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Early Years SEND Advocate Training
Dates:
-
Monday 1 March 2027
-
Monday 15 March 2027
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Monday 12 April 2027
-
Monday 26 April 2027
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Monday 10 May 2027
-
Monday 24 May 2027
Time: 09:00am-16:00pm for all sessions
All dates must be attended
Cost: Free
Venue: Room G.3, New Parks House, Pindar Road, Leicester, LE3 9RN
Who is this for?:
Foundation stage teachers and/or higher level teaching assistants who will be able to support the school SENCO in their role
Areas Covered:
This course has been developed by School Improvement Liverpool (SIL). It has been designed specifically for early years teachers/practitioners with the aim of developing their skills and knowledge to enable them to support the school SENCO in the role and act as an advocate for early years children with SEND.
The course considers the role of the advocate and offers opportunities for reflection and discussion with other EY teachers and teaching assistants in Leicester City. Topics covered include:
- Historical context and current legislation
- The graduated approach (assess, plan, do and review)
- Four board areas of need
- Importance of early intervention and identification
- Making reasonable adjustments in the classroom – what this might entail
- The role of observation
- Individual planning and the voice of the child
- Parents as partners
There will be guest speakers and an opportunity to visit a specialist provision.
Course Outcomes:
Participants will understand and develop the role as an early years SEND advocate and be able to effectively support the school SENCO.
This course will be delivered by SLI accredited trainers from Leicester Early Years Support Team
£0.00
Neuroinclusive Education Network (NEN) Early Years: Making Sense of Autism
Dates:
Autumn Term
- Wednesday 14 October 2026 - 3:30-5pm
Spring Term
- Wednesday 3rd March 2027 - 6:30-8pm
Summer Term
- Wednesday 21 April 2027 - 3:30-5pm
Venue: Online via Microsoft Teams
Who is this training for?
This is a raising awareness module for anyone working in early years settings. This includes teaching and support staff, office and ancillary staff, caterers, caretakers, transport staff and governors.
Gain a better understanding and awareness of autism and the way it affects children in early years.
Areas Covered:
- This course is an awareness –raising module for all practitioners with links to early years settings
- It provides an introduction to autism and some initial reasonable adjustments that need to be considered when working with autistic children
- It also provides input on the creation and use of a one-page profile for individual children.
Course Outcomes:
Participants will:
- gain understanding and awareness of autism and how autism can affect children in the early years
- know the importance of understanding the individual autistic child and their profile of strengths and needs
- be aware of potential barriers to learning for autistic children
- gain knowledge in order to begin to make reasonable adjustments in the way autistic children can be supported
This course will be delivered by the Early Years Support Team.
£0.00
Neuroinclusive Education Network (NEN) Early Years: Good Autism Practice
Date:
Thursday 12 November 2026
Time: 9:30am – 3:30pm
Fee: £80
Venue: New Parks House, Pindar Road, Leicester, LE3 9RN
Who is this course for: Early years teachers and teaching assistants.
Areas Covered:
- This course provides an overview of what autism is, describing the ‘four Areas of difference’.
- It provides strategies and activities to help practitioners to develop their practice when supporting a child with autism.
- It introduces the progression framework, an interactive assessment tool for children with autism.
Course Outcomes:
- Gain knowledge and understand about the four areas of developmental difference experienced by children with autism.
- Be able to recognise the strengths and needs of individual children with autism.
- Understand the importance of building positive relationships with and around the child.
- Understand how to adapt the curriculum to meet the needs of the Individual.
- Understand how to make the environment more accessible to children with autism.
- Develop practical strategies and techniques in promoting effective teaching and learning.
- Be familiar with the progression framework and be able to use it to measure progress and identify learning priorities for children.
This course will be delivered by the Early Years Support Team.
£80.00
Neuroinclusive Education Network (NEN): Developing Play in the Early Years
Date:
Thursday 21 January 2027
Time: 9.30am – 15.30pm
Cost: £80
Venue: Room G.3, New Parks House, Pindar Road, Leicester, LE3 9RN
Who is this course for: Early years practitioners and teaching assistants
Areas Covered:
- In this course you will consider the importance of play skills in the early years and develop understanding of how autism can impact upon a child’s play development
- Strategies will be considered that can be used to support autistic children with their play development
Course Outcomes:
Participants will:
- understand that autism is a difference, not a deficit
- understand how the three areas of difference in autism may impact on the development of play skills
- understand the importance of all adults working together to support the child to develop play skills
- develop knowledge of how to support autistic children to develop play skills
- create a plan to ensure progress in play skills
This course will be delivered by the Leicester Early Years Support Team.
£80.00
Neuroinclusive Education Network (NEN) Developing Toileting in the Early Years
Dates: Wednesday 9 June 2027
Time: 3:30-5:00pm
Venue: Online via Microsoft Teams
Who is this course for: Early years practitioners and teaching assistants.
Areas Covered:
- Early Years practitioners may find that supporting an autistic child with developing toileting requires an adapted approach. This module is intended to develop an understanding of why this may be in relation to the three areas of difference in autism and therefore how autistic children can be more effectively supported in the setting.
- The course will consider the development of toileting and develop understanding of how autism can impact on a child’s toileting
- Strategies will be considered that can be used to support autistic children with their toileting development.
