CENMAC's Thursday Thirty - Literacy for All – Rethinking Access, Expectations and Entitlement

Literacy is not an optional extra, it is a right. Yet too often, pupils with complex needs are positioned outside of meaningful literacy instruction due to assumptions about cognition, communication or capacity. In this focused session, Teach Us Too explores why literacy must remain central for every learner, what equitable literacy provision truly looks like for pupils with complex needs in specialist and mainstream settings, and how expectations shape outcomes. Teach Us Too challenges common misconceptions, reflect on who may currently be missing from authentic literacy experiences, and consider practical shifts to ensure no pupil is excluded from the opportunity to read and write. This session is designed to provoke thought, strengthen professional resolve, and support leaders and practitioners to take purposeful next steps. Presenters Chantal Bryan OBE, Director, Teach Us Too Sarah Giles, Education & Training Lead, Teach Us Too