Training for professionals, parents and carers
Training is available to parents and carers in Lambeth and Southwark and to professionals working with children and young people in Lambeth, Southwark and beyond.
We offer a variety of formats for our training sessions: live webinars, self-directed e-Learning, and face to face classroom sessions when we are able to offer these again.
How to book
Most courses are free for parents or carers of children known to our service. Training is free for Lambeth schools.
To apply for a course, please email gst-tr.contactslt@nhs.net giving the following information:
Parents
- Name
- Course you are applying for
- Number of places you would like
- Contact number
- Postcode
- Borough
Professionals
- Name
- Course you are applying for
- Number of places you would like
- Name of organisation
- Name of finance contact, finance contact number, billing address and email address to send the invoice to (if applicable)
- Purchase order number
Please contact us at the email address above if you would like to discuss bespoke training for your setting.
Have a look at our Facebook page for training updates and tips.
- Cost: £90
- Dates: Wednesday 7 June and Wednesday 5 July 2023
(both sessions need to be attended)
- Time: 9.30am-12.30pm
- Delivery: Classroom learning
At the end of the course participants should be able to:
- Identify and explore relevant topics for a talking mat
- Understand and use the talking mats framework
- Cost: £30
- Delivery: e-learning
At the end of the course participants should be able to learn:
- What is stammering all about; the causes and triggers of stammering
- Creating an environment that can support fluency and stammering
How to support the child or young person to be a confident communicator
Recommended for anyone working with children and young people who stammer aged 9+.
- Cost: £80
- Two half day webinars
- Date: Tuesday 27 February 2024
- Time: 9.30-11.30am
- Date: Wednesday 28 February 2024
(A) Over 5 workshop 9.30-11.30am
(B) Under 5 workshop 1.30-3.30pm
Course aims:
- To gain an understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- To understand the range of communication, interaction and behaviour difficulties associated with ASD
- To explore a range of strategies to support children with ASD under or over five years
Recommended for teachers, support staff, SENCOs and any other professionals.
- Cost: £30
- Delivery: e-Learning
Learning objectives:
- To develop greater awareness about how Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) presents in girls
- To increase understanding of how this may appear at school and at home
- To increase knowledge of support and resources for girls with ASD
Recommended for class teachers, SENCOs, support staff.
Dates available on request.
A seven week free course for parents and carers who have a primary or secondary aged child with a diagnosis of developmental language disorder (DLD). The sessions will be delivered virtually in the evening. These sessions have been developed by Afasic and NAPLIC.
Learning objectives:
- to understand about DLD and how it applies to your child
- to develop strategies to support your child at home
- to gain ideas for how to support your child’s learning
- to meet other families of children with DLD
Recommended for parents in Lambeth or Southwark with a child diagnosed with developmental language disorder.
- Cost: £325 plus VAT e-Learning plus 10 virtual group tutorials or £400 as above plus individual follow-up session in setting
- Dates: TBC
- Delivery: e-Learning with weekly tutorials
Course aims:
- To equip staff to be more effective in supporting children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN)
- To enable participants to identify the needs of the child and give practical strategies to support the child more effectively
Recommended for: early years practitioners.
- Cost: £30
- Delivery: e-Learning
Learning objectives:
- Identify the reasons that are important in getting the pupil’s views
- Describe the process and approaches for collecting a pupil’s views
- Plan how to implement an appropriate approach for collecting a pupil’s views
- Feel more confident in using a range of approaches to collect a pupil’s views
Recommended for: class teachers, SENCOs, support staff.
- Cost: £120
- Free for Children Centres and LEAP settings who are participating in the LEAP Evelina Award program.
- A three part course/dates on request
- Time: 9.30am-3.30pm
- Delivery: live webinar
Course aims:
- To develop an understanding of speech and language development in children of 0-5 years
- To support identification of children with possible difficulties in understanding and using language
- To develop an understanding of the wider impact of speech and language difficulties
- To explore strategies and activities that can be used in pre-school settings to influence language development
- To develop an understanding of English as an additional language and communication development.
Delivery: e-Learning course outline
This course will give an overview of SLCN in schools and how to support them.
There will be opportunities to focus on strategies for specific key stages (please specify on application – Primary or Secondary).
Course aims:
- To develop an understanding of how speech, language and communication skills develop in pupils across their academic life.
- To support identification of students with possible SLCN.
- To increase understanding of how language and communication difficulties can impact on pupils’ access to the National Curriculum.
- To explore strategies that can be used to influence language development and access to the curriculum.
- Provide practical activities to support pupils with language and communication difficulties.
Recommended for: class teachers, SENCOs, support staff.
