STEPS whole-school training - your questions answered

Exploring STEPS for your school? SENCOs, headteachers, and school leaders across the UK ask us great questions about STEPS every day. Here are the honest answers to what you want to know most - from how it actually works to the impact you can expect.



1. "What actually is STEPS? How does the platform work?"

STEPS is a whole-school SEND training platform designed specifically for busy schools. Here's what that means in practice:

The platform:

• 12 specialist SEND courses covering autism, ADHD, dyslexia, behaviour, mental health, communication needs, and more
• 3 progressive levels per course (Level 1: Universal awareness, Level 2: Enhanced skills, Level 3: Specialist implementation)
• 5-10 minute video modules that staff can complete anytime, anywhere
• Ready-to-download resources including intervention strategies, visual supports, scaffolding tools, and assessment guides
• SENCO dashboard for tracking progress, generating reports, and evidencing impact
• CPD certificates automatically issued for each completed level

How staff use it: Staff log in with their own credentials and work through courses at their own pace. Each module combines:

• Expert video training from Educational Psychologists and experienced SENCOs
• Practical classroom examples
• Evidence-based strategies
• Downloadable resources to use immediately

How SENCOs use it: Your dashboard shows you everything happening across your school:

• Who's completed what training
• Progress through each level
• Confidence assessments (before and after)
• Whole-school competency development
• Custom reports for governors, SLT, or Ofsted

Think of it as having an expert SEND trainer available 24/7 for your entire staff - plus all the admin and tracking done automatically.

---

2. "Will our staff actually engage with online training?"

Great question - and here's what we've discovered from our 400+ schools:

98% staff completion rate!

Why STEPS works so well:

• Bite-sized learning
  Each module is 5-10 minutes. Staff complete them during PPA time, staff meetings, or at home when it suits them. Manageable chunks that fit real school life.
• Immediately practical
  Every module includes ready-to-use classroom strategies and downloadable resources. Staff report using techniques "the very next day."
• Progressive structure
  Three levels per course mean staff learn at the right depth for their role:
  • Level 1: Universal awareness (2 hours) - for all staff including lunchtime supervisors
  • Level 2: Enhanced skills (2 hours) - for those working directly with SEND pupils
  • Level 3: Specialist implementation (2 hours) - for SENCOs and SEND leads
• Built by teachers, for teachers
  Content created by experienced SENCOs and Educational Psychologists who understand your reality.

What staff actually say:

"First CPD I've done where I immediately used something the next day. Changed how I support my dyslexic students completely." - Year 4 Teacher, Birmingham

---

3. "How much time does STEPS actually take?"

The practical answer: 15 minutes per week, per staff member.

Each of our 12 specialist courses (Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, Behaviour, Mental Health, and more) contains 6 hours of training, broken into 5-10 minute modules.

How schools make it work:

During staff meetings:

"We dedicate the last 15 minutes of our fortnightly staff meetings. Everyone's on the same module, so we can discuss as a team." - SENCO, Somerset

PPA time:

"Teachers choose their own modules during PPA. Our dashboard shows who's completed what." - Deputy Head, Manchester

Flexible access:

"Staff appreciate doing it at home when it suits them. We set termly targets rather than weekly deadlines." - Headteacher, Kent

The time invested in structured training creates efficiency everywhere else - fewer repeated questions, more confident independent practice, stronger whole-school consistency.

---

4. "Will this actually change practice, or just tick CPD boxes?"

Great question. Let's look at the evidence:

Immediate impact (within first term):

• 85% of staff report significant confidence gains
• 98% report positive changes in classroom practice
• Teachers implementing differentiation strategies independently
• TAs deployed strategically rather than reactively
• SENCO time freed for strategic work rather than answering basic questions

Sustained impact (ongoing):

• Measurable pupil progress through Goal Attainment Scaling
• Reduced need for external specialist support
• Consistent SEND approaches across all year groups
• New staff reaching competency faster
• Stronger inspection outcomes

What makes the difference

STEPS doesn't just explain theory - every module includes:

• Ready-to-download classroom resources
• Evidence-based intervention strategies
• Implementation guidance and examples
• Visual supports, scaffolds, and assessment tools

What schools report:

"STEPS turned SEND from something we talked about in meetings into something we actually do differently, every single day, in every classroom." - Headteacher, Bristol

The impact grows with engagement. Schools where staff complete training across multiple courses see the greatest improvements in both confidence and pupil outcomes. Your dashboard tracks this, showing the direct correlation between training and results.

---

5. "How do we track staff engagement and completion?"

