27/02/2026
🎤✨ Guest Speaker Reveal – ILSA Conference 2026 ✨🎤
Join us on Friday, March 6th at the stunning Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Cork for an inspiring day of learning, connection and practical insight.
We’re excited to introduce two of our fantastic guest speakers 👇
🌿 Laoise Hamill
Deputy Principal & SENCO at St. Malachy’s MNS
🏡 Nurture: A Home Away from Home
This research-informed session explores the implementation and impact of a Nurture Group within an educationally disadvantaged Irish primary school. Drawing on qualitative research capturing children’s and staff perspectives, Laoise will highlight:
• The importance of a nurturing environment
• Supporting social and emotional development
• The role of the adult and sustaining nurture practices
Children described their Nurture Room as a “home away from home” — a space of belonging, community, shared rituals and trusted relationships.
Participants will gain practical, whole-school strategies to strengthen relational practice and support socio-emotional development.
💛 Ms. Emma O’Keeffe
Teaching Fellow in the Educational Psychology and Inclusive Special Education (EPISE) Department at Mary Immaculate College
🌈 Social Emotional Learning
Social and emotional literacy — the ability to identify, understand, manage and express feelings — directly impacts a student’s capacity to learn. Emotions influence attention, organisation, motivation and problem-solving, while regulation skills support positive peer relationships and social interactions.
In this session, Emma will explore social emotional learning from theory to practical classroom application — focusing on:
• What to teach
• When to teach it
• How to teach it
Drawing on her experience as a Special Education Teacher and her PhD research exploring the wellbeing of SENCOs in Irish primary schools, Emma will provide practical, classroom-ready approaches to embedding SEL meaningfully.
📅 Friday, March 6th
📍 Radisson Blu Cork
🤝 Connect. Learn. Be Inspired.
