Training For Schools

I can provide a range of different training topics. Contents of each training area are detailed below Schools can select elements from the Training days below in order to ensure they best meet the school’s needs. Training benefits both teachers and LSAs and can take the form of Inset Days and/or small group training. Training can be whole day, half day or twilight sessions.

Introduction to Autism

• What is autism? How autism impacts on a child’s learning, understanding and way of being
• Teaching Emotional Literacy
• How to create and use Social Stories
• Managing difficult behaviour
• Difficulties and strategies in supporting individuals with autism to learn

Assessment & Recording

• Assessment Recording Methods for monitoring progress in children with autism
• How to set effective Individual Education Programmes

The Importance of the Visual Environment

• Communication and the Visual Environment – how to set up an effective and supportive environment that can be accessed by all.
• Visual Communication, Makaton, PECS etc
• Making & Using Visual Resources
• Teaching the Visual Learner
• Differentiated Teaching using the multi-sensory approach

Autism Specific Curriculum

• Connective Education – how to make learning make sense.
• PSHE and the autistic child
• Emotional Literacy
• Learning skills for Living

Effective Behaviour Management

• Promoting good behaviour and what works – training in using a consistent and positive approach in providing clear and realistic rules, structures and boundaries
• Reward Systems that work
• Ways of Being – how effective we are when interacting with others? The importance of ‘No Blame’, making choices that work and taking responsibility for one’s actions and the consequences.

Physical Education

The benefits of aerobic exercise, Sherborne Developmental Movement. ‘Brain Gym’, Yoga and Relaxation in the development of the brain and how children learn.

Some school are able to provide opportunities for children with Special Needs to access opportunities outside the school. Such an activity is the RDA. I have many years experience in working with the RDA

Riding for the Disabled (RDA) – therapeutic riding

These experiences support a child with autism in his/her learning of and accessing the world around them. These specialist supported experiences provide a safe place to learn about how their bodies function in conjunction with another (the horse) and how what they do impacts on another (the horse) in a non-threatening situation; how they can, by small movements, determine the movement and actions of another. These experiences also support the child’s emotional learning – being kind, helping, loving and being loved, expression and reception of friendship – all fundamental experiences in human life and learning.