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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Continued & Professional Development

Fun with Foods

Date: Thursday 9 July 2026
Duration: 09:00 – 12:00 (3 hrs 0 mins)
Price: £95 (Boost Funding available for BCP Schools)
Venue: The Hamworthy Club, Magna Road, Canford Magna, Wimborne. BH21 3AP
Event Leaders: Kate Tuck

Details

Led by Lindsay Bowen & Beccy Ridge – on the Early Years Team at Linwood School

Fun with Foods programme supports children to learn to tolerate a greater range of foods. It will address postural, sensory, motor and behavioural needs surrounding eating. Aiming to support the children to be more comfortable exploring and learning about food through a playful, non- threatening approach. The long-term aim is, rather than focus on the quantity of food eaten, that they are willing to explore and try new foods, being comfortable with a wider range of foods.

Aims for session include:

Understanding the causes of feeding difficulties and differences in children Food exploration through the senses
Challenges and developing skills
The Fun With Foods Learning Ladder
Ideas for food based messy play

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Grow Your Own SENCO - 2 Day Course

Day 1: Tuesday 10 November 2026
Duration: 09:00 – 15:30 (6 hrs 30 mins)
Venue: The Hamworthy Club, Magna Road, Canford Magna, Wimborne. BH21 3AP

Day 2: Wednesday 10 March 2027
Duration: 09:00 – 15:30 (6 hrs 30 mins)
Venue: Merley House, Merley Lane, Wimborne. BH21 3AA

Price: £150
Event Leader: Kate Tuck

Details

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

Attendance at both days is essential.

Lunch & refreshments are provided on both days.

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Making Sense of Autism

Date: Monday 6 July 2026
Duration: 15:45 – 17:15 (1 hr 30 mins)
Price: £30 (Boost funding available for BCP Schools)
Venue: Online via Zoom
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.

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PEIC-D - 2 Day Course

Day 1: Tuesday 13 October 2026
Duration: 09:00 – 12:00 (3 hrs 0 mins)

Day 2: Tuesday 20 October 2026
Duration: 09:00 – 12:00 (3 hrs 0 mins)

Venue: The Hamworthy Club, Magna Road, Canford Magna, Wimborne. BH21 3AP
Price: £185 (Boost Funding available for BCP Schools)
Event Leader: Kate Tuck

Details

Promoting Early Interactive Conversations – Dorset (PEIC-D)

Suitable for SENCOs, Class Teachers, Teaching Assistants, Early Years Practitioners and any staff working with children / young people with language difficulties

PEIC-D is a child-led approach. It revisits early interaction skills such as copying and turn-taking.

By working through a framework, children and adults can work together to develop shared interaction and joint attention skills. The framework is based on developmental level (not age).

PEIC-D is particularly suitable for children and young people who prefer playing alone with objects/toys in their own way.

The 2-part PEIC-D training provides detailed information, activities, and problem-solving opportunities

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Signalong

Date: Wednesday 24 June 2026
Price: £160 (BOOST Funding available for BCP educational settings)
Duration: 09:30 – 15:30 (6 hrs 0 mins)
Venue: Cobham Sports and Social Club, Merley Park Road, Ashington, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 3DA
Event Leader: Gulten Aydin Hussain

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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An Introduction to Autism and Neurodiversity for Parents

This half-day session provides parents with a basic overview of how Autism and Neurodiversity may present in children and young people. It includes:

Information about Autism and Neurodiversity, including the 3 areas of difference.
Young person input: ‘My Experiences’.

The session is FREE and open to families who live in the BCP area. 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. Please also confirm if your child attends the school that is hosting the session to help us with allocation of spaces.

Day	Time	Venue
Tue 30 Jun 2026	9:30 - 11:45	Corfe Hills School Higher Blandford Road, Broadstone BH18 9BG
Tue 7 Jul 2026	9:30 - 11:45	Online via Zoom

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.”