INAUGURAL CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

Your People. Your Place. Your Voice.

Our inaugural NAISA conference took place on 13 April 2026 at the beautiful Fazeley Studios in Birmingham. We were proud to welcome headteachers, senior leaders and proprietors from across the sector. We even had some local authority commissioners present!

The theme of the conference was Your People. Your Place. Your Voice and our speakers delivered! Our speakers gave insightful talks about the state of the sector, the new Ofsted inspection framework, online schools, AI in schools, how to move from EHCPs to everyday practice and demonstrated to us how teachers are heroes who change lives. Amongst our speakers was Ofsted’s Senior HMI for Non-association independent schools.

Delegates also had the opportunity to meet and engage with a range of exhibitors throughout the day who showcased services and resources designed to support schools in meeting the needs of their pupils from specialist therapies to innovative educational provision giving delegates the opportunity to explore practical solutions and make valuable connections.

This meeting of professionals from a sector that rarely has it’s own place gave everyone a sense of shared experience. Delegates were able to exchange ideas, ask questions, and connect with others facing similar challenges. The venue itself provided the perfect setting open, comfortable and full of character. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who contributed to making the day such a success speakers, exhibitors and delegates alike. And this is just the beginning. We’re already looking ahead to the next conference.

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

"What stood out most was the power of being in the room together. Conversations that spark ideas. Shared challenges that suddenly feel lighter. Realising you are not doing this work alone."

Dionne Jude

"Thank you again for having us, we had a wonderful time exhibiting and we're already looking forward to next year! Congratulations again for coordinating such a well-organised, inspiring event."

Magic Words Therapy

"It was a fantastic experience being at the NAISA conference! ... It was wonderful to connect with so many dedicated individuals and discuss their needs and how our solutions can help."

Erika Gill