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Level 3 SENCO Award – Information Briefing
An information briefing session to find out about the Level 3 SENCO Award that will be delivered September 2025.
Information covered includes
- Who the course is for
- Course structure
- Overview of topics covered
- Assessment
- Course funding
- How to apply
Briefing Outcomes:
Participants will understand what is involved in completing the Level 3 SENCO Award.
SENCOs should apply through the Early Years Support Team if they wish to attend the full course.
Dates: September 2nd 2025, 9:30pm - 11:00pm
Who is this briefing for:
The briefing is for setting SENCOs qualified to at least level 3 and/or their managers
Cost: Free of charge
Venue:
Microsoft Teams
£0.00
Level 3 SENCO Award (VAT Exempt)
Please do not book onto this course until you have filled out an expression of interest form and your place has been approved by one of the trainers.
The expression of interest form is available from the information briefing session (Booking Link » Leicester City Council - SEND (bookinglive.com) or discuss with your area SENCo
Dates:
Wednesdays 2nd 16th, 30th October,
13th, 27th November,
11th December 2024
8th, 22nd January,
5th, 26th February,
12th March,
2nd April 2025
9 – 4 pm
Who is this course for: Setting SENCOs qualified to at least level 3
Cost: Free of charge
Venue: Eyres Monsell Children’s Centre, Hillsborough Road, LE2 9PT
Areas Covered:
This course has been developed by School Improvement Liverpool (SLI) to meet the DoE’s Early Years Level 3 SENCO Qualification Specification..
The course looks in depth and the role of the SENCO and offers opportunities for reflection and discussion with other SENCOs in Leicester City. Topics covered include
•Current legislation
•The graduation approach (assess, plan, do and review)
•Areas of need
•Observation and early identification
•Inclusion and historical context
•Partnerships with external agencies
•Partnerships with parents/carers
•Statutory assessment and Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)
There will be an opportunity to visit a specialist provision as well as other settings.
Course Outcomes:
Participants will understand and develop the role of SENCO.
On successful completion of assignments participants will gain a NCFE CACHE L3 Award for Special Educational Needs in Settings
This course will be delivered by SLI accredited trainers from Leicester Early Years Support Team.
£0.00
Making Sense of Autism – Early Years Autism Education Trust (AET) (VAT Exempt).
Dates:
Wednesday 16th October 2024, 4:00 - 6.00pm
or
Tuesday 4th February 2025, 9:30 -11:30am
or
Thursday 1st May 2025, 1:00 – 3:00pm CANCELLED
Who is this course for: All early years practitioners
Fee: Free
Venue: Microsoft Teams
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
Play Interaction for Children with Communication and Interaction Needs.
Dates:
Thursday 31st October 2024, 9:30 – 3:30
or
Wednesday 26th February 2025, 9:30 – 3:30
Who is this course for: Early years practitioners
Cost: £60
Venue:
New Parks House Pindar Road, Leicester, LE3 9RN
G.1, The Hall
Areas Covered:
•An introduction to Play Interaction, focusing on how this intervention supports children who have communication and interaction needs.
•An overview of the development of social interaction, communication and play skills in typically developing children and the identification of delays and differences in these areas.
•Planning and delivery of Play Interaction sessions, including adapting activities and supporting progression and generalisation.
•An opportunity to practise interactive techniques and strategies and to participate in practical activities that can be used in Play Interaction sessions
•Information on the Play Interaction Programme and resource manual (some course participants may be attending as part of the Programme)
Course Outcomes:
Participants will
•recognise the importance of social interaction, communication and play as foundation skills
•learn how to plan and adapt Play Interaction sessions and use a range of interactive strategies to facilitate children’s progress
•reflect on their practice and identify areas for development.
•
This course will be delivered by the Early Years Support Team and Learning Communication and Interaction Team.
£60.00
Supporting Children’s Emotional Well-being in the Early Years (PVI - VAT Exempt)
Dates: April 10th 2025 , 9:30am – 12:30pm
Who is this course for:
Early years Practitioners
Cost: Free
Venue: The Hall G.1, New Parks House, Pindar Road, Leicester, LE3 9RN
Areas Covered:
•This course supports teachers and early years practitioners to develop a range of tools and techniques to support children to recognise and regulate their emotions, manage their anxiety and build resilience.
•Strategies will be shared that practitioners can use in everyday practice to help children to relax and find their own inner calm.
Course Outcomes:
- Be aware of the 1,001 critical days and the impact of interaction and experience on early brain development
- Consider factors that influence a child’s mental health
- Learn strategies and techniques to support children’s emotional well-being and resilience
- Reflect on and review their own practice and identify areas for development.
This course will be delivered by the Leicester Early Years Support Team.
£0.00
Fun Time - EYST Settings PVI
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.
Dates: Thursday 30 October 2025
Time: 1.00pm - 4.00pm
Cost: £30
Venue: New Parks house
£30.00
Early Years Good Autism Practice and Using the Progression Framework - AET (VAT Exempt) (PVI)
Dates:
Thursday 6 November 2025
or
Wednesday 11 March 2026
Times: 9.30am - 3.30pm
Cost: £60
Venue: Room G.3, New Parks House, Pindar Road, LE3 9RN
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:
Participants will:
-
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.
£60.00
Get Going with Communication (VAT Exempt).
