NAVSH 2026 Annual Conference
This conference brings together Virtual School Heads, Virtual School Teams, leaders, practitioners, and policy makers to explore how identity, lived experience, and systemic inequality intersect in the lives of children in care, care-experienced young people, and those with a social worker.
At its heart, the event champions the belief that every child’s story matters — and that equity in education begins with listening, understanding, and leading with compassion.
As the role of the Virtual School evolves in the UK, this conference will spotlight how leadership can drive meaningful change by:
- Embedding intersectionality into school systems and leadership practices.Addressing the educational barriers faced by children in care, care experienced (including adoption and kinship) and those with a social worker.
- Exploring the impact of trauma, identity, and systemic disadvantage on learning and wellbeing.
- Sharing innovative strategies and best practice to improve outcomes for these young people and support them to overcome the challenges they face.
- Build collaborative networks across education, social care, and community sectors.
Together, we will examine how to lead with equity at the core — ensuring that every child, regardless of background or circumstance, is seen, supported, and empowered to thrive.
Hotels & Accommodation
- The Aloft Birmingham Hotel is directly attached to The Eastside Rooms, with the conference space accessible via the hotel lobby.
- Secure your room at a guaranteed delegate rate of £175 per night here: Book at the Aloft Hotel (delegate rate)
- Please note: There are 50 rooms available at the guaranteed rate
- Once the guaranteed rate rooms are fully booked, you can reserve standard rooms here: Aloft Hotel (standard booking)
- Secure your room at a guaranteed delegate rate of £175 per night here: Book at the Aloft Hotel (delegate rate)
- Additional nearby accommodation includes the Premier Inn – Aston Hotel, located just a 10-minute walk from the venue: Premier Inn – Aston Hotel
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Submissions for speakers for the NAVSH 2026 Annual Conference are now closed. We will be in touch with anyone who has submitted an EOI in mid-September.
If you would like to be added to our contact list to receive information about the speaker expression of interest process for the 2027 Annual Conference, please click the button below.
Click here to add your details to our contact list
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
If you are interested in exhibiting at the NAVSH conference then please click the button below to find out more.
This year, we’re introducing two important updates for our exhibition stands:
- A new tiered stand system – providing more choice for our exhibitors (see details below).
- A two-phase booking release – to ensure as many organisations as possible have the chance to secure a stand.
To keep things as fair as we can, half of the stands will be available in Phase 1, and the remaining half will be released in Phase 2.
Phase 1 Bookings: Opening 12pm, Monday 29th September
Phase 2 Bookings: Opening 12pm, Monday 13th October
Please note: Your exhibition stand is only confirmed once it has been booked through the official booking form. Registering interest or receiving updates does not secure a stand — booking through the form is the only way to confirm your place.