SEND training events and courses

Are you a teaching assistant who works with a child or young person with a sensory loss?

This Virtual School for Sensory Support course run over five full days will consist of theory and practical activities to develop skills for working with children and young people across early years, schools, complex needs schools and colleges.

Accreditation at BTEC Advanced level requires course attendance on all five days and task based activities. It also requires a commitment to produce five assignments and study time outside of the study days.

Dates:

• 20 September 2019 - Introduction to sensory impairment and special educational needs provision
• 15 October 2019 - Understanding of hearing loss and personal amplification/understanding the impact of vision impairment
• 25 November 2019 - Barriers to listening in the classroom/the role of supportive technology
• 23 January 2020 - The impact of hearing impairment on the learning and development of young people/developing key skills for young people with visual impairments
• 26 February 2020 - Managing the environment

Venue:  Professional Development Centre, 144 Woodside Road, Norwich NR7 9QL

Cost and booking:  £50 to cover registration, all materials, refreshments and lunch. Please go to s4s.norfolk.gov.uk for details of the course (ref: VSS-0919-T001) or contact Virtual School Sensory Support sensorysupport@norfolk.gov.uk or 01603 704040.

Three ten-week course modules run during term time for professionals, parents and carers.

Dates and times:

• BSL Module 101 - Monday 23 September to Monday 2 December, 6.30-8.30pm
• BSL Module 102 - Monday 6 January 7 to Monday 16 March, 6.30-8.30pm
• BSL Module 103 - Monday 20 April to Monday 29 June, 6.30-8.30pm

Venue: Professional Development Centre, 144 Woodside Road, Norwich NR7 9QL

Cost and bookings: £260 for professionals, plus the cost of exams (£93 for the three exams, any retakes are extra). Limited places for a parent of a deaf child at a reduced rate of £80 are available. You must have a confirmed place before attending. Please contact Heather Riseborough: email heather.riseborough@norfolk.gov.uk or phone 01603 704040.

A series of six EYFS/KS1 twilight sessions to develop your knowledge and understanding of general strategies that can be used to support different areas of SLCN (Speech, Language and Communication Needs) in the classroom.

Dates:

• Wednesday 30 October 2019
• Wednesday 4 March 2020
• Wednesday 13 May 2020
• Wednesday 4 November 2020
• Wednesday 3 March 2021
• Wednesday 12 May 2021
• Wednesday 12 May 2021

Times:

4.15-5.45pm

Venue:

Sprowston Community Academy, Cannerby Lane, Norwich NR7 8NE

Cost:

Sessions cost £300 each, the cost to be divided by the number of schools attending.

Book as stand-alone sessions or as a complete package.

Further information and bookings:

Please contact Isabel Stubbs, Headteacher, Cecil Gowing Infant School head@cecilgowing.norfolk.sch.uk

Hands-on training for professionals working with young people in Norfolk schools.

Working Memory (all key stages) - how to support working memory in the classroom

• Wednesday 30 October, 1.30-4pm

Multiplication Tables (KS2/3) - practical strategies and resources to develop conceptual understanding and retention of multiplication tables

• Wednesday 6 November, 1.30-4pm

Writing (KS2/3) - practical strategies and resources to support dyslexic learners with writing

• Tuesday 19 November, 1.30-4pm

Reading (KS1/2) - practical strategies and resources to support dyslexic learners with writing

• Wednesday 4 December, 1.30-4pm

Phonological Awareness (KS1/2) - practical strategies and resources to develop phonological awareness and phonic skills

• Tuesday 14 January, 1.30-4pm

Vocabulary Development (KS2/3) - practical strategies and resources to promote vocabulary development & retention for dyslexic learners

• Tuesday 28 January, 1.30-4pm

Maths Difficulties (KS2/3) - practical strategies and resources to support learners with difficulties in maths

• Thursday 13 February, 1.30-4pm

Higher Level Reading Skills (KS2/3) - practical strategies and resources to improve higher level reading skills

• Thursday 19 March, 1.30-4pm

Venue:  Taverham High School, Beech Avenue, Taverham, Norwich NR8 6PA

Bookings and further information:  £50 per person (members can attend one session of their choice free). For more information or a course booking form please contact Cathy Partington c_partington@taverhamhigh.org or call: 01603 860505.

Hands-on training for professionals working with young people in Norfolk schools.