Your comprehensive SENCO dashboard gives you instant visibility:

What you can see:

• Progress through each level across all 12 courses
• Individual staff completion rates and CPD certificates earned
• Knowledge, skills, and confidence metrics (tracked through assessments)
• Whole-school SEND development indicators

What you can do:

• Set completion targets aligned with your school improvement plan
• Get notifications for key milestones
• Create customised reports for governors, SLT, or Ofsted
• Spot where staff might benefit from additional support
• Celebrate team successes with real data

STEPS organises what you're already doing into evidence-ready formats - no additional admin required.

---

6. "How does STEPS support our Ofsted evidence?"

STEPS builds your evidence base automatically across key Education Inspection Framework areas:

Quality of Education:

• Staff professional development records with completion dates and CPD certificates
• Evidence of "teachers receiving focused and highly effective professional development"
• Consistent approaches to differentiation and adaptation across all classrooms

Behaviour and Attitudes:

• Systematic SEND provision rather than reactive interventions
• Clear strategies for supporting pupils with behavioural needs
• Evidence of early identification and appropriate support

Leadership and Management:

• Strategic approach to staff development
• Progress tracking showing institutional knowledge building
• Customisable impact reports demonstrating how provision is monitored and improved

Generate reports that show:

• Who's completed what training (with dates and certificates)
• School-wide competency progression term-on-term
• Impact on teaching quality and pupil progress
• How you're meeting statutory SEND duties

The platform gives you the data that inspection teams value - presented clearly and professionally.

---

7. "Can we customise learning for different staff roles?"

Absolutely - and schools tell us this is one of STEPS' biggest strengths.

Create role-specific pathways:

• Teaching assistants → Levels 1 & 2 across priority areas
• Class teachers → Level 2 on autism, ADHD, dyslexia
• Subject leads → Level 3 on specific needs relevant to their department
• New starters → Foundational Level 1 across all 12 courses during induction

Align with your priorities:

Focus initial training on your school's most common SEND needs, then broaden as expertise grows. Your dashboard tracks individual progress, making it perfect for performance management and CPD planning.

What this looks like in practice:

"Our new Year 3 teacher completed autism and ADHD modules during her first half term. By Christmas, she was implementing strategies at the same level as our experienced staff. Game-changer for staff turnover." - Headteacher, London

---

8. "What if staff leave mid-year?"

This is exactly why STEPS works so effectively.

The traditional challenge:

• Send one person on a £400 course
• They share learning informally (hopefully)
• They leave = you need to start the cycle again

The STEPS advantage:

• Whole school trained simultaneously
• Institutional knowledge embedded in every classroom
• New starters complete core modules during induction
• Cost: Fixed annual fee, unlimited users

Real scenario:

A school in Liverpool had several new staff members join throughout the year. New teachers completed essential STEPS modules in their first month. By their second term, they were implementing SEND strategies as effectively as experienced colleagues.

Your STEPS subscription covers every member of staff - including unlimited new hires throughout the year. No per-person fees. 

---

9. "Is the content actually current and evidence-based?"

All STEPS content is developed by a multi-professional team who understand both research and classroom reality:

Our team:

• Led by Educational Psychologists with extensive school experience
• Experienced SENCOs and specialist teachers ensuring practical relevance
• Clinical experts (including psychiatrists) for specialist areas like mental health
• Regular peer review to keep content classroom-ready

Content updates:

• Immediate updates following DfE guidance changes
• Regular reviews incorporating latest research
• New resources based on school feedback and requests
• Fresh classroom strategies aligned with current educational priorities

What this means for you:

You'll always have access to the latest SEND guidance, translated into practical strategies you can implement tomorrow. Not academic theory - actual classroom techniques that work.

---

10. "How much does STEPS actually cost - and how does it compare to traditional SEND training?"

Here's the upfront answer: Your school gets 6 months of complete free access to try STEPS properly.

This isn't a limited trial. It's full, unlimited access for your entire staff - from teaching assistants to governors. A whole term to experience the platform, see the impact, and make an informed decision.

After 6 months, you have three options:

1. Continue with full subscription:
2. Switch to our freemium model:
3. Pause your subscription

How this compares to traditional SEND training:

Traditional approach:

• £200-400 per person for external courses
• Supply cover costs (£150+ per day)
• Only 1-2 people trained
• Knowledge leaves when they leave

STEPS approach:

• One fixed annual fee
• Zero supply cover costs
• Unlimited staff access
• Knowledge embedded institution-wide

Schools tell us STEPS pays for itself in reduced TA dependency and saved supply cover within a single term.

The 6-month trial gives you time to:

• Roll out training across your whole staff
• See measurable impact on confidence and practice
• Test the platform through a full term
• Make a decision based on real results.

---

 

Ready to see STEPS in action?

Experience the platform that's transforming SEND provision in 400+ UK schools.

Start your free access today:

• Full platform access for your entire staff
• No payment required until April 2026
• Set up in 5 minutes
• Staff can begin training immediately

Get started with STEPS →