Whole School SEND and Real Group launch final unit in award winning SEND CPD series!

WHOLE SCHOOL SEND and Real Group are celebrating today, having won not one, but two categories in the Teach Primary Awards 2024, which are designed to help educators seek out the very best resources to support their KS1 and KS2 pupils.

The awards – for best Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Resource and Best Continuing Professional Development (CPD) – acknowledge both organisations for their roles in developing and producing an outstanding series of Online SEND CPD Units.

The series explores 20 of the most commonly observed barriers to learning in classrooms and other learning environments, regardless of age, label or area of need and forms the cornerstone of Universal SEND Services – an ambitious programme funded until 2025 by the Department for Education.

The programme is delivered by nasen through Whole School SEND and in strategic partnership with the Education and Training Foundation, Autism Education Trust and other key delivery partners, including Real Group.

Head of Whole School SEND, Amanda Wright, said: “We love working in partnership with Real Group. Both organisations share a passion for ensuring that all learners benefit from high quality inclusive teaching. Since our teams began working on this project in April 2022, we’ve done everything we can to make sure the units offer practical guidance that helps improve teaching skills and increase practitioners’ confidence in identifying and supporting additional needs. Over 18,000 courses have been completed to date, with 99% of participants telling us that the units really work, so it’s brilliant – but not surprising – to see our offer being endorsed by the wider education community, such as the expert judging panel at Teach Primary Awards.

“Each unit takes less than an hour 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. At a time when budgets are stretched and demands remain high, we hope that these fully-funded resources provide valuable support for the whole workforce. I’d encourage all practitioners to make full use of them, and the accompanying Specialist Spotlight Sessions, which offer further contextualisation and an opportunity for discussion with the specialists involved in developing each unit.”

The announcement coincides with the launch of the final Online SEND CPD Unit – ‘Supporting reading and comprehension across the curriculum’. The release means that for the first time, practitioners are now able to add to their existing Bronze, Silver and Gold awards and achieve Platinum certification for completing all 20 units. 

Speaking on behalf of Real Group, Natalie Houalla said: “We are incredibly proud of everything we have achieved through the delivery of this project, alongside our long-term partners, Whole School SEND and remain committed to supporting education professionals throughout their professional development journey.”

Sign in and get started today: https://www.wholeschoolsend.org.uk/page/online-cpd-units

Those with time to dedicate to more involved CPD can read about the full offer available, access our catalogue of resources, and find out how to contact your regional SEND leaders on our website: https://www.wholeschoolsend.org.uk/page/universal-send-services