Every child needs to belong: building inclusive learning communities through character strengths — Dr Kaisa Vuorinen

This session helps SENCOs and School Leaders think about how they might support every child in their setting, including those with SEND, to feel like they belong. Drawing on positive education, character strengths research, and emerging international evidence, Dr. Kaisa Vuorinen explores how schools can become communities where students truly thrive. Recent large-scale studies suggest that flourishing is most strongly supported by positive relationships, a sense of belonging, opportunities to contribute, playful engagement, and the intentional development of character strengths and virtues.

About the speaker

Dr. Kaisa Vuorinen has a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Helsinki and is the CEO and founder of Positive Learning Ltd. She is a globally recognised expert in positive education, specialising in strength-based learning and character strengths development. With her award-winning See the Good! method, Kaisa has trained tens of thousands of educators in over 30 countries, fostering cultures of compassion, well-being, and positivity in schools and workplaces. Her mission is to help individuals and communities unlock their full potential by focusing on strengths, enhancing well-being, and creating meaningful human connections.