- Delivery: e-Learning
- Cost: £30
Learning objectives:
- Show awareness of the Zones of Regulation approach and how it can help children and young people
- Feel confident to start using the Zones of Regulation in your educational setting
- Learn about where you can seek further information and resources related to this approach
Recommended for: class teachers, SENCOs, support staff.
Learning objectives:
- To explore some key messages about bilingualism
- To increase confidence around having conversations with parents and col-leagues
- To signpost families to where to find more information about bilingualism
- Cost: £40
- Dates: Monday 19 June 2023
- Time: 3.30-5pm
- Delivery: classroom learning
An introduction to LEGO therapy is a simple, effective approach that uses LEGO to help children and young people develop their attention and listening, turn taking, communication and interaction skills. It is relevant for use with children with a wide range of needs and across a range of settings.
Course aims/outline
- To introduce participants to the background and principles of Lego Therapy
- To identify the skills needed to carry out LEGO Therapy
- To think creatively about how to use LEGO Therapy in your own setting
Recommended for parents and carers, class teachers, SENCOs, support staff, other professionals working with children and young people with social communication and language difficulties.
- Cost: free
- Delivery: live webinars
Dates:
- Friday 17 March 2023, 1.30-3pm
- Friday 26 May 2023, 10.30am-12pm
- Monday 31 July 2023, 1pm-2.30pm
- Tuesday 26 September 2023, 4.30pm-6pm
- Wednesday 15 November 2023,10.30am-12pm
- Thursday 11 January 2024,1-2.30pm
- Friday 1 March 2024, 4.30-6pm
Please email gst-tr.contactslt@nhs.net to reserve a place.
These are fun and interactive small group virtual sessions for all interested in learning about Makaton.
Session aims:
To give participants an insight into Makaton:
- what it is and how it can support communication
- to learn approximately 30 signs and symbols
- to begin to discuss ideas on how Makaton can be used at home, school, nursery or other settings
Recommended for anyone who is interested in finding out about Makaton or anyone who is interested in attending further training such as a Level 1 or 2 workshop in the future.
- Cost: £77 for professionals/£18 for parents and carers (cost is inclusive of course materials)
- Dates: 17 and 18 April 2023 or 9 and 10 October 2023
- Time: 9.30am-4.30pm for both sessions
- Delivery: classroom learning.
Level 1:
- To provide information on the use and purpose of Makaton, and to give an overview of this system of communication
- To introduce participants to the signs and symbols from stages 1-2 and some additional Makaton core vocabulary
- To explore ways of using Makaton signs and symbols.
Level 2:
- Signs and symbols from stages 3-4 and some additional Makaton core vocabulary
- Further explore ways of using Makaton signs and symbols.
- Cost: £77 for professionals/£18 for parents and carers (cost is inclusive of course materials)
- Dates: 17 and 18 July 2023
- Time: 9.30am-4.30pm for both sessions
- Delivery: Classroom learning.
Level 3:
- Level 3 training helps you to improve and develop your signing and symbol skills and how to use them effectively every day
- You will revise the signs and symbols you learned in your Level 1 and 2 training, and learn the signs and symbols for Stages 5 and 6 of the core vocabulary.
Level 4:
- Level 4 training completes the Core Vocabulary.
- You will revise the signs and symbols you learned in your Level 1, 2 and 3 training, and learn the signs and symbols for Stages 7 and 8 of the Core Vocabulary.
- £500
- A two day course and a one day tutorial
- Delivery: classroom learning
The course is based on case discussions around allocated cases and will include a series of short lectures, group discussions and participant presentations.Participants will be requested to bring cases including a video case study from their own practice for discussion at the tutorial.
Recommended for/entry requirements:
- Speech and language therapists with paediatric dysphagia training and experience
- Previous theoretical training in infant dysphagia would be advantageous
- Some experience of having observed/worked with infants (<12 months) with dysphagia with or without support
- Opportunity to observe/work with at least one infant between workshop and tutorial (contact us if you are unable to organise this as we may be able to support you).
By the end of the course you will be able to:
- apply theoretical knowledge about infant feeding difficulties to clinical practice
- manage infants with feeding and swallowing difficulties with supervision
- carry out a comprehensive assessment to evaluate feeding and swallowing difficulties in infants
- develop a holistic management plan for infants with feeding difficulties
- use a range of compensatory and rehabilitative intervention approaches for infants with feeding difficulties
A practical approach to assessing and managing children and young people with dysphagia.
Four day course and a one day tutorial.
The course consists of lectures and practical sessions and discussion. Full participation in the five days is essential.
Entry requirements:
- Qualified speech and language therapists with up to date registration with HCPC.
- Some experience of having observed/worked with children/young adults with dysphagia with or without support.
- Access to active caseload of children and young people with dysphagia.
