About

We will share a wealth of knowledge & insights into the following: Why primary school teachers hold the key to addressing the global mental health crisis, the profound impact of every word spoken & behaviours exhibited by those who parent, educate, & care for children on their immediate & life-long mental health, why imagination & power thinking are instrumental in empowering child development & achievement, why early-years name-calling & bullying are at the heart of school refusal, self-loathing & suicidal ideologies in adolescents, why understanding Monkey Wisdom is pivotal to changing not only the lives of our pupils but ourselves as adults too, how Retained Primitive Reflexes critically affect behavioural, physiological, learning, & emotional issues in the classroom (including conditions such as ADHD & autism) why self-care for teachers is as critical as it is for the pupils, what tools & mindset applications really do make a difference to a child’s (and our!) mental wellbeing.

Meet Your Speakers:

Tana Macpherson-Smith, the Monkey Mind Mechanic; Founder of ClearMinds Education; Speaker, Teacher and Mental Health Advocate; Schools Mental Health Consultant; Child and Adolescent Trauma Therapist and Transformation Coach

Tana is a leading advocate in child and adolescent mental health, and prominent speaker on the topics of mental wellbeing and trauma transformation. She is a shining example of resilience and a driving force for promoting mental wellness in both education and the workplace. Having triumphed personally, over childhood trauma and loss, emotional abuse and serious illness, Tana has transformed adversity into advocacy.

As a devoted teacher, assistant Head, and housemistress for almost thirty years, Tana understands fully, the demands of our education system on the whole school community and is alarmed at the demise in mental wellbeing of both pupils and teachers in our schools. With this in mind, she has trained as a mental health specialist; in numerous therapies; as a child, adolescent and parent trauma therapist and transformation coach and launched ClearMinds Education Ltd in 2015. She has worked extensively in junior and senior schools across the UK, delivering INSET training for teachers, workshops for parents and pupils of all ages and conducting whole staff wellbeing assessments in schools. She also provides therapy and transformation programmes for pupils referred to her through schools and in her private practice in Milton Keynes.

Tana’s mission? To change the life experiences of children from conception onwards, and thus tackle the mental health crisis from the grassroots up. Tana believes that by putting the focus firmly on PREVENTION and not simply trying to heal the already wounded with medication and therapy, we can, and will transform the mental health of future adult generations. From fostering resilience in schools and the workplace to authoring books and partnering with film producers, Tana is not just a speaker and admired luminary of The Big Talk Academy; she's creating waves in changing our understanding of child and adolescent mental wellbeing.

Simon Plummer: CEO of Collective Security

Simon boasts a distinguished career spanning over 20 years in the IT, Cyber, and Information Security sector. As the founder of Collective Security, Simon is dedicated to offering a no-jargon, affordable, and practical approach to cybersecurity across diverse sectors. His extensive background includes pivotal roles such as Information Security Manager for E.ON UK and serving as the Designated Security Representative on the UK Smart Metering Programme. Simon also held the position of Group Head of Information Assurance in the Pharmaceutical industry.

As a father of two boys and a former governor at their school, he brings a unique perspective to the challenges faced by the education sector. During the talk, Simon will share insights and practical tips on cybersecurity tailored to governing bodies, leadership, staff, pupils, and parents. His focus on the educational sector makes his expertise particularly relevant for the audience at this conference. Join us for an engaging session where Simon encourages open dialogue and invites you to connect for further discussions on securing your educational institutions against evolving cyber threats.

Kate McKenzie: Creator of The Word Window

Kate is a mum of two boys and was diagnosed with dyslexia aged 19 after a childhood struggling with reading. Having worked in education for over 19 years she has used her educational background, her personal struggles with dyslexia and her early experience as a parent helping her own son with home reading to produce a simple but effective device.

The Word Window in a hand-held device the helps to break down words and is being used by teachers, TA’s and parents to support children that find reading a challenge.

Kate will be speaking about her challenges of learning the read, and the emotional impact this has on her as a child in school, and as an adult coping with the lack of confidence this experience left her with. Kate will share the device, and how it is being used currently.

Kate will also be in attendance for the remainder of the day so attendees can discuss the Word Window in more detail, place orders for the school, and answer any questions.

All three speakers offer follow-on programmes for schools such as the following:

· Mental Health and Wellbeing INSET training for teachers

· Mental Health workshops for parents

· Workshops and motivational speaking for pupils of all ages

· Small group work, addressing specific areas of concern

· 121 therapy and transformation coaching

· An assessment of the whole school staff wellbeing; to include workshops, a detailed questionnaire for staff to complete, individual interviews with staff, a full assessment of what is working well and could be improved upon with regard to staff wellbeing and full feedback and report delivered to the Headteacher and Chairman of Governors.

Location

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Venue Cranfield - Mitchell Hall
College Road, Cranfield, Befordshire MK43 0AL

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