Course Outcomes:
Participants will:
- understand the stages that children may go through to achieve more independent toileting
- understand that autism is a difference and not a deficit and that the three areas of difference in autism may impact on how an autistic child develops their toileting
- understand why it is important to work together with a child’s parents and carers to support toileting development
- understand the importance of a child-centred approach in agreeing how to most effectively support an autistic child to develop toileting
- understand the importance of adapting the environment and practice in the setting and at home to support an autistic child with toileting
This course will be delivered by the Leicester Early Years Support Team.
£40.00
Fun Time
Date: Wednesday 28 October 2026
Times: 13:00pm - 16:00pm
Fee: £40
Venue: Room G.3, New Parks House, Pindar Road, Leicester, LE3 9RN
Who is this course for: Early Years teachers and teaching assistants.
Areas Covered:
This enhanced level course develops practitioners’ knowledge of promoting children’s social communication skills through the Fun Time approach and enables them to plan and deliver effective Fun Time sessions within their own setting. The course involves participating in a variety of Fun Time activities and songs.
Fun Time is part of a continuum of provision to develop children’s social communication skills, along with Play Interaction and Circle Time.
Play Interaction (1 child initially) - Fun Time (small group) - Circle Time (larger group).
Course Outcomes:
Participants will:
- be able to identify the key elements of the Fun Time programme.
- be able to deliver effective Fun Time sessions.
- learn strategies and games to promote children’s social communication skills.
- be able to assess and monitor children’s social communication development.
- reflect on and review their practice and identify areas for development.
This course will be delivered by the Early Years Support Team.
£40.00
How to write a SEND support plan: Early Years
Dates:
Autumn Term - Wednesday 28 October 2026
Spring Term - Wednesday 24 February 2027
Time: 6:30-8:00pm
Venue: Online via Microsoft Teams
Who is this training for: Early years practitioners, key persons, SENCOs, and managers
Areas Covered:
Do you want to feel more confident in identifying, planning for, and recording support for children with emerging SEND needs?
- This practical training session will help early years practitioners understand how to write clear, meaningful, and outcomes-focused SEND Support Plans. Participants will explore how to identify a child's strengths and areas of need, set achievable targets, and plan effective strategies that support progress and participation within the setting.
- This interactive session will provide practical examples, helpful tips, and opportunities for discussion, enabling practitioners to create high-quality SEND Support Plans that support early identification and ensure children receive the right help at the right time.
£0.00
Using Visuals: Early Years
Date:
Wednesday 27 January 2027
Time: 3:30-5:00pm
Venue: Online via Microsoft Teams
Who is this course for:
Early years teachers and teaching assistants.
Course Outcomes:
- Recognise the importance and benefits of using visual strategies with all children.
- Understand that visual cues are particularly effective for children who have speech, language and communication needs, learning needs and/or social, emotional and mental health needs.
- Have an understanding of the range of visual strategies that can be used within an Early Years setting.
- Be able to use a variety of visual strategies effectively to support communication, social development and learning.
£0.00
Sensory Processing Differences in the Early Years
Dates: Wednesday 10 February 2027
Time: 9.30am – 3.30pm
Cost: £80
Venue: Room G.3, New Parks House, Pindar Road, LE3 9RN
Who is this for: Early years teachers and teaching assistants
Areas covered:
- In this course you will gain an understanding of the eight different sensory systems and how sensory differences can impact play and learning in the early years.
- Strategies will be shared that practitioners can use in their everyday practice to help to meet the sensory needs of children in the early years.
Course Outcomes:
Participants will:
- gain an understanding of a range of sensory processing differences
- learn to recognise and interpret children's behaviours that relate to sensory differences
- gain an understanding of the eight sensory systems
- understand the links between sensory differences and emotional regulation
- gain a wealth of strategies to support children with sensory differences
- reflect on and review their own practice, creating actions for the future within their early years environment.
This course will be delivered by the Leicester Early Years Support Team.
£80.00
How to complete a quality referral to EYST
Dates:
Autumn Term - Wednesday 25 November 2026
Spring Term - Wednesday 17 March 2027
Time: 7:00-8:30pm
Venue: Online via Microsoft Teams
Who is this for: Early years practitioners, SENCOs, managers, and staff supporting children with emerging or identified SEND.
Course outcomes:
Are you unsure when or how to refer a child to the Early Years Support Team?
- This short training session will guide practitioners through the EYST referral process, helping them to identify when specialist support may be needed and how to make high-quality referrals. The session will cover referral criteria, the information required to support a referral, and practical guidance on completing referral forms and SEND Support Plans effectively.
- This practical session will provide opportunities for questions and discussion, enabling staff to feel more confident in accessing support for children with SEND.
£0.00
Understanding and Supporting Young Children who have Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs
Dates:
Wednesday 10 March 2027
Time: 3:30-5:00pm
Venue: Online via Microsoft Teams
Who is this for: Early years teachers and teaching assistants
Areas Covered:
- This course develops practitioners’ understanding of what is meant by challenging behaviour and considers factors that can have an impact on early development.
- It considers a number of models that have been developed as a means to understanding, supporting and managing challenging behaviours.
Course Outcomes:
Participants will:
- acquire knowledge of the attachment process and understand how early trauma can have an impact on this.
- consider several different behaviour models and explore how these can be helpful in understanding behaviour and developing strategies to manage it.
- know how to write and implement a Positive Behaviour Plan.
- reflect on and review their own practice and identify areas for development.
This course will be delivered by the Early Years Support Team.
£0.00
Using the SALT Toolkit
Date: Wednesday 2 December 2026
Times: 3:30-5:00pm
Fee: Free
Venue: Online via MS Teams
Who is this course for: Early Years teachers and teaching assistants.