SEND and Inclusion course directory - communication and interaction courses

List of courses

Use the links below to view full details of each course:

• Social Communication and Interaction/Autism
• Making sense of Autism
• Understanding and supporting the responses of children and young people (CYP) with Social Communication Differences/Autism
• Using structure and visuals to support children and young people (CYP) with Social Communication Differences
• Supporting young people with Speech, Language and Communication Needs (including Developmental Language Disorder) in Secondary schools
• Supporting children with Speech, Language and Communication Needs (including Developmental Language Disorder) in Primary schools

Course details

Social Communication and Interaction/Autism

Description: A twilight session for school staff to reflect on the needs of children and young people with social communication and interaction differences and/or autism. The session will support staff in schools to increase their knowledge, skills and confidence around identifying and meeting the needs of children and young people with social communication and interaction needs.

Outcomes: 

• Understand factors which may contribute to social communication and interaction differences.
• Develop understanding of core difficulties and needs related to social communication and interaction/autism
• Identify individual needs and implement effective strategies/make reasonable adjustments.
• Have increased confidence in meeting the needs of children and young people with social communication and interaction differences and/or autism.

Who the course is for: All staff working with children and young people in school including SENCOs, teachers and support staff.

Course date and time:  21 November 2024, 18 March 2025, 3 June 2025 -  3.45pm - 5.15pm

Where: Online

Cost: Free

Cancellation terms: None

Contact: 03000 263 333

Making sense of Autism

Description: This course is an awareness-raising session for all staff in a school community, whether they be teachers, learning support assistants, school meals supervisors, or taxi drivers. It provides an introduction to autism and the reasonable adjustments that need to be considered when working with autistic pupils, approaching it as a difference rather than as a deficit or disorder. 

Outcomes: Through the course we aim to extend your understanding of how autism affects pupils in school, and to increase your expertise in recognising a pupil's individual strengths and differences.  The course will further support you to develop your skills in identifying barriers to learning for autistic pupils, and develop your understanding of what "reasonable adjustments" need to be made to support autistic pupils in your setting.  You will have the opportunity to listen to and learn from the perspectives of autistic pupils and their parents/ carers, and also for practice reflection.

Who the course is for: All staff working with children and young people in school including SENCOs, teachers and support staff.

Course date and time: 15 October 2024, 3.45pm to 5.15pm

Booking: This course is managed by Education Durham, please email cpd@durham.gov.uk to book onto the course.

Where: Microsoft Teams (online)

Cost: Free

Cancellation terms: None

Understanding and supporting the responses of children and young people (CYP) with Social Communication Differences/Autism

Description: This course will support staff to better understand some of the responses they might see from CYP with Social Communication Differences/Autism.

Outcomes: Delegates will have the opportunity to explore strategies to identify unmet needs, to identify how adults can adapt their approaches, and to develop supportive, organised strategies for helping students to manage their own responses in a safe way.  Delegates will explore evidence-based approaches and there will be opportunities throughout to discuss how these might be adapted within their own setting. 

Who the course is for: All staff working with children and young people in school including SENCOs, teachers and support staff.

Course date and time: 30 January 2025, 3.45pm to 5.15pm

Booking: This course is managed by Education Durham, please email cpd@durham.gov.uk to book onto the course.

Where: Microsoft Teams (online)

Cost: Free

Cancellation terms: None

Using structure and visuals to support children and young people (CYP) with Social Communication Differences

Description: This course will support staff in schools to increase knowledge, skills and confidence around the use of visuals and structure to support independence and learning. In this session, we will explore the use of visuals to build routines and manage transitions. We will also consider how to support attention and independence using practical 'shoebox/workstation' tasks.

Outcomes: By the end of this course, practitioners will have developed a greater understanding of how we can develop the physical environment, visual structures,  workstation approaches and task design to support learners with social communication differences.

Who the course is for: All staff working with children and young people in school including SENCOs, teachers and support staff.

Course date and time: 3 December 2024, 3.45pm to 5.15pm

Booking: This course is managed by Education Durham, please email cpd@durham.gov.uk to book onto the course.

Where: Microsoft Teams (online)

Cost: Free

Cancellation terms: None

Supporting young people with Speech, Language and Communication Needs (including Developmental Language Disorder) in Secondary schools

Description: The course will be delivered by speech and language specialists and cover key questions such as 'What is speech, language, and communication?' and 'What is Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)?'  It will cover the processes involved in successful verbal communication, and the varying presentations of children with speech, language and communication needs, including potential DLD.  It also provides some key guidance for creating communication friendly classrooms and using Quality First Teaching approaches.  

Outcomes: By the end of this course, practitioners will have developed a greater understanding what speech, language and communication is, be able to identify children in your school who may present with these needs, and be able to use effective approaches to support speech, language and communication in your classroom.

Who the course is for: All staff working with children and young people in school including SENCOs, teachers and support staff.

Course date and time: 4 March 2025, 3.45pm to 5.15pm

Booking: This course is managed by Education Durham, please email cpd@durham.gov.uk to book onto the course.

Where: Microsoft Teams (online)

Cost: Free

Cancellation terms: None

Supporting children with Speech, Language and Communication Needs (including Developmental Language Disorder) in Primary schools

Description: The course will be delivered by speech and language specialists and cover key questions such as 'What is speech, language, and communication?' and 'What is Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)?'  It will cover the processes involved in successful verbal communication, and the varying presentations of children with speech, language and communication needs, including potential DLD.  It also provides some key guidance for creating communication friendly classrooms and using Quality First Teaching approaches.  

Outcomes: By the end of this course, practitioners will have developed a greater understanding what speech, language and communication is, be able to identify children in your school who may present with these needs, and be able to use effective approaches to support speech, language and communication in your classroom.

Who the course is for: All staff working with children and young people in school including SENCOs, teachers and support staff.

Course date and time: 29 April 2025, 3.45pm to 5.15pm

Booking: This course is managed by Education Durham, please email cpd@durham.gov.uk to book onto the course.

Where: Microsoft Teams (online)

Cost: Free

Cancellation terms: None