Linwood Training, Support and Advice (LTSA)

Training and Events

Initial Teacher Training

LTSA plays a fundamental role in developing a self-sustaining system where new teachers learn from the best teachers, supported through a culture of coaching and mentoring.

Our School Direct partnership is with the Poole SCITT. We offer a PGCE in General Primary with SEND. We also work with a range of other local universities and SCITT providers to augment their programmes with school-based SEND experiences.

The programme content is delivered through four taught modules and a series of non-assessed and assessed school-based placements. These placements are in both mainstream primary and special school settings.

Trainees are guided through their learning by experienced SCITT and school-based mentors, to enable them to gain the skills and confidence to become effective, successful teachers of primary-aged children, especially those with SEND. The programme is designed for trainee teachers wishing to enter the profession in either mainstream or special school settings.

Trainees are based at Linwood School and in our partner schools which include primary mainstream and other local special schools.

For more information, visit www.getintoteaching.education.gov.uk

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Early Bird Training

The National Autistic Society (NAS) has developed support programmes for parents and carers who have children with autism.

The programme aims to work on:

• understanding autism
• building confidence to encourage interaction and communication
• understanding and supporting behaviour

The programme works in small groups of four to six families, encouraging parents to share ideas and experiences to problem-solve together. Two parents/carers from each family may attend each session, and they can invite a supporting professional to join them.
You will need to be a resident of BCP, and your child will need to have a diagnosis of autism to attend any of the courses. The programme is provided free of charge.

For more information, visit www.autism.org.uk

EarlyBird

Course

For parents/carers of pre schoolers (Age 1– 4)

Duration

The programme lasts for three months and involves parents in a weekly commitment to a two-and-a-half-hour group training session, home visits, and ongoing work with their child at home. The home visits will involve video feedback and discussion.

Content

The sessions will focus on three main areas:

Understanding autism
Developing interactions and communication with your child with autism
Managing behaviour

EarlyBird Plus

Course

For parents/carers of school-age children (Age 4 – 9)

Duration

The programme will run during term time for ten sessions, incorporating at least one home visit.

Content

Like EarlyBird, the programme aims to help you to:

Understand your child’s autism
Improve communication with your child
Develop strategies to pre-empt problem behaviours and manage those which do occur

Teen Life

Course

For parents/carers of young people (Age 10 – 16)

Duration

This programme runs for six sessions.

Content

Teen Life emphasises the importance of autistic perspectives, with videos and quotes used throughout the sessions.

Topics covered include:

Understanding autism in teenagers
Self-esteem and spending time with other people
Stress and anxiety
Understanding your diagnosis
Puberty and independence
Education and future planning

Continued & Professional Development

Autism & Anxiety

Date: Thursday 13 February 2025
Duration: 9:00 – 12:00 (3 hrs 0 mins)
Price: £90
Venue: The Hamworthy Club, Magna Road, Canford Magna, Wimborne. BH21 3AP
Event Leaders: Kate Tuck and Andy Maher

Details

This module will provide delegates with an understanding of what is meant by anxiety, how it appears in autistic pupils, what the key triggers are and what staff can do to support autistic pupils and prevent/reduce anxiety.

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Autism & Exclusions

Date: Thursday 22 May 2025
Duration: 9:00 – 12:00 (3 hrs 0 mins)
Price: £90
Venue: The Hamworthy Club, Magna Road, Canford Magna, Wimborne. BH21 3AP
Event Leaders: Kate Tuck and Andy Maher

Details

This module will provide delegates with an understanding of the key causes of autistic pupils being excluded from school, how exclusions may be prevented, and if exclusion occurs, how to provide support for the pupil’s successful transition or return to the setting. It will help you understand the legal context of exclusions and the risk of illegal exclusions by better understanding the triggers. It will provide opportunity to reflect on ways to support autistic pupils and families during the period of exclusion, as well as considering ways of managing the reintegration meeting.

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Comic Strip Conversations

Date: Tuesday 14 January 2025
Duration: 9:30 – 12:30 (3 hrs)
Price: £90
Venue: Online via Zoom
Event Leader: Vanessa Clark

Details

Comic Strip Conversations were developed by Carol Gray as a method of unpicking social situations and helping young people to decipher the social world. We will look at the theory behind the strategy, how to use Comic Strips and how to imbed them into your classroom practice.

