Local Authorities
Introducing STEPS: Building Sustainable SEND Expertise
Discover our new STEPS (School-wide Training for Every Pupil's Support) platform - designed to build sustainable in-house SEND expertise across entire staff teams. STEPS equips schools and MATs with comprehensive training in key areas including Autism, ADHD, SLCN, and more, through three structured learning levels.
Schools can join our pilot programme with complimentary access until January 2026 and help your schools create consistent, evidence-based approaches that improve pupil outcomes and demonstrate effective SEND provision during inspections. Learn more about STEPS.
We understand the pressures that Local Authorities are facing to meet their responsibilities to learners with SEND and their families, and to deliver first class SEND provision with limited resources and budget.
We’ve partnered with over 10,000 schools to improve the skills and confidence of their staff in supporting learners with special educational needs and disabilities, and we provide high-quality SEND CPD courses to local authorities in the UK and education departments in Australia. New training is developed in response to the needs of our community of partners.
Strengthen your capacity to deliver quality first teaching
Our evidence-based, blended courses will support you to:
- build capacity in schools and colleges to apply the graduated approach and deliver quality first teaching
- raise the capability of teachers and teaching assistants to set high aspirations for pupils with SEND and help them achieve equivalent targets and support their wellbeing
- improve collaborative working and support whole-school change – teams can learn together, sharing experiences and best practice
- raise the awareness of in-house LA staff to the needs of pupils with SEND, and train staff new to their role
In addition, our webinars support the ongoing CPD needs of advisory teachers, therapists and EPs.
Parents and carers have information needs too, so we can support your service by providing quality short courses to help these stakeholders comprehend their child’s diagnosis, look after themselves and their family, and achieve their child’s aspirations going forward.
Impact on confidence in overall abilities to meet the needs of pupils with SEND
* 85% of users rate a significant increase in confidence
- Very confident
- Fairly confident
- Somewhat confident
- Not confident
Pre-training
Post-training *
* 85% of users rate a significant increase in confidence
Source: LMS 2024
This course has really opened my eyes to children, the way they move, and organise themselves in the school environment. On learning walks around school, I now see with fresh eyes. I am able to contribute to discussions with the SENCO now about the nature of the difficulties some children experience. I would like the SEND governors I meet to undertake any of the OLT courses. They are invaluable to all colleagues working in school. Great networking opportunities! I also made contact with the local Physio and OT team on behalf of school.
Consultant (2021)
I can now see how I can use the course materials with staff in the Service, develop their understanding of the impact of a visual impairment, and share their knowledge with staff in schools. I believe this will help them, as they work with children and young people (CYP) with SEND, to support CYP more effectively and set goals that look at the child's academic, social, and independence skills. We are always striving to help a child become an independent young person and I believe OLT’s course will help staff focus on the skills needed to enable this to happen.
Head of Service (2021)