Dates:
Wednesday 20th & 27th November 2024,
9:30am – 3:30pm
Who is this course for: Early Years practitioners
Fee: £120
Venue:
New Parks House, Pindar Road, Leicester, LE3 9RN
20.11.24 Meeting Room 1.2
27.11.24 G.4
Areas Covered:
This universal level course develops practitioners’ knowledge and understanding of how children’s communication and language skills develop and why language is an essential life skill. It provides practical ideas to enable practitioners to promote the language skills of all children and to support children who have speech, language and communication needs (SLCN).
Course Outcomes:
Participants will:
- be familiar with different models of communication and understand the processes involved in communicating.
- revisit typical development of speech, language and communication skills.
- be aware of a range of speech, language and communication needs (SLCN).
- recognise the importance of attachment and positive relationships in promoting children’s development.
- learn and practise strategies to develop children’s language.
- reflect on and review their own practice and identify areas for development.
This course will be delivered by the Early Years Support Team.
£120.00
Understanding and Supporting Young Children who have Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs (VAT Exempt).
Date: -
Wednesday 4th December 2024,
9:30am – 3:30pm
Who is this course for:
Early years teachers practitioners
Fee: £60
Venue:
The Hall G.1, New Parks House, Pindar Road, Leicester, LE3 9RN
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:
- 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.
£60.00
Fun Time for Children who have Speech, Language and Communication Needs (PVI) (VAT Exempt)..
Dates: -
Wednesday 15th January 2025,
1:00 – 4:00pm
Who is this course for:
Early Years practitioners
Fee: £30
Venue: G.4, New Parks House, Pindar Road, Leicester, LE3 9RN
Areas Covered:
This enhanced level course includes a brief recap of the Fun Time intervention, then focuses on adapting Fun Time specifically for children who have speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). It enables practitioners to plan and deliver effective Fun Time sessions within their own setting with a focus on developing children’s listening and attention skills, understanding, vocabulary and expressive language skills. 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.
£30.00
An Introduction to SEND for Early Years Practitioners- PVI
Areas Covered:
This course considers the role and responsibilities of the practitioner in relation to special educational needs and disability (SEND). It provides an overview of the Code of Practice for SEND and The Graduated Approach, including the assess, plan, do and review cycle, and teaches how to develop SEND support plans or equivalent.
This course is for early years practitioners/keyperson, not for the setting SENCO
Course Outcomes:
- Be familiar with the ‘graduated approach’ described in the SEND Code of Practice
- Be aware of the practitioner's role in relation to SEND
- Be familiar with ways of identifying and assessing needs and recognise the importance of early identification
- Know how to develop and record plans for children with SEND
- Recognise the importance of working in partnership with parents/carers and other agencies
Date: Tuesday 18th November 2025
Time: 9.30-12.30
Cost: Free
Venue: Online (Microsoft Teams)
£0.00
Setting-based Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) PVI
Areas Covered:
This course enables the SENCO to understand and develop their role and to be able to support practitioners in relation to SEND. Areas covered include considering key legislation and guidance, roles and responsibilities, identification of SEND, working with parents/carers and other agencies and statutory assessment and Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).
Course Outcomes:
Participants will:
- Be able to take on the role of SENCO.
- Be familiar with the requirements of the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Code of Practice as well as local guidance, including ‘Inclusive Provision in the Early Years’.
- Understand the requirements of The Equality Act in relation to SEND.
- Be aware of roles and responsibilities in relation to SEND.
- Be able to identify and assess children who may have SEND and know when and how to refer children for further support.
- Have increased understanding of how to write plans for children with SEND, including setting and reviewing targets.
- Understand the importance of working in partnership with parents/carers and other agencies.
- Become familiar with the framework for a SEND policy.
Dates: Tuesdays 3 and 10 February, Wednesday 25 February, Tuesdays 3, 20 and 17 March 2026
Cost: £180
Venue: New Parks House
Who is this course for: The setting’s special educational needs
co-ordinator (SENCO)
£180.00
Supporting Language through Stories - PVI
Dates:
Wednesday 5th March 2025,
1:00am – 3:30pm
Who is this course for:
Early years practitioners
Venue: G.4, New Parks House, Pindar Road, Leicester, LE3 9RN
Cost: £30
Areas Covered:
•This course focuses on developing children’s speech, language and communication skills through sharing and retelling familiar stories.
Course Outcomes:
Participants will:
•revisit the processes involved in being an effective communicator
•consider the rich potential for using stories to develop children’s listening, attention and understanding skills, vocabulary and expressive language.
•learn strategies to develop good listening and attention, understanding, vocabulary and expressive language skills.
•be introduced to a structured approach to developing oral narrative (storytelling skills).
•consider how to adapt story-based activities to respond to a range of speech, language and communication needs (SLCN).
•reflect on and review their own practice and identify areas for development.
This course will be delivered by the Leicester Early Years Support Team.
£30.00
An Introduction to Down’s Syndrome in the Early Years - VAT EXEMPT - PVI
Date: - (Full Day)
Wednesday 14th May 2025,
9:30am – 3:30pm
Who is this course for:
Early Years practitioners
Cost: £60
Venue: G.3, New Parks House, Pindar Road, Leicester, LE3 9RN
Areas Covered:
•This course develops practitioners’ knowledge of the strengths and needs of children who have Down syndrome and provides strategies to support effective learning.
Course Outcomes:
Participants will:
•gain an overview of Down syndrome.
•understand that there is a specific profile of strengths and difficulties inherent in Down syndrome.
•learn strategies to support children with Down syndrome.
•reflect on and review their practice and identify areas for development.
This course will be delivered by the Early Years Support Team.
£60.00
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.