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Dyscalculia & Maths Difficulties

Date: Monday 9 June 2025
Duration: 13:00 – 15:30 (2 hrs 30 mins)
Price: £90
Venue: The Hamworthy Club, Magna Road, Canford Magna, Wimborne. BH21 3AP
Event Leader: Jane Cottee

Details

This course explores why different specific learning difficulties make it harder for some children to learn about numbers and reviews the current research and understanding of Dyscalculia. The course offers practical advice for staff working with children who are experiencing difficulty with maths. It includes strategies for whole class teaching as well as for individual or group intervention.

Delegates will develop their understanding of dyscalculia and learn the impact of specific learning difficulties on the development of numeracy skills. Practical strategies that are used to support children with numeracy difficulties will be shared.

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Dyslexia

Date: Thursday 27 March 2025
Duration: 13:00 – 15:15 (2 hrs 15 mins)
Price: £90 (BOOST funding available for BCP schools)
Venue: The Hamworthy Club, Magna Road, Canford Magna, Wimborne. BH21 3AP
Event Leader: Nicola Al-Jassar

Details

This course will enable you to:

have an understanding of what is meant by the term ‘Dyslexia’.
understand the link between Dyslexia and mental health.
be able to confidently support students with specific learning difficulties.
have acquired ideas for practical teaching strategies and multisensory approaches to support children in the classroom.

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Grow your own SENCO

Day 1: Wednesday 6 November 2024
Venue: The Hamworthy Club, Magna Road, Canford Magna, Bournemouth. BH21 3AP

Day 2: Tuesday 11 March 2025
Venue: Merley House, Merley Lane, Wimborne. BH21 3AA

Duration: 9:00 – 15:30 (6 hrs 30 mins)
Price: £275 per person
Event Leader: Kate Tuck

Attendance at both days is essential.
Lunch & refreshments are provided on both days.

Details

An induction programme for all new and future SENCOs and those wishing to refresh their skills.

Special educational needs and disability
Assessment and intervention – access to resources and local support
Enabling good progress -and preparation for adulthood
Roles and responsibilities and legal requirements
Mainstream and specialist securing positive outcomes
Including every learner

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Introduction to Structured TEACCHing Principles by Gill Matthews

Day 1: Thursday 27 March 2025
Duration: 9:00 – 12:00 (3 hrs 0 mins)
Price: £90
Venue: The Hamworthy Club, Magna Road, Canford Magna, Wimborne. BH21 3AP
Event Leader: Gill Matthews

Details

Gill is a TEACCH Certified Advanced Consultant and an experienced Teacher of students with Autism.
The TEACCH method is a structured form of teaching that focuses on developmental needs, interests, and skills to develop autonomy.

During this session you will begin to understand;

the evidence based research behind the structured TEACCHing principles.
the learning styles of autistic students.
how the strengths and challenges within these learning styles can be supported by the structure of the physical environment, visual timetables, work/activity systems and visually structured activities.

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Making Sense of Autism

Spring Date: Monday 10 March 2025
Duration: 15:45 – 17:15 (1 hrs 30 mins)
Venue: Online via Zoom
Price: £30 (BOOST funding available for BCP schools)
Event Leader: Kate Tuck

Summer Date: Monday 30 June 2025
Duration: 15:45 – 17:15 (1 hrs 30 mins)
Venue: Online via Zoom
Price: £30 (BOOST funding available for BCP schools)
Event Leader: Kate Tuck

Details

Basic autism awareness training for all staff within education settings (Mainstream and Special Schools).
It will support participants to:

Identify the three key areas of difference that need to be taken into account.
Know the importance of understanding the individual pupil and their profile of strengths and areas for development.
Identify the key areas to help pupils on the autism spectrum build positive relationships with staff, peers, families and people in their community.
Develop an awareness of the sensory and communication differences that pupils may experience.

