Free online SEND CPD launched today through Universal SEND Services

As we draw towards the end of September, teachers and school leaders have moved beyond the ‘new academic year’ feeling and are settling into their term time stride. This, of course, includes an important element of continuing professional development (CPD).

We are delighted to share that 5 free-to-access online CPD units have been launched by Whole School SEND and Real Group as part of the Universal Services programme, which is funded until 2025 by the Department for Education – ideal for anyone prioritising Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) in their CPD plans. 

They are part of a series of 20 units that will be released over the course of the programme to help practitioners explore some of the most commonly observed barriers to learning in classrooms and other learning environments regardless of age, label or area of need.

Themes covered in the new units include Social, Emotional and Mental Health, Sensory Processing and Physical Needs. They enhance the existing portfolio, which addresses Safety and Belonging and Language and Communication. The first 8 units launched last year and have since been accessed by over 5,000 professionals, with consistently positive feedback.

Head of Whole School SEND, Amanda Wright, said: “High-quality, inclusive practice should be at the heart of every learning environment. We also know that life for everyone in schools and colleges is busier than ever, so we have made these units as easy to access as we can.

“We’ve worked with a range of leading specialists from the sector, condensing many years of experience and understanding into these bite-sized modules. Each one takes just 20 minutes to complete, and provides practitioners – whatever their role or level of experience – with clear guidance on adaptations to help meet the needs of all learners. There’s no need to complete units in order, and partially completed units can be saved and picked up again as required without the fear of ‘losing’ work.

“We know that understanding is not the same as doing, so we encourage people to use the units as a first step, and to go out and test the approaches they learn about in their practice and to use them as a prompt to reflect on what is working well, and what could be better. For anyone wanting to contextualise their learning further, we offer live online discussions in the shape of our Specialist Spotlights. These often feature the specialists involved in the development of the units and are a great space in which to build on learning, to share experiences and seek advice.”

To date, 13 units have been released:

• Creating an emotionally safe environment
• Creating a socially safe environment
• Creating a physically safe environment
• An introduction to speech, language and communication needs (SLCN)
• Identifying and supporting SLCN
• Supporting development of SLC skills
• Creating a communication supportive environment
• Understanding behaviour as communication
• Promoting mental wellbeing in your setting
• Understanding and promoting resilience
• Understanding anxiety and creating a supportive learning environment 
• Supporting sensory differences in the learning environment
• An introduction to teaching learners with physical needs

Why not set aside 20 minutes to sign in and get started today?

https://www.wholeschoolsend.org.uk/page/online-cpd-units