• Dyscalculia Awareness & Strategies
  How to support learners with difficulties in numeracy
  Wednesday 20 November, 1-3.45pm

• Working Memory (all key stages)
  How to support working memory in the classroom
  Wednesday 22 April, 1-3.45pm

Venue:
King’s Oak Academy, Parkway, King’s Lynn PE30 4QJ

Bookings and further information:
£50 per person (members can attend one session of their choice free). For more information or a course booking form please contact Cathy Partington c_partington@taverhamhigh.org or call: 01603 860505.

This course run over six sessions by the Dyslexia Outreach Service is aimed at adults working with students with dyslexia in a professional capacity.

You will need to be able to work with the same learner with dyslexia on a weekly basis. You must have a good basic knowledge of dyslexia and an awareness of the issues faced by learners and the most common strategies and approaches used.

You will learn how to:

• Prioritise learning objectives
• Understand the language of professional assessment reports
• Assess the suitability of available intervention programmes
• Involve and empower your learner
• Monitor progress in every session
• Adjust and plan sessions in the light of your observations
• Communicate intervention outcomes to your line manager, your pupils and parents
• Make a new plan for your learner

Dates: Wednesdays: 8 January, 22 January, 29 January, 12 February, 4 March, 25 March

Time: 1.30pm to 4.00pm

Venue: Taverham High School, Beech Avenue, Taverham, Norwich NR8 6PA

Cost and further information:

£350 per person (£315 to DOS members). For a course booking form please contact Cathy Partington c_partington@taverhamhigh.org or call 01603 860505.

A half-day event for Children's Services, Adult Services, and all education and health professionals outlining key information and procedures around activity associated with preparing for adult life.

This stakeholder event will provide:

• An overview of the main legislation, operational duties, and transformation priorities in both children's and adult's services and health, in order to improve knowledge of each other's roles
• An introduction to the remit of the new PfAL service, referral criteria, scope and purpose, to help identify and support young people with special educational needs and disabilities and their families 
• Information to develop understanding of the importance of working together in supporting young people to prepare for adult life, and what needs to happen (and when) to achieve this 
• A basic understanding of the panels and approval processes in both Children's Services and Adult Social Services

Learning outcomes:

• Gain an improved understanding of the other services that support young people aged 14-25
• Become aware of the new Preparing for Adult Life service and be able to refer appropriately 
• Make contact with colleagues from Children's Services, Education, Adult Services and Health to support professional practice and improved integrated working (Children's Services staff will improve their long-term planning for young people through increased knowledge of what support is available to adults)

Dates and times:

• Thursday 30 January, 9.30am to 1pm
• Tuesday 31 March, 9.30am to 1pm

Venue:

The Nest, Norfolk Community Hub, Holt Road, Horsford Norwich NR10 3AQ

Bookings and further information:

Follow the Smartsurvey link. If you are unable to book your place, please contact nsca@norfolk.gov.uk to be added to a waiting list.

Before attending this event, make sure you read the Preparing for Adult Life (PfAL): Better Working Together factsheet. 

Become a Mental Health First Aid Champion to help support young people you work with!

YMCA’s Mind Matters Team is running courses from its Communities Office in Norwich Bowthorpe.

Dates:

• Wednesday 5 February
• Wednesday 1 April
• Wednesday 20 May

Venue:

YMCA Communities, 7/8 Waldegrave Road, Norwich NR5 9AW

Bookings and further information:

Please contact the Mind Matters Team at mindmatters@ymcanorfolk.org.

Virtual School SEND and Educational Psychology & Specialist Support are offering a new training package for SEND Coordinators working in Norfolk.

This four-day training aims to provide the knowledge needed to navigate SEND support and advice in Norfolk. It is aimed at SENDCos either new to the role or new to Norfolk, teachers aspiring to be a SENDCo, assistant SENDCos, or simply those seeking to refresh their knowledge.

• Day 1: Understanding the role of the SENDCo
• Day 2: The Graduated Approach
• Day 3: The Graduated Approach and Multi-agency working
• Day 4: Partnership working and making connections

Dates, times and venues:

• Wednesday 12 February, 9am to 3.15pm, Professional Development Centre, Woodside Road, Norwich NR7 9QL
• Wednesday 4 March, 9am to 3.15pm, Professional Development Centre, Woodside Road, Norwich NR7 9QL
• Wednesday 25 March, 9am to 3.15pm, Woodside Centre, Witard Road, Norwich NR7 9XD
• Wednesday 22 April, 9am to 3.15pm, Professional Development Centre, Woodside Road, Norwich NR7 9QL

Bookings:

Go to www.S4S.norfolk.gov.uk/training. The cost is £60 per day / £200 for all four sessions.