Spring Session – Book Now >>

Summer Session – Book Now >>

Menopause in the Workplace

Date: Monday 9 June 2025
Duration: 9:30 – 11:30 (2 hrs)
Venue: The Hamworthy Club, Magna Road, Bournemouth, BH21 3AP
Price: £45
Event Leaders: Kate Tuck and Emma Newsum

Details

Through this training, we will share facts and information, signs and symptoms & tips on managing the menopause in the workplace. This training will be suitable for line managers and leaders who are interested in learning more about this transitional phase of life and how their newly acquired knowledge can be used to support colleagues.

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SEN Leadership Networks

Spring Date: Thursday 13 February 2025
Venue: The Hamworthy Club, Magna Road, Bournemouth, BH21 3AP
Duration: 13:30 – 15:00 (1 hr 30 mins)
Price: £0 – no charge
Event Leader: Kate Tuck

Summer Date: Thursday 22 May 2025
Venue: The Hamworthy Club, Magna Road, Bournemouth, BH21 3AP
Duration: 13:30 – 15:00 (1 hr 30 mins)
Price: £0 – no charge
Event Leader: Kate Tuck

Details

This termly network provides an opportunity for SENCOs and other senior leaders from mainstream and special schools and colleges with responsibilities for vulnerable learners to meet, share ideas and hear the latest local, regional and national information and statutory requirements. There will be a focus on provision and outcomes for learners with special educational needs, disabilities and other vulnerabilities. (These networks are funded through Linwood Training Support & Advice. Pre-booking is required.)

School, academy and college leaders including SENCOs are supported to improve the attainment, progress and wider outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities

effective practices in respect of SEND provision are shared and enhanced
support, guidance and updates from experts in the field of SEND in both mainstream and specialist provision is built upon through system leadership
latest resources, training opportunities and policy development in respect of SEND are shared

Content will vary with each session.

Spring Session – Book Now >>

Summer Session – Book Now >>

Signalong Workshop

Date: Monday 16 June 2025
Venue: Littlewood Campus Training Room, School Lane, Poole BH15 3JR
Duration: 9:30 – 15:30 (6 hrs 0 mins)
Price: £160
Event Leader: Gulten Aydin Hassan

Details

Signalong is a sign supporting system developed to help children and adults acquire language skills and to aid with communication difficulties.

You will learn signing skills to enable you to access any sign from the manual.

Signalong follows general language development and encourages spoken language – the spoken word should accompany every sign. The training is arranged around developmental stages, progressing from labelling solid objects to identifying pictures and photographs. It focuses on and supports the understanding of key words and concepts.

The course content includes opportunities to explore concepts such and generalisation and symbolic representation as well as thinking about our individual communication skills.

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Social Stories

Day 1: Thursday 30 January 2025
Day 2: Thursday 6 February 2025
Duration: 9:00 – 12:30 (3 hrs 30 mins)
Price: £165
Venue: Online via Zoom
Event Leader: Dr Siobhan Timmins

Details

Helping children and young people with Autism make sense of the social world.

Dr Siobhan Timmins has been writing Social Stories™ for 25 years and is a published author. She has more than a decade of experience in teaching social understanding in Autism to parents and professionals, delivering workshops in SOCIAL STORIES™ , as defined by Carol Gray, nationally and internationally.

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An Introduction to Autism and Neurodiversity for Parents

This half-day basic autism awareness session for parents will cover the communication and sensory differences children and young people may experience.

The session is FREE and your child does not need to have a diagnosis for you to attend.

Please contact us (details below) to book your space and indicate whether you would like 1 or 2 spaces.

Feedback from parents on the session:

“Lovely mix of information and experiences, thank you!”

“It was brilliant and enlightening, thank you.”

“I really liked it, thank you. Pitched at the right level and was a safe environment to be in. The ‘teachers’ couldn’t have been nicer or more engaging. Thank you.”

“Thank you, what an amazing team of trainers. You kept this very interesting and were all so open about your own experiences.”

“Thank you, a great session to help me understand my daughter.”

“Very thorough, very interesting & helpful. Feel I am moving in the right direction. Lots of great tips.”

“Thank you so much. It’s been really helpful as we start this journey as parents.”