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Sensory processing in the Early Years
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.
Dates: Wednesday 11th February 2026
Time: 9.30am – 3.30pm
Cost: £60
Venue: G.3 New Parks house
Who is this for:
Early years practitioners
£80.00
Developing Play in the Early Years Autism Education Trust (AET)
Developing Play in the Early Years Autism Education Trust (AET)
Date: Wednesday 14th January 2026
Time: 9.30am – 15.30pm
Who is this course for: Early years practitioners
Cost: £80
Venue: Room G.3, New Parks House, Pindar Road, Leicester, LE3 9RN
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
Developing Toileting in the Early Years Autism Education Trust (AET)
Developing Toileting in the Early Years Autism Education Trust (AET)
Dates: (Half Day) Thursday 26th March 2026
Time: 13:00pm – 16.00pm
Who is this course for: Early years practitioners
Cost: £40
Venue: Room G.3, New Parks House, Pindar Road, Leicester, LE3 9RN
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
Early Years Good Autism Practice - Autism Education Trust (AET)
Early Years Good Autism Practice - Autism Education Trust (AET)
Dates: Thursday 6th November 2025 CANCELLED
OR
Wednesday 11th March 2026
Time: 9:30am – 3:30pm
Who is this course for: Early years teachers and teaching assistants.
Fee: £80
Venue: Room G.3, New Parks House, Pindar Road, Leicester, LE3 9RN
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
Fun Time 2025
Date: Thursday 30th October 2025
Times: 13:00pm - 16:00pm
Fee: £40
Venue: Training 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 Leicester Early Years Support Team.
£40.00
Early Years SEND Advocate Training
Dates:
-
Wednesday 4th March 2026
-
Wednesday 18th March 2026
-
Wednesday 15th April 2026
-
Wednesday 22nd April 2026
-
Wednesday 29th April 2026
-
Wednesday 6th May 2026
Time: 09:00am-16:00pm for all sessions
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 he able to support the school SENCO in their role.
Participants will need to have the support of the leadership team
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 advocate for Early Years children with SEND.
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 SENDCo in the role and act as advocate for Early Years children with SEND.
This course looks in depth at the role of the SENDCo and offers opportunities for reflection and discussion with other SENDCo's in Leicester.
Topics include:
- Historical context and current legislation.
- The graduated approach (Assess, plan, do and review).
- 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.
Outcomes:
- Participants will understand and develop the role as an early years SEND advocate and be able to effectively support the school SENCO.
The course will be delivered by the SLI accredited trainers from Leicester Early Years Support Team
There will be guest speakers and an opportunity to visit a specialist provision