Further information: Please email amanda.seely@norfolk.gov.uk

Supporting children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) in your school.

This new training course run by East Coast Community Health Care provides:

• Knowledge of the incidence of SLCN and the impact on behaviour, academic progress and social development
• Knowledge and tools to audit, identify and support SLCN within your setting
• Key strategy ideas to support children
• Opportunities to hear from colleagues about interventions and tools they have successfully used in their settings
• The ‘SENCO survival kit’, which enables you to put what you have learned into practice immediately

Date: Tuesday 25 February – venue and times to be confirmed

Bookings: Places are limited, book now! Go to www.ecch.org to request your place.

Has anyone missed out on their setting’s Step On training?

Make sure all your staff are Steps certified. This training is available to schools and settings where Step On certification is currently in place. It offers an ideal opportunity to bring all staff up to date with the Step On approach to positive behaviour management.

Course outline:

• Promote a therapeutic understanding of behaviour
• Develop skills in communication, diversion and de-escalation strategies
• Develop a consistent approach to everyday physical interventions
• Become familiar with risk management documentation
• Understand law and guidance in the area of physical intervention
• Introduce skills for working with young people post-incident

For all staff – primary, secondary, special and outside agencies. Maximum of 24 delegates per training session.

Date and time: Wednesday 26 February, 9am-4pm

Venue: Norwich Professional Development Centre, Woodside Road, Norwich NR7 9QL

Bookings and further information: The cost is £70 per delegate. Please go to www.educatorsolutions.org.uk or call 01603 307710. Course ref STEPS-0220-T001.

A special course run by Educational Psychology & Specialist Support to support struggling readers using Sound Discovery® & Rapid Phonics®, as approved by the Department for Education.

This course is for SENCOs, teachers and teaching assistants in primary or secondary schools aiming to deliver a highly structured programme which supports pupils with literacy difficulties. Up to 20 places are available.

Date and time:

• Friday 28 February, 1-4pm

Venue:

Norwich Professional Development Centre, 144 Woodside Rd, Norwich NR7 9QL

Cost:

£75 per delegate (10% discount for schools with EPSS contract or for 3 or more delegates booking together)

Further information:

Please contact Bridget Tinsey at EPSS on 01603 307553 or email cs.epss@norfolk.gov.uk.

A free drop in event.

Find out what Norfolk County Council teams and its partners can offer to support your families.

Find out what training events are coming up this year and talk to them about your concerns within your setting.

Date, time and venue:

• Monday 2 March
  4-6pm
  Long Stratton High School, Manor Road, Long Stratton NR15 2XR

Become a Steps Service Tutor in your setting to train and support colleagues in the Step On curriculum.

Investing in this 3 day course will equip you with the skills and knowledge of the Step On curriculum to train your colleagues, maintain their Step On certification and continually influence practice within your own context. This course will be grounded in the Steps principles of developing therapeutic approaches to behaviour and will be delivered through a practical, interactive approach.

By the end of the course participants will:

• understand the theoretical principles that underpin the Step On curriculum
• have knowledge of how to apply a range of de-escalation strategies
• know how to use and demonstrate safe use of physical intervention
• become confident in delivering the Step On curriculum in their own setting

Please note:

Norfolk Steps Service Tutors are certificated to be a resource for the setting in which they work. Service tutors are not certified to lead training or consultancy on a voluntary or paid basis outside of their school or setting. To maintain certification delegates will be required to attend a one day refresher each year at an additional cost. Two delegates from each school is advisable. It is strongly advised that managers and delegates are conversant with the Step On principles and approach before booking onto Service Tutor training.

Dates:

Monday 9 to Wednesday 11 March (delegates need to attend all 3 days)

Time:

9am-4pm

Venue:

Norwich Professional Development Centre, Woodside Road, Norwich NR7 9QL

Cost:            

£510 per delegate

Bookings:

Please go to www.educatorsolutions.org.uk (course ref STEPS-0320-T009).

Further information:

Contact Diane Leamon diane.leamon@educatorsolutions.org.uk or call 01603 303340.

A forum to bring special education needs and disabilities professionals together to learn, share and develop provision across Norfolk.

