L.E.A.D. IT announced as headline sponsor of Derby Inclusion INSET Day

L.E.A.D. IT Services is proud to be the headline sponsor of the Derby Inclusion INSET Day. The landmark event will bring 2,600 colleagues from 79 Derby schools together at Vaillant Live on Friday 27 November 2026.

Organised by the Derby City Inclusion Partnership, the day unites school leaders, teachers, teaching assistants, SENCos and support staff around one shared ambition: for every child and young person to feel welcomed, valued and supported to belong and thrive.

As well as sponsoring the event, our team will be on site providing the technical expertise to live stream the day, so even more colleagues from across the city can be part of it.

Inclusion: Everyone, Everyday, Everywhere

The theme for the day, “Inclusion: Everyone, Everyday, Everywhere”, puts practical inclusion at the heart of the programme. A shared morning session will combine keynote contributions, learning, celebration and reflection. In the afternoon, colleagues will explore inclusive relationships, inclusive environments and everyday inclusive actions in greater depth.

The event builds on a significant city-wide commitment. All 106 Derby schools have signed the Derby City Inclusion Charter, whose ten principles support schools to develop inclusive relationships, cultures and provision.

An inspiring line-up of keynote speakers

The morning programme brings national voices and local insight together:

• Richard Gerver, author and speaker
• Stephanie Davies, Laughology
• Mark Finnis, L30 Relational Systems
• Representatives from the Department for Education
• Jo Wilkinson and Phil Smith, Derby City Inclusion Partnership

Live streaming the day so more colleagues can take part

Bringing 2,600 people together in one place is a major undertaking, and not every colleague can be in the room. That is where L.E.A.D. IT comes in. Our technical staff will be at Vaillant Live with cameras, a professional film crew and our streaming service, broadcasting the day so that more of Derby’s education workforce can share in the learning and celebration.

Jo Wilkinson, Inclusion Partnership Manager, said:

“We’re absolutely delighted to have L.E.A.D. IT on board as our sponsor for Derby’s City-wide Inclusion INSET Day. We’re grateful for their generosity and ongoing support for our community of schools across Derby.

Their sponsorship is helping us put on this fantastic event, and having their technical expertise on hand is a huge bonus, particularly with their support to live stream the day so even more colleagues can be part of it.

Bringing 2,600 colleagues together to celebrate inclusion is something really special, and it’s great to have L.E.A.D. IT working alongside us to help make the day a success. We’re looking forward to building on this partnership and exploring more ways we can work together to support schools across Derby.”

— Jo Wilkinson, Inclusion Partnership Manager, Derby City Inclusion Partnership

Why L.E.A.D. IT is backing inclusion in Derby schools

As a Derby-based IT provider, we work alongside schools across the city every day. Supporting the people who make those schools inclusive places is a natural extension of that work.

Lee Jepson, Director of IT at L.E.A.D. IT Services, said:

“We see first-hand how much Derby’s teachers and support staff do to make sure every child feels they belong, so we’re genuinely proud to be headline sponsor of the City-wide Inclusion INSET Day. Our team will be on site with cameras, a film crew and our streaming service so that colleagues who can’t be in the room can still be part of it. Technology should help bring people together, and this day is a brilliant example of that. We’re looking forward to working with the Inclusion Partnership and supporting schools across Derby long after 27 November.”

— Lee Jepson, Director of IT, L.E.A.D. IT Services

Meet the team on the day, and save the date for M.E.E.T. 2027

Look out for the L.E.A.D. IT team at Vaillant Live. We’d love to talk to you about how technology can support inclusion in your school.

Every delegate will also be invited to M.E.E.T. 2027, our free education technology event taking place in March 2027. M.E.E.T. brings schools and trusts together to share ideas, see the latest edtech in action and hear from leading voices in education.