Testimonials

“The training has made me review interventions in conjunction with learning theory. This is a much more focused approach and I will be able to use it again in the future. I like to work with SMART target setting, as it helps me stay driven, so every opportunity to practise this is valuable.

Education Consultant
Learning Strategies

“I am looking at using some of the resources to develop some new communication aids to work with older children on the ASD spectrum and there are plans for us to look at putting on some type of support group in the school holidays for our older children.

Early Years Practitioner
Autism Spectrum Disorder

“The classroom buddy I introduced to child A worked really well. Although there were a few challenges initially, this was quickly resolved. Child A sat closely with her buddy who supported her to join all the singing sessions and the learning activities on the carpet.

Early Years Practitioner
Autism Spectrum Disorder

“It really was fascinating thinking about how our senses help us learn, how we would feel if we didn't have those senses and how we would have to adapt. I feel it would greatly benefit the staff involved in the next academic year to do this course too.

Teaching Assistant
Multi-Sensory Impairment

“Having an understanding of attachment theory and how disrupted attachment experiences can manifest in different attachment styles and behaviour is incredibly important when working with children, particularly when those children have experienced trauma. Applying this lens to the behaviour I see in the classroom, enables me to understand my student's behaviour as communication. When I recognise behaviour as a student communicating a need, I am able to reflect on how best to respond to and support the student. Remembering that children have often developed their insecure attachment styles in response to neglectful, inconsistent or abusive care also helps me to maintain empathy for my students and recognise that their behaviour is often not wilfully disruptive or defiant but is reflective of how they had their needs met (or not) in their early years.

Teacher
Attachment and Trauma

“I think this course is a good reminder of all the factors that need to be considered when making sure that the learner has access to the curriculum. A key factor is ensuring that the environment that the learner is supposed to learn in is conducive to learning.

Qualified Teacher of Multi Sensory Impairment
Multi-Sensory Impairment

“After doing this course I now evaluate all the lessons I am involved in, especially the literacy lesson I teach. I have now changed the way I work with the less able children of the group, instead of them all doing the same I have given them slightly different ways to learn the sounds and words we work on. I have already seen an improvement in all of them. Working at their pace has definitely helped their learning.

Other
Learning Strategies

“Positive reinforcement of using a ‘soft voice’ especially when meeting or greeting peers has resulted in the student being able to communicate and socialise much better with his peers. Also working towards the smart targets has enabled myself and the class teaching team to focus on the behaviour that we wish to develop and to consider whether the strategies we used were working.

Special School Teacher
Autism Spectrum Disorder

“I have monitored and been more observant of what has been happening in the classroom and outside, I’ve been more persistent and consistent. This has had a much bigger and positive outcome for the children I work with.

Teaching Assistant
Understanding and Supporting Behaviour

“Having now done this course I am aware that sometimes I 'set the bar' too high when setting a specific task/target and that I need to differentiate the work according to the children's ability. I very much agree with the statement that “knowledge of the learner can maximise the impact of teaching” and apart from the occasional 'blip' I would to think that I do 'know' the children I teach and that this knowledge does help me deliver a more effective lesson including the element of fun and surprise!

Teaching Assistant
Learning Strategies

“I would recommend this training to anyone who is currently working with individuals with autistic spectrum disorders. It has provided me with a lot of factual information, such as the characteristics of ASD, and the behaviours of these characteristics and their causes. I particularly enjoyed the intervention module as it provided me with a wide range of strategies and intervention packages – some of these I had never heard of and am very excited to use within my own practice!

Early Years Practitioner
Autism Spectrum Disorder

“I am more flexible and understanding in my approach while working towards goals because I better understand the challenges and needs of the child in terms of possible learning barriers.

Learning Support Assistant (LSA)
Autism Spectrum Disorder