ASN Conference May 2026

Our May conference has normally been a DHT/PT focussed event but feedback from earlier events has made clear that DHTs and PTs wanted to see more input on ASN.  In response, on 8th May this year, our conference will be ASN focussed and open to all and we plan to run a similar conference in September too.  We will start the day with a keynote from Dr Andrew Curran, a paediatric neurologist and author of 'The Little Book of Big Stuff about the Brain'.  We then have 4 workshops, delegates will get an opportunity to choose two.  After lunch we will gather again as one for reflections on lessons from recent HMIE inspections of ASN schools and ASN provisions in mainstream.  We will end the day with an update on AHDS's position and campaigning on ASN. 

AHDS Members - £65+VAT
Non-Members - £155+VAT

New member offer - Join AHDS and receive a free place at this conference. To be eligible for this offer, book your place at this conference here and complete your membership application within a week to get a free place. Invoices will be sent at the non-member rate if a completed membership application isn't received within a week. 

Timings for the day - We will start at 9.00am, finish at 2.30pm and you will get coffee as well as a sit-down hot lunch! 

Keynote 1: Dr Andrew Curran

Andrew is a paediatric neurologist. His work with children over 30 years led him to explore the neurobiology behind their conditions. This led him to seek to understand the neurobiology behind learning. He realised that who a child becomes as an adult is because of the interaction between their environment and their learning – and this is learning in its broadest conceptualisation. He has studied and explored the literature for 35 years, written ‘The Little Book of Big Stuff about the Brain’ and presented at education conferences throughout the UK for 25 years. 

His approach is to make the complex simple – and make the simple mind boggling. He will seek to challenge you and strive to support your growth. 

He also draws really poorly executed pictures and tells awful jokes. He recently formed a band. Check out andrewcurran.net

You will come away knowing you’ve worked – but that work will support you in getting the best from each and every child in your class and school – and from yourself.

Put ‘Dr Andrew Curran brain’ in your search engine. See for yourself.

Workshops

1. Autism and Anxiety

This workshop will focus on understanding anxiety, think about the underlying reasons for what we see and how this may be different for someone who is autistic. We will look at some practical strategies and tools we can implement in daily life to support young people to develop and manage their anxiety and how we need think about adapting them for specific situations.

This session will be delivered by Perth Autism Support.

2. SCERTS

The SCERTS framework is an evidence-based, multidisciplinary model designed to support social communication, emotional regulation, and transactional support for autistic individuals and those with related developmental needs.

This session will be delivered by Glasgow Educational Psychology team.  **Note: A fuller session descriptor will be posted as soon as possible.**

3. Non-violent resistance (NVR): Renfrewshire’s journey

This workshop will be of interest for all education staff, particularly those supporting children and young people who are regularly triggered into a threat response.

Non-Violent Resistance (NVR) is a trauma-informed approach that helps parents, carers and/or professionals to focus on possible ‘unmet needs’ behind children and young people’s distressed and distressing behaviour.  Through developing greater understanding and empathy and by implementing the four key concepts; Resist, Persist, Unite & Repair, NVR enables adults to raise their presence and redress the balance of care and push within relationships.  The intention being to strengthen and build capacity in the adults around the child and to create a calm, consistent, anchoring network with appropriate levels of support and challenge.

Through implementing NVR our data to date indicates an increase in parental/carer and teacher confidence with managing distressed and distressing behaviour.  This has resulted in improved relationships, fewer incidences of violence and supports engagement in learning across the authority. 

Our workshop will explore:

• What is NVR?
• Why we brought NVR to Renfrewshire?
• Our implementation strands; Parents, Training & Whole School
• Impact Data to date

Case Studies examples in a primary classroom & a primary school with an ELCC.

4.  Step Into Headship: Conversations and time to explore

Are you preparing for Headship within the next two to three years?

Into Headship is Scotland’s national programme for aspiring headteachers that leads to the award of the GTC Scotland Standard for Headship. It provides a structured and supportive pathway to build confidence, deepen leadership expertise and strengthen capacity to lead meaningful improvement. 

This interactive workshop will provide an engaging and insightful opportunity to find out more and ask questions about the programme - with those involved in both leading it and participating in it. 

Closing Plenary:

ASN and lessons from inspection - Steven McPherson, HMIe Head of Inspection

AHDS and ASN: An update

We will confirm your booking once we have completed all our processing. 

8 May 2026 - Cumbernauld

AHDS Members: £65 + VAT • Non Members: £155 + VAT