I Am Network

A growing network of creative champions working with Deaf, disabled & neurodivergent children across London

A growing network of creative champions working with Deaf, disabled & neurodivergent children across London

Being a creative subject teacher in a SEND setting or a SENDCo in a mainstream school can be isolating. You are often a department of one. Opportunities to share practice, seek advice, and develop relationships with other creative subject teachers can often be limited.

A New Direction’s I Am network provides a way of sharing good practices with other educators working in a range of SEND settings across London. The Network meets twice a term over the academic year in cultural venues across London. Last academic year we were hosted by The October Gallery, The National Theatre, Graeae Theatre Company, The Tate Modern, Roundhouse and Somerset House.

Working together to improve creative and cultural opportunities for children and young people who are Deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent, the network is a great opportunity to learn from your peers and find out more about London’s cultural sector.

The Network has grown to more than 50 members and is now a flagship for arts and creativity for children and young people who are Deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent.

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Take a look at our I Am Festival 2025 video:

Watch the I Am Festival 2025 film on YouTube

More information

• What are the benefits for members?

  A New Direction's I Am Network is a free professional development programme providing opportunities to:

  • Meet like-minded teachers from across London
  • Develop skills and practice with your peers
  • Take part in the trailblazing annual I Am Festival
  • Grow your school's arts and cultural offer
  • Attend meetings in and connect with cultural venues across London
  • Find out about creative and cultural opportunities for you and your students
• Why is the network important?

  Children and young people who are Deaf, disabled and neurodiverse face cross-cutting barriers to engaging with London’s arts and cultural offer. The I Am Network work together in partnership with London’s cultural sector to overcome these barriers and make sure all young people have the opportunity to develop their creativity and play an active part in the cultural life of the capital.

• What do teachers in the Network say?

  I appreciate the opportunity to develop my own multi-arts practice, as the Network brings together teachers of art, music, drama, dance, etc. The other important thing for me is the information A New Direction provide to help teachers make connections across the cultural sector – e.g. a practical workshop led by the inclusive team of Corali Dance Company.
  - Beata, Sybil Elgar School

  I love the awesome connections within the Network. And it's not only the teachers who make connections - we recently welcomed visiting students from The Holmewood School. The older students acted as role models, helping our pupils with an arts project. There's no way we would have made that connection without the Network.
  - Krissy, Frederick Hugh House