Why should I attend? 

The vision for what would later become the Universal Design for Learning was first conceived by CAST, a non-profit education research and development organisation based in USA, in 1988.  Twenty years later, their innovative approach to equalising access to the curriculum was recognised in the United States federal High Education Opportunity Act (2008) which included the first statutory definition of UDL: 

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) means a scientifically valid framework for guiding educational practice that (A) provides flexibility in the ways information is presented, in the ways students respond or demonstrate knowledge and skills, and in the ways students are engaged; and (B) reduces barriers in instruction, provides appropriate accommodations, supports and challenges, and maintains high achievement expectations for all students, including students with disabilities and students who are limited English proficient. 

Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 

The UDL framework was later further endorsed in the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (2016) which was originally passed to address the need for greater equity and opportunity in the American public school system. 

The USA is not alone in recognising the power of UDL as a framework to benefit all learners; New Zealand and Ghana are also endorsing the approach to meet their objectives for inclusion, while the UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report (2020), Inclusion and education: All means all, also highlight the potential of UDL to ‘provide flexible approaches for curriculum design that can be adjusted for individual needs’.    

In the UK, the benefits of UDL were recognised by the DfE in guidance for the HE sector which explicitly endorsed the framework as a tool for ensuring equal opportunity for all students ‘using more flexible methods of teaching, assessment and service provision to cater for different styles of learners’ (DfE, 2017, Inclusive Teaching and Learning in Higher Education as a route to Excellence).  

As our classrooms become increasingly diverse, our SEND and Inclusion experts at BDSIP believe the UDL framework offers classroom teachers an effective, evidence-based approach to meeting the needs of all learners in their classrooms and thereby, realise a vision of effective inclusion for all. 

Therefore, our conference will provide an introduction to the principles of the Universal Design for Learning and enable delegates to experience UDL in action so they can make an informed decision about how the framework might work in their settings. 

What will the conference cover? 

The sixth BDSIP annual SEND and Inclusion Conference will support delegates to: 

• explore the core principles of the Universal Design for Learning framework 

• develop their knowledge and understanding of the Engagement strand – the why of learning 

• experience a range of practical tools to support implementation 

• network with expert facilitators and leaders in SEND and inclusion to foster collaboration and share best practice 

Speakers and Facilitators 

We will continue to update this page as we confirm our expert speakers, facilitators and exhibitors. 

Who should attend?

• ​​Headteacher 
• ​​SENCO 
• ​​ARP Lead 
• ​​Teacher 

Cost: 

Free to B&D schools 

£100 to schools outside of Barking and Dagenham 

Booking confirmation including access information and important pre-course information will be sent to you upon booking. 

Please check your junk inbox if you do not receive your booking confirmation and ensure you mark the sender as safe to enable you to receive any further pre-course information or changes.  

Contact information 

For specific enquiries about this course, please contact Lee.Boyce@bdsip.co.uk or Hannah.Hamid@bdsip.co.uk  

For general booking or CPD enquiries please contact CPDEvents@bdsip.co.uk