This is a valuable opportunity for head teachers, SENCos and SEND governors to access a termly forum, where they can meet with local authority advisors and specialists and form partnerships with other schools and academies.

• Receive updates on local authority initiatives and directives
• Gain access to specialist advice and support
• Collaborate with the LA to develop the provision of SEND across Norfolk
• Develop professional and supportive relationships

Dates, times and venues:

• Tuesday 10 March, 10am-12pm, Professional Development Centre, Woodside Road, Norwich NR7 9QL. Booking ref SEND-0320-T001.
• Tuesday 10 March, 4-6pm, Thetford Academy, Croxton Road, Thetford IP24 1LH. Booking ref SEND-0320-T004.
• Wednesday 11 March, 4-6pm, King’s Oak Academy, Parkway, King’s Lynn PE30 4QJ. Booking ref SEND-0320-T006.
• Thursday 12 March, 4-6pm, Hellesdon High School, 187 Middletons Lane, Norwich NR6 5SB. Booking ref SEND-0320-T002.
• Tuesday 17 March, 4-6pm, East Norfolk Sixth Form College, Church Lane, Gorleston NR31 7BQ. Booking ref SEND-0320-T005.
• Thursday 19 March, 4-6pm, Aylsham High School, Sir Williams Lane, Aylsham NR11 6AN. Booking ref SEND-0320-T003.

Bookings and further information

Sessions are free to Norfolk schools (subsidised by the Virtual School for SEND). Please book at www.educatorsolutions.org.uk or contract Amanda Seely amanda.seely@norfolk.gov.uk. Alternatively call 01603 307710.

A course in Dereham presented by ASD Helping Hands to offer a basic understanding of autism and how best to support those with the condition or suspected of having an autism spectrum disorder.

Autism is now thought to affect around 700,000 people in the UK – that's more than 1 in 100 of the population. However experts think this may be higher due to misdiagnosis and those who have the condition but do not obtain a formal diagnosis.

This course explores the basis of autism, what difficulties there could be for someone on the autism spectrum, and understanding behaviour and heightened emotional states as well as the senses. It is suitable for any parents, carers or professionals working with those who have autism.

Date and time:

• Tuesday 10 March, 9.30am to 12.30pm

Venue:

Community Action Norfolk, Signpost House, Ambassador Way, Greens Road, Dereham NR20 3TL

Cost and bookings:

Tickets are £15 per person. Book online.

A course open to staff from special schools and specialist services to enable them to train and support their staff in the Step Up curriculum.

Investing in this two day course will enable you to become a Steps Tutor certified to provide Step Up training and consultancy within your own setting.

Services are encouraged to build a small team of tutors who can work together to continually influence practice as well as maintain Step On and Step Up certification within their service. Participants should be selected by the headteacher/manager and will need to be proficient and confident to deliver physical training within their setting. It is essential that the participant is already a Step On Service Tutor. They may only train staff within their own setting who are Step On trained.

Norfolk Steps service tutors are certificated to be a resource for the setting in which they work. Service tutors are not certified to lead training or consultancy on a voluntary or paid basis outside of their school or setting.

Tutors may assist with the training across a broader collection of services such as an academy chain, federation or cluster, but training must be led by their own service tutor or by the central Norfolk Steps team.

To maintain certification delegates will be required to attend a one day refresher each year at an additional cost.

Dates:          

Thursday 12 and Friday 13 March (delegates must attend both days)

Time:

9am-4pm (lunch & refreshments provided)

Venue:

Norwich Professional Development Centre, Woodside Road, Norwich NR7 9QL

Cost:            

£340 per delegate

Bookings and further information:

Please go to www.educatorsolutions.org.uk (course ref STEPS-0320-T010) or call 01603 307710.

An introductory workshop in Swaffham suitable for parents or carers of children with additional needs and professionals who may experience Sensory Processing difficulties themselves.

• Are you the parent or carer for a child with sensory processing difficulties or differences?
• Would you like to know more about what Sensory Processing and Sensory Integration is all about, and how it may be impacting on you and your child’s day to day life at home, school or college and out in the community?
• Or perhaps you recognise the signs of difficulty in yourself or a partner?

This workshop is intended to be an introduction to the principles and ideas involved in Sensory Processing, providing levels of awareness and understanding towards managing people’s needs more positively.