- Access to identified supervisor with specialised knowledge in paediatric dysphagia.
On completion of the course, participants will be able to:
- Apply theoretical knowledge about children and young people’s eating and drinking difficulties to clinical practice.
- Assess, diagnose and manage their dysphagia with supervision such as second opinions and support as needed.
- Consider the ethical and legal challenges faced with managing children and young people with dysphagia.
- Cost: £90
- Date: Wednesday 8 November 2023
- Time: 9.30-3pm
- Course outline: this is an awareness building session for the picture exchange communication system (PECS).
These professionals are fully trained in the implementation of PECS by pyramid education consultants.
Information on the full PECS training provided by pyramid education consultants will be provided on the day.
Learning objectives:
- Show awareness of the six phases of PECS
- Enable you to help children in the use of this system with support from your speech and language therapist or other professionals
- Know where you can seek further information and training related to PECS
- Recommended for: parents, class teachers, support staff
Learning objectives:
- Gain advice on how to support your child’s transition into primary school
- Find out about strategies around areas such as play, language and social communication
- Learn who to ask for further support
A two part webinar:
- Dates: 10 and 17 May 2023 or 8 and 15 May 2024
- Time:
- session 1: 9.30-12.30 pm and session 2: 1-4pm
- Delivery: live webinar
Please note this course will not cover autism specific theory and strategies
Course aims:
- To develop an understanding of how communication difficulties may impact on a child or young person with behaviour that challenges/social emotional and mental health needs (e.g. disruption, school refusal, aggression, defiance, anxiety)
- To develop an understanding of the links between language and emotional regulation
- To look at challenging behaviour more holistically and consider/identify communication needs as part of a profile
- To identify strategies and approaches to support communication and relationship building.
Recommended for staff working with children who are at a conversational level and who present with behaviour that challenges.
Entry requirements:
- Attendance at any of the ‘Identifying and Supporting Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN)’ courses.
Recommended for class teachers, SENCOs, support staff
Learning objectives :
- To gain a more in-depth understanding of Selective Mutism
- To enable participants to identify children with Selective Mutism in nursery and school settings.
- To provide participants with practical strategies to support the child with selective mutism more effectively within their setting.
- Cost: £30
- Delivery: e-Learning
Course aims:
- To develop an understanding of the causes of behavioural feeding difficulties and their contributing factors.
- To equip staff and parents with knowledge and skills to support children and young people more effectively with behavioural feeding difficulties/extreme fussy eating.
Learning objectives:
- Describe the causes and maintaining factors of a behavioural feeding difficulty
- Identify a range of practical strategies to support a child/young person with a behavioural feeding difficulty in different mealtime contexts
- Show understanding of the importance of mealtime structure/routine.
Recommended for class teachers, SENCOs, support staff, parents and carers.
Recommended for class teachers, SENCOs, support staff.
- Cost: £40
- Date: Tuesday 14 November 2023
- Time: 9.15-12.00pm
- Delivery: live webinar
Course objectives
- To enable participants to have an understanding of typical speech sound development in children so they can more easily identify children who are presenting with speech sound difficulties.
- Explore strategies and activities that can be used in the school settings to support and influence speech sound development.
- Cost: £30
- Delivery: e-Learning
Learning objectives:
- Understand the importance of vocabulary development for children
- Understand some of the main principles of word learning
- Be familiar with the STAR approach
- Be familiar with a range of resources to support word learning.
Recommended for class teachers, SENCOs, support staff
- Cost: £30
- Delivery: e-Learning
Course aims:
- To develop basic knowledge of a range of visual support systems including Makaton signing, PECS, schedules and communication books
- To explore the use of visuals in routines and class environments
- To learn about adapting your communication style to support children’s learning and communication
- To consider how to implement in own setting
- Cost: £50
- 50% discount for students / some free places available for local residents
- Date: Wednesday 25 October 2023
- Time: 9.15am-1pm
- Delivery: live webinar
Recommended for anybody who is considering a career as a speech and language therapist.
Course aims:
- To gain an understanding of speech and language therapy as a profession and a possible career
- To provide an opportunity to meet a range of speech and language therapists working with different specialist client groups
- To listen to a newly qualified speech and language therapist reflect on their first role and answer questions about their experience entering the profession
Recommended for parents and pupils.
Delivery: e-Learning
Learning objectives:
- Be provided with support around your transition from primary to secondary school or to further education settings
- Gain ideas and advice around areas including organisation, friendships,vocabulary learning, study skills
- Recommended for parent/carers
- Delivery: e-Learning
Learning objectives:
- Find out about how Evelina London speech and language therapists work in schools
- Gain an understanding around different types of support for speech, language and communication needs
- Know where to go for further advice