Bright Heart tutors came together for a nasen training day in February 2026, exploring practical approaches to supporting SEND learners, safeguarding updates and emerging AI tools for education.
On 21 February 2026, Bright Heart tutors gathered for a professional development workshop delivered in collaboration with nasen (National Association for Special Educational Needs). Following the success of the previous year’s event, the session once again provided valuable insights and practical strategies for supporting students with SEND.
This year we were delighted to welcome Ffion Robinson, Education Officer at nasen, who led a brilliantly engaging and informative training session for our tutors.
The day commenced with a warm welcome from Dr Ryan Stevenson, a director and co-founder, also thanking attendees for giving up their Saturday morning and investing in their CPD.
The agenda was structured to provide a balance of theoretical knowledge and practical strategies:
The engaging first session encouraged tutors to look beyond surface behaviours and consider the underlying needs that students may be expressing.
The workshop highlighted how many students with SEND experience challenges such as sensory overload, anxiety, working-memory difficulties and uncertainty in learning environments. These experiences can often manifest as behaviours that mask deeper needs or frustrations.
Ffion shared practical strategies tutors can use to create emotionally safe learning environments, including:
The session also reinforced a key principle: students are more able to engage in learning when they feel understood and safe. This aligns strongly with the Bright Heart ethos and approach.
SLCN is one of the most common areas of SEND and can affect many aspects of learning and communication. Tutors explored practical techniques to support these learners effectively, including:
These strategies help reduce cognitive load and support learners in accessing the curriculum more confidently.
An introduction to this pertinent topic was given by Ryan, where he outlined that the Bright Heart SEN tutor was still key to success for transformative tutoring, but AI tools could support this. Care must also be taken not to share any student details with AI platforms (GDPR).
Carol then continued to speak more on generative AI in education. She noted AI tools are increasingly becoming part of the educational landscape, and the session explored how tutors can use them responsibly to enhance their teaching practice. For example, tools such as NotebookLM can help educators generate study guides, summaries, and lesson preparation materials based on their own teaching resources.
Participants discussed both the opportunities and the limitations of AI, emphasising that these tools should support — not replace — the professional expertise of tutors. Critical thinking and human evaluation is key.
For those interested in exploring further, Google offers a free course for educators:
https://grow.google/ai-for-educators/
Bright Heart’s Designated Safeguarding Lead, Carol Minkoulou, provided an important safeguarding refresher. Tutors were reminded of their duty of care, how to recognise safeguarding concerns, and the appropriate procedures for reporting incidents.
The session covered key updates to safeguarding guidance, including:
These updates reflect changes in Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance and reinforce the importance of vigilance, clear reporting procedures and safeguarding awareness in tutoring settings.
To conclude the day, Ryan noted the importance of the Bright Heart Approach, which is supported by a sense of ‘being’ and ‘presence’. This linked to one’s own intention being key for creating and mantaining a nurturing and postive space. The White Paper was commented on, specifically that Alternative Provision was still here to stay. An update was also provided noting Bright Heart is still growing well and is expanding nationally.
The workshop was a strong success, refreshing and equipping tutors with practical knowledge and strategies to enhance their tailored support. A special thanks to:
Ffion Robinson and the nasen team for their expertise and engaging presentations.
Carol Minkoulou for the AI update and ensuring all tutors remain up to date on safeguarding protocols.
All attendees for their enthusiasm and contributions.
To celebrate the day’s events, tutors gathered for a light lunch and informal networking, with some continuing the discussions at The Old Frizzle.
Bright Heart remains committed to ongoing professional development for our tutors. If you’re interested in future workshops and training sessions, keep an eye on our website (tutor section) or get in touch with our team.
For more information on nasen and their professional development offerings, visit: www.nasen.org.uk.
We look forward to seeing you at our next event! 🚀
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