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: Postponed to Autumn Term
Duration: 09:00 – 12:00 (3 hrs 0 mins)
Price: £95 (Boost Funding available for BCP Schools)
Venue: Canford Magna Complex, 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: Canford Magna Complex, 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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A Guide to Intimate Care

Date: Thursday 19 November 2026
Duration: 13:00 – 15:30 (2 hrs 30 mins)
Price: £85 (Boost Funding available for BCP Schools)
Venue: Coastal Training Suite, Andrews Close, Bournemouth BH11 8HB
Event Leaders: Kate Tuck

Details

A team of Linwood School Teachers, TAs & Leaders have developed practice around intimate care & toilet training, to support the needs & dignity of our students. We will share our journey from the training of our team, to the development of personalised resources that meet the diverse needs of our student cohort. The case study will include examples of how the approach has been adapted so that students with different abilities and communication skills have been supported and share some of our successes, challenges & documentation.

We are also running A Guide to Toilet Training- You are welcome to attend both sessions but please book onto them separately.

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A Guide to Toilet Training

Date: Thursday 19 November 2026
Duration: 09:00 – 12:00 (3 hrs 0 mins)
Price: £85 (Boost Funding available for BCP Schools)
Venue: Coastal Training Suite, Andrews Close, Bournemouth BH11 8HB
Event Leaders: Kate Tuck

Details

A team of Linwood School Teachers, TAs & Leaders have developed practice around intimate care & toilet training, to support the needs & dignity of our students. We will share our journey from the training of our team, to the development of personalised resources that meet the diverse needs of our student cohort. The case study will include examples of how the approach has been adapted so that students with different abilities and communication skills have been supported and share some of our successes, challenges & documentation.

We are also running A Guide to Intimate Care. You are welcome to attend both sessions but please book onto them separately.

Book Now >>

Intensive Interaction

Date: Tuesday 20 October 2026
Duration: 13:00 – 15:30 (2 hrs 30 mins)
Price: £95 (Boost Funding available for BCP Schools)
Venue: Canford Magna Complex, Magna Road, Canford Magna, Wimborne. BH21 3AP
Event Leaders: Kate Tuck

Details

Intensive Interaction is an approach to teaching the pre-speech fundamentals of communication to children and young people who have severe learning difficulties and / or autism, and who are still at an early stage of communication development.

Intensive Interaction is a highly practical approach which works on developing early interaction abilities: how to enjoy being with other people, to relate, interact, know, understand and practice communication routines.

This workshop will introduce delegates to the theory and practical application of this successful approach.

This training is suitable for teachers, teaching assistants, SENCos and leaders.

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Lumos Curriculum Information Workshop

Date: Tuesday 6 October 2026
Duration: 09:00 – 15:30 (6 hrs 30 mins)
Price: £165 (Boost Funding available for BCP Schools)
Venue: Sports and Social Club, Merley Park Road, Ashington, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 3DA
Event Leaders: Lumos Team at Linwood School

Details

In response to a growing demand from schools across our region, Linwood Lumos Curriculum Leadership team has developed an information workshop to support colleagues operating bespoke provisions in their schools.

The Lumos curriculum is designed to support and challenge learners at Key Stage 3 and 4 with moderate or severe learning difficulties who are able to access a more formal subject specific curriculum.

This workshop will cover:

Rolling Programme
Long term planning & examples
Medium term planning & examples
Daily planning & examples
Personal Assessment profiles
Progress reviews – how do we know a student is on track? Impact? Projections
How RSHE is delivered

We will also include some supported planning time in the afternoon, where our team will be available to guide with ‘what this might look like in my school’.

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PEIC-D (2 Half-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: Canford Magna Complex, 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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Preparing for the OFSTED Inclusion Strand

Date: Monday 21 September 2026
Duration: 13:30 – 15:00 (1 hrs 30 mins)
Price: £0 (No charge)
Venue: Online via Zoom
Event Leaders: Deidre Fitzpatrick

Details

Deirdre Fitzpatrick is an educational advisor and trainer within both the specialist and mainstream secondary sector. She is a School Improvement Advisor to over 40 schools and trains leaders on becoming school improvement partners and leading specialist provision. She writes a very popular weekly blog for leaders of specialist provisions and is about to embark on a monthly podcast. She has been an English Advisor, Headteacher, Director of Education, Ofsted Inspector and a DfE specialist advisor. Deirdre has been a senior Secondary and SEN Advisor for an LA and has been a National Leader for Education, overseen 3 outstanding schools and won the TES School of the Year award.

Areas to cover:

What do we know about inspections from those which have already taken place?
How do I prepare for inspections?
Systems, Processes and Things to consider?

Suitable for SENCOs, Teachers ,TAs and any other staff working with children and young people.

Book Now >>

Supporting GLP Workshop

Date: Wednesday 25 November 2026
Duration: 13:00 – 15:30 (2 hrs 30 mins)
Price: £95 (Boost funding available for BCP Schools)
Venue: Coastal Training Suite, Andrews Close, Bournemouth BH11 8HB
Event Leaders: Kate Tuck

Details

Gestalt Language Process (GLP) was a term used by researchers in 1983. In 2012, Marge Blanc began using the term and exploring its meaning. Children who use ‘chunks’ of language, repeat familiar phrases or scripts or use delayed echolalia are often referred to as Gestalt Language Processors (GLPs).

In this session we will explore the differences between GLP and Natural Language Acquisition, the ways in which to support children who present as a Gestalt Language Processor and the current information and guidance provided by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists. The session will be a mix of information sharing, discussion, and group activities.

Delivered by The Children and Young People’s Speech & Language Therapy Team.

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

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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
Friday 9 October 2026	09:30–11:45	St Walburga's Catholic Primary School, Malvern Road, Bournemouth BH9 3BY
Monday 23 November 2026	13:00–15:15	Sopley Primary School Ripley, Bransgore, Christchurch BH23 8ET
Tuesday 2 February 2027	09:30–11:45	Christchurch Junior School, Clarendon Road, Christchurch BH23 2AA
Wednesday 24 March 2027	09:30–11:45	Glenmoor and Winton Academies, Beswick Avenue, Bournemouth BH10 4EX
Friday 14 May 2027	09:30–11:45	Bournemouth Collegiate School (BCS), College Road, Southbourne, Bournemouth BH5 2DY
Thursday 8 July 2027	09:30–11:45	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.”