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iSEND Free Training

iSEND Free Training

Buckinghamshire Council’s Integrated SEN Service has a free bespoke, high-quality training programme. Our training will be delivered by a range of Local Authority Professionals, including Specialist Teachers and Educational Psychologists.

Our training will support educational professionals’ learning and development whilst supporting our iSEND Service Ambitions. View our 2024/2025 iSEND training brochure.

The primary role of the iSEND Service is to ensure that children and young people with SEND, at a SEN Support level or those with an EHCP, have access to the appropriate educational opportunities that meet their individual needs. They work closely with settings to facilitate inclusive education and promote an inclusive learning environment for all.

All training is free unless stated otherwise. More information can be found on the iSEND training page.

EBSNA Project

Emotionally Based School Non-Attendance (EBSNA) is a term used to describe children and young people (CYP) who experience challenges in attending school due to negative feelings (such as anxiety). 

EBSNA is commonly associated with emotional and physical distress, and a reluctance to attend school, which can lead to reduced attendance and further anxiety regarding school.

The Educational Psychology (EP) Team are in the process of setting up a weekly drop-in session for schools to discuss their concerns about EBSNA in the school. There will be a drop-in for each area hub and it is expected that these will begin after the Autumn half-term.

If you have any general enquiries about EBSNA, please email ebsa@buckinghamshire.gov.uk and we will try to support you through signposting and/or directing you to appropriate referral pathways.

Autism Education Trust (AET) Training

iSEND is proud to offer the AET training to our settings for free this year.

The AET schools programme offers training and resources to professionals working across all education settings for school-aged pupils aged 5 to 16 years via a network of specialist training hubs across the UK.

Supported by the Department for Education, the programme offers nationally delivered face-to-face or virtual training for professionals working with Autistic children and young people up to the age of 25.

The training uses a range of teaching methods to form an essential part of your continued professional development.

This suite of resources will support leaders or leadership teams to create a culture change across their provision. The resources will support leaders to embed the 8 principles of good autism practice as outlined in the Good Autism Practice Report.

To book whole-school 'Making Sense of Autism' training for your school please email sts@buckinghamshire.gov.uk.

 

National Autistic Society EarlyBird Plus and Teen Life

 

Support for parents (Autism Specialist Teacher Team)

You can read more about the Autism Education Trust on their website.

Assistant Educational Psychologist (AsEP) virtual training - Spring term 2025

Date
Location and time
Type of training
Mon 6 January 2025 
Virtual 2pm to 3pm 
Tree of Life 
Mon 20 January 2025 
Virtual 2pm to 3pm 
Lego Based Therapy 
Tues 28 January 2025 
Virtual 10am to 11am 
Tree of Life 
Tues 4 February 2025 
Virtual 10am to 11am 
Precision Monitoring 
Tues 11 February 2025 
Virtual 10am to 11am 

 
Lego Based Therapy 
Tues 25 February 2025 
Virtual 2pm to 3pm 
Tree of Life 
Tues 4 March 2025 
Virtual 2pm to 3pm 

 
Precision Monitoring
Tues 11 March 2025
Virtual 2pm to 3pm 

 
Lego Based Therapy 
Mon 17 March 2025 
Virtual 10am to 11am 

 
Tree of Life 
Mon 24 March 2025 
Virtual 10am to 11am 

 
Precision Monitoring
Mon 31 March 2025 
Virtual 10am to 11am 

 
Lego Based Therapy 

 

Lego-based therapy

Aim: Training provided to school staff who can then deliver to their pupils

LEGO-based therapy is an evidence-based approach designed for children with social communication difficulties to help to develop these skills. Key focuses include sharing, turn-taking, following rules, using names, and problem-solving. In practice, three children engage in small group sessions, facilitated by an adult.

Each participant assumes a distinct role within the collaborative construction process and the roles rotate as sessions progress. The roles are; the Engineer, who refers to LEGO instructions; the Supplier, who is responsible for providing the necessary LEGO pieces; and the Builder, who constructs the LEGO model. This structured approach addresses core social communication skills and introduces a clear framework for cooperation and interaction, making it particularly effective for individuals with Special Educational Needs (SEN).

Precision monitoring

Aim: Training provided to school staff who can then deliver to their pupils

Precision monitoring teaching is an instructional approach to refine the precision and fluency of literacy and numeracy skills. Precision Teaching concentrates on targeted skill enhancement. Each session is taught in a one-on-one setting between a teacher or teaching assistant and a student, which is approximately 10 minutes and occurs daily. The method is designed to include a repetitive structure, intending to prompt students to recall whichever skill they focus on.

This approach allows students to master specific skills before moving on to the next task. Ideally taught in a quiet setting outside the standard classroom environment.  Daily sessions provide students with consistent opportunities for skill practice and development. Progress needs to be tracked over time to ensure continual progress.

Tree of life

Aim: Training provided to school staff who can then deliver to their pupils

Tree of life training involves exploring and externalising personal issues and challenges by using the metaphor of a tree. Students learn to visualise their life experiences, strengths, and aspirations as different parts of a tree. The training may include storytelling, discussions, and creative activities to help individuals reframe their narratives, emphasising resilience, connections, and personal growth.

By metaphorically representing one's life as a tree, this training encourages positivity and empowerment, which allows individuals to build a narrative that reflects their strengths and potential for positive change.

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