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

Apply Now

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 & 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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Bilingualism

Date: To be confirmed
Duration: 9:00 – 12:00 (3 hrs 0 mins)
Price: £55
Venue: Online via Zoom
Event Leaders: Elizabeth Rajan

Details

During this session, participants will learn:

What is bilingualism?
Does it cause a language delay?
What is expected language development ?
What is the advice to bilingual families on ways to promote bilingualism?
Do you need to work with the parents and how?
How can you make topics culture and ethnicity friendly?
When do you carry out a referral?

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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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A Guide to Intimate Care

Date: Wednesday 25 June 2025
Venue: The Hamworthy Club, Magna Road, Canford Magna, Bournemouth. BH21 3AP
Duration: 9:00 – 12:00 (3 hrs 0 mins)
Price: £85 per person
Event Leader: LTSA

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.

If you do want to attend both please book for both sessions, lunch will be included if you are booked in for both training. If you are only attending 1 session, lunch will not be provided. Boost funding cannot be used for this training.

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A Guide to Toilet Training

Date: Wednesday 25 June 2025
Venue: The Hamworthy Club, Magna Road, Canford Magna, Bournemouth. BH21 3AP
Duration: 13:00 – 15:30 (2 hrs 30 mins)
Price: £85 per person
Event Leader: Kate Tuck

Details

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

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Leadership, Inclusion and Structural Reasonable Adjustments to support students with Autism

Date: Friday 13 June 2025
Duration: 9:15 – 15:30 (6 hrs 15 mins)
Price: £175 (BOOST Funding available for BCP Schools)
Venue: Merley House, Broadstone BH21 3AA
Event Leaders: Gemma Talbot and Kate Tuck

Details

The Leadership, Inclusion and Structural, Reasonable Adjustments Module is part of the Suite of Resources for Leaders. It has been compiled for leaders and leadership teams within education settings to embed culture change across their provision and support them on their journey to become an outstanding and inclusive setting. The resources will support leaders to fully embed the 8 principles of good autism practice as outlined in the Good Autism Practice Report.

This module will help leaders to understand what is needed to fully embed an inclusive culture. It looks at education legislation and guidance surrounding inclusion, the steps required to lead culture change and the importance of considering structural reasonable adjustments and AET resources to support leaders with this.

The aim of this module is to enable delegates:

To look at how inclusive provision and structural reasonable adjustments can help a setting to be outstanding?
To consider what is needed to lead culture change in a setting?
To know about AET resources and guidance that can support leaders to provide inclusive environments through structural reasonable adjustments?
To consider different ways of making structural reasonable adjustments to ensure autistic pupils are fully supported.
To consider autistic children and young people, understand areas of difference and how schoolscan remove barriers to enable full and equal access to learning.

Suitable for Head Teachers, Senior and Middle Leaders and SENCOs.

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Making Sense of Autism

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.

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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Primary Maths Network

Date: Wednesday 11 June 2025
Duration: 15:30 – 17:00 (1 hr 30 mins)
Venue: Avonwood School, Harewood Ave, Bournemouth BH7 6NB
Price: £35
Event Leaders: Claire Morse, Joe Jackson-Taylor, Louise Gadd

Details

Join us for a thought-provoking network meeting for maths leaders, featuring three interactive workshops.

Enhance your teaching strategies and gain ideas for professional development in your own school to improve pupil learning outcomes.

Session 1: Lesson Design- Exploring coherence of lesson planning for progress of all children

Session 2: SATs analysis – Implications for next years curriculum and PD focus

Session 3: Do displays make a difference? Impact of the physical learning environment

Led by:

– Claire Morse, Senior Lecturer in Education (Primary Maths) — University of Winchester

– Joe Jackson-Taylor, Teaching for Mastery Specialist and SLE, Deputy Headteacher (Avonwood Primary School)

– Louise Gadd, Teaching for Mastery Lead, St Katharine’s Primary School and Assistant Jurassic Maths Hub Lead for BCP

Book Now >>

SEN Leadership Networks

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.

Summer Session – Book Now >>

Signalong Workshop

Date: Monday 16 June 2025
Venue: The Hamworthy Club, Magna Road, Canford Magna, Wimborne. BH21 3AP
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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Supporting Medical Needs in Education Settings

Date: Tuesday 24 June 2025
Venue: The Hamworthy Club, Magna Road, Canford Magna, Wimborne. BH21 3AP
Duration: 13:00 – 15:30 (2 hrs 30 mins)
Price: £85
Event Leader: LTSA

Details

Session contributors:
Dr Kate Goyder (BM, MRCPCH)
Ginette Holdroyd – School Nurse (Specialist Community Public Health Nurse)
Elisa Witts – Medical Lead, Linwood School
Epilepsy nursing team

This workshop will provide an opportunity to gain knowledge & understanding, and to clarify the expectations for education settings around managing medical and health needs.

12:50: Arrival and registration

13:00: Introductions to the faculty and to the plan for the afternoon

13:15: In depth topic: Epilepsy and Not Epilepsy

14:00: Break

14.15 Circuits session (3x 12min sessions):

– Acute Asthma

– Giving rescue medication for seizures

– Creating an IHCP

15.00 Resources review

15:15 Close and feedback

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Zones of Regulation - a Linwood Case Study

Date: Tuesday 24 June 2025
Venue: The Hamworthy Club, Magna Road, Canford Magna, Wimborne. BH21 3AP
Duration: 9:00 – 12:00 (3 hrs 0 mins)
Price: £90
Event Leader: Desré Spencer

Details

A team of Linwood School Teachers have embedded the theory and practice of The Zones Of Regulation™, created by Leah Kuypers MA Ed, to support our students in developing self regulation skills. 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 able to meaningfully access The Zones of Regulation™ and share some of our successes and challenges.

Strategies that we share are budget- friendly and designed to be incorporated into daily classroom practice. We believe that some of the most important skills we can equip our young people with for their adult lives is the ability to recognise and interpret their changing emotional states, and know how to employ a range of strategies to self regulate.

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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.”