NASSH Inset Day | Monday 13 April 2026
Communication Tools from the world of Hostage and Crisis Negotiation and Writing for all.
- Monday 13 April 2026
- 8.30am – 3.15pm
- Full Day £95+VAT, Half Day £65 +VAT
- Roundwood, 44 Ringland Road, Taverham, Norwich NR8 6HY
- Please note that this event is for NASSH Schools only.
Conference Schedule:
- 8.30am - 9.00am: Arrival for a 9am start
- 9.00am - 10.30am: Nicky Perfect
- 10.30am - 10.50am: Refreshments
- 10.50am - 12.20pm: Nicky Perfect
- 12.20pm - 1.00pm: Lunch
- 1.00pm - 3.15pm: Writing For All with Darleen Grimsby
Morning Session:
From Conflict to Collaboration: Practical Tools from the world of Hostage and Crisis
We are thrilled to be joined by hostage and crisis negotiator Nicky Perfect (author of ‘Crisis: True stories of my life as a hostage negotiator’). Drawing directly from the high-stakes world of negotiation, Nicky will provide you with cutting-edge strategies and a robust framework to approach even the most sensitive discussions with confidence and efficacy. The morning session will cover:
Understanding Conflict
- What Conflict Really Is
- The Emotional and Logical Brain and how to control emotions
- Values and Beliefs and how they affect communication
Negotiation and Listening
- The FBI Negotiation Stairway and how to use this to de-escalate conflict
- The Power of Listening
The 4 P’s System For Difficult Conversations
- Teaching the 4 P’s
- Group Work with Real Scenarios
- Group Share-Back
Nicky Perfect
Nicky Perfect is an international hostage and crisis negotiator turned author and trainer. She has 31 years experience as a police officer, over a decades experience as an international hostage and crisis negotiator working for New Scotland Yard’s elite full time Hostage and Crisis Negotiation Unit.
For five years she was the director of UK training for hostage and crisis negotiation whilst also deploying on operational incidents both nationally and internationally.
She now owns her own business teaching the skills she learnt as a negotiator to improve relationships through life changing communication.
In 2023 she received a British Empire Medal for meritorious service to her community during the pandemic and her book Crisis is an Amazon best seller.
Afternoon Session:
Writing For All with Darleen Grimsby
This professional development session takes evidence-based approaches to teaching writing so that ALL pupils can access writing. Based on Sedita’s Writing Rope it examines the multifaceted nature of writing and the neurological processes that underpin it.
It will be broken into 3 parts:
- Whole school: Participants will consider how a whole-school approach can ensure coherence and breadth in writing curriculum coverage, supporting progression across developmental stages.
- Classroom: In the classroom, we will explore a teaching and learning sequence for both fiction and non-fiction.
- Pupil: We will examine a skills progression that considers where the pupil is writing at and how to move them forward.
This is a very practical workshop and participants will experience using practical strategies.
Darleen Grimsby
Darleen has a wide-ranging background in education, including EAL and SEND. She holds a Bachelor of Education, the NASENCo Award, a Certificate in Competence in Educational Testing, and a Master’s Degree in SEND and Inclusion.
She began in mainstream schools before she transitioned into specialist roles supporting students with additional learning needs. She served as Deputy Headteacher at a Complex Special Needs school.
Currently, Darleen works as a Trust SENDCo and Inclusion Officer, supporting a network of schools to develop inclusive practices and provision for students with complex needs. In addition to this, her current research focuses on effective strategies to support ADHD learners in accessing exams (GCSE and A Levels) and on mental health support for non-speaking autistic individuals.
In addition to her leadership and research, Darleen is the author of Developing Educational Plans for Learners with SEND.
She is dedicated to ensuring that all learners receive the support they need to thrive, continually advocating for equity and inclusion in education.
