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Online SEND CPD Units

This series of online Continuing Professional Development (CPD) units explore some of the most commonly observed barriers to learning in classrooms and other learning environments, regardless of age, label or area of need.

The units are developed in partnership with leading specialists from the sector to provide clear guidance on adaptations to teaching to help meet the needs of all learners.

As 'short hop' learning journeys, each unit can be completed in under an hour. There's no need to study the units in order, so you can tap into the guidance you need as and when you need it.

Please note, you must be logged into your free nasen or Whole School SEND account to access these online units. 

For anyone who wants to further contextualise learning from the units, the teams involved in their development often feature in our Specialist Spotlight Sessions. These hour-long live discussions are a great place to build on learning, share experiences and seek advice.

Woman in front of a laptop taking part in a online training session
two pupils with a teacher at an international school

Features

  • Free to access at a time to suit you
  • Each unit is classed as a ‘short hop’ learning journey and can be completed in under an hour
  • Specialist Spotlight Sessions further contextualise learning
  • Themes include Language and Communication; Social, Emotional and Mental Health; Safety and Belonging; Speech, Language and Communication.

Benefits

  • Provides information and skills required to build holistic understanding of individual learner's characteristics and context.
  • Provides clear guidance on adaptations to teaching across the age range with the aim of meeting the needs of all learners.
  • 99% of users say that their confidence in identifying and meeting needs of their learners has improved, and that they are likely to incorporate changes in their practice as a result of the units. 

Titles available

The list of unit titles currently available are:

  • Unit 1: Creating an emotionally safe environment
  • Unit 2: Creating a socially safe environment
  • Unit 3: Creating a physically safe environment
  • Unit 4: An introduction to speech, language and communication needs (SLCN)
  • Unit 5: Identifying and supporting speech, language and communication needs (SLCN)
  • Unit 6: Supporting the development of speech, language and communication skills
  • Unit 7: Creating a learning environment that supports speech, language and communication
  • Unit 8: Understanding behaviour as communication
  • Unit 9: Promoting mental wellbeing in your setting
  • Unit 10: Understanding and promoting resilience
  • Unit 11: Understanding anxiety and creating a supportive learning environment
  • Unit 12: Supporting sensory differences in the learning environment
  • Unit 13: An introduction to teaching learners with physical needs
  • Unit 14: Understanding executive functioning
  • Unit 15: Memory for learning
  • Unit 17: Developing maths skills
  • Unit 18: Person centred working
  • Unit 19: Promoting independence
  • Unit 20: Transitions

Launching this term:

  • Unit 16: Supporting reading and comprehension across the curriculum 

Specialist Spotlight session supporting resources

Resources to summarise the discussion from the sessions and share strategies and approaches used by schools and colleges

Live online networking sessions supporting resources

  • General
  • 27 Mar 2023
Free
Universal SEND Services
Online Units
,
Live Discussion
,

A bank of resources to support the Online networking sessions for Unit 1 -3

Upcoming Specialist Spotlight Sessions

To complement each unit you have the opportunity to join an hour-long online discussion, often featuring the specialists involved in developing the units. It’s a chance to contextualise the learning, share experiences and learn from colleagues from across the country.

Due to the interactive nature of these sessions, recordings will not be available after the event, so book now as places are limited!

Specialist Spotlight: An Introduction to speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) (Secondary / FE)

Online
11 Nov 2024
FREE
Universal SEND Services
Live Discussion
,
Online Units
,
SLCN

Join us for a FREE discussion exploring speech, language and communication needs in Secondary / FE settings.

group of students in a STEM lesson with teacher - secondary age

Specialist Spotlight: Creating a learning environment that supports speech, language and communication (Secondary / FE)

Online
12 Nov 2024
FREE
Universal SEND Services
Live Discussion
,
Online Units
,

Join us for a FREE discussion exploring speech, language and communication needs in Secondary / FE settings.

Specialist Spotlight: Understanding behaviour as communication (Secondary / FE)

Online
19 Nov 2024
FREE
Universal SEND Services
Online Units
,
Live Discussion
,
SEMH

Featuring Sarah Johnson: Sarah Johnson has worked in education for the last nineteen years. As a qualified teacher, Sarah has enjoyed roles in mainstream schools, Pupil Referral Units, Alternative Provision and psychiatric in-patient services.

Group of 3 primary school age children enthusiastically putting their hand up sat around a classroom desk

Specialist Spotlight: Creating a learning environment that supports speech, language and communication (Primary)

Online
20 Nov 2024
FREE
Universal SEND Services
Online Units
,
Live Discussion
,

Join us for a FREE discussion exploring speech, language and communication needs in Primary settings.

Group of primary school children in red uniform gathered around a computer with their teacher

Specialist Spotlight: Identifying and supporting speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) (Primary)

Online
25 Nov 2024
FREE
Universal SEND Services
Live Discussion
,
Online Units
,

Join us for a FREE discussion exploring speech, language and communication needs in Primary settings.

group of students in a STEM lesson with teacher - secondary age

Specialist Spotlight: Supporting the development of speech, language and communication skills (Secondary / FE)

Online
27 Nov 2024
FREE
Live Discussion
,
Online Units
,
Universal SEND Services

Join us for a FREE discussion exploring speech, language and communication needs in Secondary / FE settings. 

Specialist Spotlight: Identifying and supporting speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) (Secondary / FE)

Online
02 Dec 2024
FREE
Universal SEND Services
Online Units
,
Live Discussion
,

Join us for a FREE discussion exploring speech, language and communication needs in Secondary / FE settings.

Male teacher with primary school children in a lesson

Specialist Spotlight: Understanding behaviour as communication (Primary)

Online
03 Dec 2024
FREE
Universal SEND Services
Online Units
,
Live Discussion
,

Featuring Sarah Johnson: Sarah Johnson has worked in education for the last nineteen years. As a qualified teacher, Sarah has enjoyed roles in mainstream schools, Pupil Referral Units, Alternative Provision and psychiatric in-patient services.

group of students in a STEM lesson with teacher - secondary age

Specialist Spotlight: Supporting sensory differences in the learning environment (Secondary / FE)

Online
04 Dec 2024
FREE
Online Units
,
Live Discussion
,
Universal SEND Services

Join us for a FREE discussion exploring how to support sensory differences in the learning environment in secondary / FE settings.

Need some help?

If you have any questions about these online units or would like some further support then please contact us by emailing: info@wholeschoolsend.org.uk

Specialist Spotlight session supporting resources

Resources to summarise the discussion from the sessions and share strategies and approaches used by schools and colleges

Live online networking sessions supporting resources

  • General
  • 27 Mar 2023
Free
Universal SEND Services
Online Units
,
Live Discussion
,

A bank of resources to support the Online networking sessions for Unit 1 -3

How to use the Online CPD Units

To access the Online Units you must have an active account with nasen/Whole School SEND and be logged in. 

Register for your free account today

Log in

Each unit can be completed in under an hour.

At the end of each unit you will be invited to register for a free Specialist Spotlight session, which will facilitate an open discussion on each CPD unit and how you can apply learning into practice 

At the moment there are 19 online units, with the final unit to be published late 2024 / early 2025.