past two years, we’ve worked closely with the Portsmouth: Digital City project, and I’m incredibly proud of how one of our staff members has grown into a digital champion for the city. Sophie Kelleher (digital lead for the school and city) has played a key role in developing our computing curriculum and supporting staff across schools. Her work has had a real impact — from embedding digital skills and citizenship into our Key Stage 2 curriculum to receiving national recognition as a finalist for the Edufuturist Digital Skills Champion Award.”

These achievements coincide with National Thank a Teacher Day, which celebrates the vital role of teachers, support staff, and schools in shaping future generations.

PortsMaths Conference 2024

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Booking is now open for PortsMaths Conference 2024, the second PEP Teaching and Learning conference! The conference will take place on Thursday 14 March 2024 at Portsmouth Marriott Hotel.

Book early to ensure your space at what will be a fun and engaging conference. We have 10 workshops and two keynote speakers; Dr Andrew Curran and Andrew Jeffrey. You can also expect stallholders, a goody bag and a free raffle with prizes.

Further information about each of the workshops can be found below.

You can also watch a video of last year’s conference, Portsmouth Reads.

Get your ticket

Workshop descriptions

  • Adapting for depth – Andrew Jeffrey
    Greater Depth should be more than just a target or a percentage of a cohort; it is an entitlement for all students. But how do we adapt our lessons to make it possible to offer every child the chance to think about maths this way? In this workshop we will look at some of the key ideas and strategies from “Greater Depth in Primary Maths” that are effective and easy to implement but which can have lasting impact on your students.
  • Using technology to improve outcomes in primary maths: quick wins to take away today! – Gemma Gwilliam
    As part of the Digital City Project, we have all been looking at how technology can be used to enhance teaching and learning, support accessibility and inclusion and reduce workload, but what does this look like in the primary maths classroom? How can technology be used to improve outcomes? What are those quick wins you can take away today without spending any money? Join us as we share best practice from across the city and continue to support all members of our community to select the right tool, for the right outcome, for them.
  • Transition and the use of concrete manipulatives – KS2 to KS3 – Jo Gerrard /Carla
    Laney
    This workshop will focus on the use of concrete manipulatives in upper key stage 2 and the start of key stage 3. We will explore their use through calculation methods and calculating with fractions to ensure that students develop a deeper understanding of concepts which can otherwise be taught as abstract procedures.
  • Maths for all – Fran Watson
    Offering the opportunity for all learners to see themselves as problem solvers, is important for building positive relationships with a subject that is often thought of in the same light as Marmite! Come and participate in this practical hands-on workshop, to experience the intrigue, surprise and delight that comes from puzzling with paper. (These cross-phase activities have been rigorously road-tested and found to spark excitement in learners of all ages and their teachers.)
  • Maths – not a universal language! Supporting your pupils with EAL in maths – Karen Thomas and Marie Allen
    During this session, we will identify the barriers that pupils with EAL may face in, and the inherent demands of, maths lessons and will introduce strategies to support EAL pupils in both primary and secondary settings, especially with word problems.
  • Promoting independence in maths for learners with SEND – Shelley Martin
    This workshop provides a range of strategies to promote the independence of pupils with SEND, so that they are less adult-reliant. This is suitable for primary and secondary mainstream colleagues. It is packed full of a range of things to try, without increasing teacher workload.
  • Early years / KS1 – Mandy Hooper
    How to construct a curriculum for EYFS that enables a clear developmental trajectories across the domains of mathematics. This workshop will focus on the instrumental pedagogies and practice that then allow the KS1 curriculum content to be secured for all children through gesture, visualisation, language, representations and manipulatives. This will reference: Mastering Number, the NCETM EYFS Domains, Learning Trajectories and Development Matters as frameworks.
  • Accelerate in KS4 (to achieve a grade 5) – Juliane Collings
    This workshop will look at how to support learners’ progress through the use of some mastery strategies. Allowing learners to consider a number of approaches and through the use of dialogic teaching and learning activities to further learners’ understanding of mathematical concepts rather than rote learning. The workshop will also consider a number of teaching approaches such as workshop sessions to focus on individual gaps in knowledge and how to plan and execute these within a range of settings.
  • Maths for all – Fran Watson
    Offering the opportunity for all learners to see themselves as problem solvers, is important for building positive relationships with a subject that is often thought of in the same light as Marmite! Come and participate in this practical hands-on workshop, to experience the intrigue, surprise and delight that comes from puzzling with paper. (These cross-phase activities have been rigorously road-tested and found to spark excitement in learners of all ages and their teachers.)
  • Using technology to improve outcomes in the secondary maths classroom: quick wins to take away today! – Gemma Gwilliam
    As part of the Digital City Project, we have all been looking at how technology can be used to enhance teaching and learning, support accessibility and inclusion and reduce workload, but what does this look like in the secondary maths classroom? How can technology be used to improve outcomes? What are those quick wins you can take away today without spending any money? Join us as we share best practice from across the city and continue to support all members of our community to select the right tool, for the right outcome, for them.