Date and time:

• Monday 16 March, 10am-2.30m

Venue:

Swaffham Community Centre, Campingland, Swaffham PE37 7RB

Booking and further information:

The cost is £60 for parents/carers or £70 for professionals and staff (including buffet lunch and refreshments, handouts and other materials). Contact Lynda Niles (Occupational Therapist) lyndaniles@live.co.uk or lnotasensory@gmail.com for more details or to book, or phone 0741 1177747. There are some discounts available and more information will be sent on enquiry.

Following the review of provision for children with Speech, Language and Communication Needs in 2018 there has been a fundamental change to the referral process for Speech and Language Therapy since 2 September 2019.

Referrals to East Coast Community Healthcare (ECCH) Children’s Speech and Language Therapy now require all settings to be able to evidence a speech and language screen and one cycle of intervention prior to referral.

To support settings to choose a recommended screening tool for their setting, and explore intervention tools, Norfolk County Council will be hosting marketplace events across the region:

• Friday 20 March, 10.30am to 12.30pm - Long Stratton Children’s Centre, Manor Road, Long Stratton NR15 2XR
• Thursday 23 April, 10.30am to 12.30pm - Seagulls Great Yarmouth, Magdalen Way, Gorleston NR31 7BP
• Monday 15 June, 10.30am to 12.30pm - St Augustine’s King’s Lynn, Columbia Way, King’s Lynn PE30 2LB

This is an opportunity for all early years and school practitioners to drop in any time to find out more about the new process and help you to choose screening and intervention packages for your setting. Representatives from ECCH will be available to answer any questions about the changes to the referral process and to offer support to settings in implementing this, as well as to offer information about training and other resources available.

Please email ecch.speakeast@nhs.net with any questions you may have.

A Speech, Language and Communication training session organised by East Coast Community Healthcare.

This training will be beneficial for KS1/KS2 SENCos, teachers and teaching assistants working with children with language delays and disorders. It covers typical speech development and how to identify if a child’s speech is not developing as expected. It also teaches strategies you can use to support children to develop speech sounds and ways to support children with speech sound intervention programmes.

• Gain a basic knowledge of speech sound development
• Become able to identify when children are struggling to develop speech sounds as expected
• Learn some key strategies and activities to support children’s speech sound development

Date: Monday 23 March

Time: 9.30am to 12.30pm

Venue: CFM Children’s Centre, Hunters Road, Norwich NR3 3PY

Booking and further information: The cost is £66 incl VAT per delegate. For further details or to book please contact ecch.speakeast@nhs.net or call 01493 808630.

A full day workshop presented by ASD Helping Hands looking at girls and women with autism. This course is suitable for all parents, carers and any professionals working with girls and women on the Autism Spectrum.

Why is it that we know a lot about the presentation of autism in boys, yet comparatively little about these conditions in girls? Although girls presenting with autism were noted as far back as the 1940s, past research on autism has mostly focused on boys. Fortunately awareness of girls with autism is increasing and this is reflected in a growth in recent publications.

This course explores the differences in the presentation of autism in males and females, as well as looking at the best way to offer support through life, relationships and puberty.

‎Date and time:

• Tuesday 14‎ ‎April, 9.30am-4pm

Venue:

Swaffham Community Centre, Camping Land, Swaffham PE37 7RB

Cost and bookings:

Tickets are £25 per person. Book online.

ASD Helping Hands present a full day accredited course in Norwich on the legal implications of physical interventions and physical training on implementing physical interventions for those who display behaviours that challenge.

The morning session will look at what is acceptable with regards to reasonable force, as well as carrying out dynamic risk assessments to ensure your and others’ safety.

The afternoon session will look at physical interventions within the home environment and how you can keep yourself and others safe.

Date and time:

• Saturday 18 April, 10am-4pm

Venue:

Harford Community Centre, 10 The Lastings, Hall Road, Norwich NR4 6ET

Cost and bookings:

Tickets are £60 per person. Book online.

Supporting children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) in your school.

This new training course run by East Coast Community Health Care provides:

• Knowledge of the incidence of SLCN and the impact on behaviour, academic progress and social development
• Knowledge and tools to audit, identify and support SLCN within your schools
• Key strategy ideas to support pupils at a universal level across the curriculum
• Opportunities to hear from colleagues about interventions and tools they have successfully used in their settings
• The ‘SENCO survival kit’, which enables you to put what you have learned into practice immediately

Date: Thursday 23 April – venue and times to be confirmed

Bookings: Places are limited, book now! Go to www.ecch.org to request your place.