Training Courses

All of our courses offer training and advice tailored to your needs and wants, we are specialists in SEN in mainstream schools, special schools and PRUs. Courses can be either school based, area based (with groups of schools joining together), or Local Authority based. Day courses average 6 hours in length and information on each of them can be found below. To discuss your requirements, find out more about available dates and pricing, or to book a course – please contact us.

• What is effective? What works?

It is so hard to stay up to date with the wide range of materials now readily available. Maria will check that you have seen and are using the most recent and effective materials related to SEN and disabilities. She discusses the best ways to get the messages over to both new and serving teachers and how to illustrate and change attitudes and practice. She will use examples of a wide a variety of needs and ages, and will explain to you the enormous potential for good that she sees in the new DDA pack (Implementing the Disability Discrimination Act in Schools and early years settings) and some of the best other national materials that significantly help in improving learning, teaching and assessment for all learners including those will SEN and disabilities.

• Every Child Matters – do they? Do you understand how the ECM links with SEN and DDA requirements?

Do you know enough? Have you got your evidence ready? Maria explains the background and helps you to self evaluate your practice. She will teach you about the Every Child Matters 5 outcomes and the 7 areas in a way that you and your staff will remember. She will show you examples and enable you to gather the evidence to show you are meeting the new requirements.

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• Understanding Target Setting

• How to set effective targets for improvement, in Special Schools, PRUs, Units and Specialist SEN Provision in Mainstream Schools.
• Understanding national, school, IEP, subject and statutory targets.

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• How well do you PARRC?

How to Plan, Assess, Record, Report and Celebrate the progress of pupils with SEN over time.

• How well do you PARRC?
• How well do you keep evidence regarding Standards?
• How to review and update your curriculum planning, especially in the light of the recent Education Act and the National Strategies.

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• Self-Evaluation – Evidence Ready for Inspection?

Implications for Special and Mainstream Schools, PRUs, Centres and Specialists SEN Providers with a particular focus on Leadership and Management.

• How to complete your school Self Evaluation and Ofsted SEF.
• How to get your evidence ready.
• How to set up your systems to self evaluate.

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• How to Judge and Improve Teaching and Learning

• Making judgements - examining the criteria.
• Writing the evidence - matching the observation, grade and words.
• Giving feedback well.
• Developing competences in teaching - polishing performance.
• Assessment and recording linked to teaching and learning.

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• How to be Effective Subject or Aspect Leaders

• Being clear about the role.
• How to monitor, evaluate and report on: planning, standards of achievement and the curriculum.
• How and when to assess, record and report.
• How to celebrate and certificate the curriculum.
• How to help colleagues with your subject.

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• The Special School and PRU Curriculum - How to do it!

• To provide support for Curriculum Co-ordinators.
• To ensure you are up-to-date.
• To provide practical good ideas to improve practice.
• To use the most relevent aspects of the national strategies for pupils with SEN.

• The National Strategies - Primary and Secondary

• To provide an overview of the history - to update your staff and governors.
• To provide an oppurtunity to see how the most relevent guidance can be used by special providers.
• To explain how best to use the materials to improve your school/PRU.

• Matching Learning to Learners - Different Needs Meet!

• To look at how to differentiate in lessons.
• How to prepare lessons at three levels at least.
• To provide practical strategies for mixed ability teaching and learning.

• Improving Behaviour - Practical Help

• How to track, monitor and report on improved behaviour.
• Making the task clear – motivating learners.
• Suggesting successful ways forward.
• Involving all stakeholders.

• Involving Pupils and their Parents in the Learning Process – Improving Teaching and Learning

• Making individual targets clear for learners.
• Making and using pupil version IEP targets.
• Using targets and objectives well in lessons.
• Involving parents in the learning process – extending time for learning.

• Analysing Pupil Progress Overtime

• How to summarise and present achievement and standards.
• How to analyse and take necessary action.
• Having summary evidence ready to present during inspection.
• Reporting progress of individuals, groups and the whole school.

• Joint Work Sampling – doing it together!

• All ages/phases – highest, average, lowest attainers.
• P1 to NC8 – all levels.
• What evidence of progress over time is there?
• Evaluation analysis of IEPs, Annual Recievors and Outcomes.

• Staying up-to-date – just checking!

• Making sure you have stayed up-to-date.
• Do you know the latest legislation and curriculum requirements?
• Have you seen the latest documents & support materials?

• Performance Management (PM)

• Training staff and governors in the process of judging performance.
• Understanding the statutory nature of PM for teachers.
• Observing colleagues at work and recording the evidence.
• Feedback, improvement and Continuous Professional Development (CPD).
• Agreeing and writing objections, clarifying the success criteria.
• Keeping meaningful, workable records.

• Curriculum Coordinators in Special Schools, PRUs and Mainstream Schools

• The National Curriculum plus RE – what is expected.
• The curriculum coordinators role.
• Mapping the curriculum.
• Planning formats – your PARRCs policy.
• The National Agenda
  • Every child matters.
  • Excellence and enjoyment.
  • The secondary strategy – KS3.
  • The 14 - 19 reforms.
• Recognition and accreditation.

• Ever Ready – Self Evaluation and it's Impact on Learning for Senior Leaders.

• The latest inspection changes.
• The processes and systems to have in place.
• Collecting collating and analysing the evidence.
• The best way to take the Ofsted SEF and termly headteacher's report to governors.
• Accountability and performance management at every level.

• PSHCE – Personal, Social, Health, Citizenship Education

• Help with auditing what you do.
• Every Child Matters.
• Drugs education.
• Links to effective trainers in this area.

• Map your Spiritual Moral Social Cultural Development

• How do you promote?
• What do you do?
• Help with an annual plan.
• Gathering the evidence.
• A focus on emotional development to.

Ask us for our fees – they are tailored to your requirements.