Events and training

Autism and Mental Health

5 February 2020

People with autism are more likely to experience mental health problems than the general population. However, the mental health of people with autism is often overlooked or ignored. That’s why it’s really important that the services people with autism use, are able to properly identify their social, emotional and mental health needs so people can get the right support at the right time. This session will increase your understanding of autism and mental health issues and increase your confidence in identifying and supporting the social, emotional and mental health needs of children and young people with autism.

Creative Ways of Working with Children and Young People

11th February 2020 and 30th April 2020

The aim of the training is to introduce participants to a Creative Way of supporting children and young people to express themselves, in a safe and confidential environment. This is demonstrated in a number of ways through Expression, Art and Visualisation and Therapeutic stories; and will help them to develop their therapeutic skills and understanding of the benefits of using these techniques with children and young people in order to:

Understand and help resolve issues
Increased knowledge and skills through experiential learning
The impact of creative techniques
Assess the indications and contraindications for using creative techniques

Understanding Trauma informed Practice and Attachment

13 February 2020, 9 July 2020

This session aims to develop an understanding of attachment theory and the different types of attachment, highlighting how this impacts the brain and can affect classroom behaviour. This session also provides practical strategies to support vulnerable children and young people with attachment difficulties to provide the secure base that they need.

Getting it Right: Positive Steps to Support Behaviour and Emotional Wellbeing in Schools

3 March 2020, 10 June 2020

The Inclusion Support Service have developed guidance and resources for schools on identifying and supporting children and young people with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs. We are offering free training to all schools. This course covers how to identify children with SEMH needs, creating learning environments to promote emotional wellbeing and positive behaviour, assessing and planning for SEMH needs, strategies that can be implemented to support SEMH needs. All delegates will receive a copy of the Getting it Right Good Practice Guidance Resource. This course is for school leaders SENCOs and pastoral leads and other agencies working with schools to support them in meeting the needs of children with SEMH needs.

Using Counselling Skills to Support Children and Young People

10 March 2020

There has been an increasing awareness of the impact of children and young people’s emotional well-being on their engagement in school and being able to reach their full potential. The use of counselling skills is one effective way to support emotional well-being. Central to counselling is the relationship between skilled helper and client, therefore school staff are in a great position to provide this support as they already have established relationships with the children/ young people. It is important for staff to have an understanding of counselling skills so that they can provide safe and helpful support.

Promoting Friendships and Reducing Isolation: Circle of Friends

12 March 2020

Circle of Friends is an approach to support a student who is in danger of feeling isolated or left out. The Circle of Friends approach works by developing a support network around the individual by asking the young person’s peers to provide support and engage in problem solving with the person in difficulty.

Promoting Social Skills: GRASP Intervention

16 March 2020

GRASP is a 6 session programme that is designed to provide pupils with a range of skills and understanding, such as problem solving and assertive expression, which will enable them to make confident, positive decisions in social situations with peers.

Understanding and Supporting C&YP who are refugees and migrants

31 March 2020

This session will increase your knowledge of the journey of refugees and migrants who come to Wolverhampton, the impact of this journey and how we can support children and young people following this. The session is being run by Dr Heather Thomas from the Wolverhampton Refugee and Migrant Centre alongside the Educational Psychology Service.

Developing and Writing Multi-element Support Plans

21 April 2020

Multi-element Support Plans are a tool that focuses on a number of factors and elements that can contribute to improved wellbeing and/or behaviour. They form part of the graduated response to identifying needs and implementing support for children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) need outlined in the Getting it Right Guidance. This session will support you to develop and write effective multi-element support plans using examples, case studies and allowing you to reflect on children and young people who you support.

Preventing Escalation of Challenging Behaviour: Emotion Coaching

28 April 2020

Emotion coaching is a method of enabling children and young people to manage their own behaviour through helping them to understand the different emotions they experience, why they occur, and how to handle them.

Attachment in the Early Years

12 May 2020

This session aims to develop an understanding of attachment theory and the different types of attachment, highlighting how this impacts the brain and child development. The session focuses on children from 0-5 years old and how to identify their needs, work with their families and provide support and the secure base that they need.

Inclusion for Gender and Sexual Diversity

19 May 2020

Research suggests that LGBTQI+ young people are more at risk of being bullied, and experience a greater risk of school dropout, social isolation, mental health difficulties and suicide. 80% of transgender adults were aware they were transgender before they left primary school, suggesting a need for staff in both primary and secondary school settings to have awareness of gender identity and potential issues faced by individuals who identify as transgender. This session will provide an introduction into how schools can support the needs of LGBTQI+ children and young people.

Dealing with Conflict and Bullying: Restorative Conversations

2 June 2020

A restorative conversation is a useful way of bringing people together following an incident to explore what has happened, discuss the impact of this and agree ways forward. They have been used to successfully resolve conflict, improve relationships and prevent fixed term exclusions.

Responding to Anxiety: Mindfulness

16 June 2020

Research findings show that regular mindfulness meditation significantly reduces anxiety. Mindfulness involves paying more attention to the present moment, to your own thoughts and feelings, and to the world around you. We will share strategies that you can use to support children and young people.

Supporting Attendance: support for Emotionally-based School Avoidance

1 July 2020

Emotionally-based school refusal (EBSR) is an umbrella term used to describe children and young people (CYP) who have severe difficulty attending school due to emotional factors. There is a broad range of research that has outlined the negative impact of EBSR on outcomes for C/YP. However, it has been found that intervening early and working with parents, schools and CYP themselves is associated with positive outcomes for CYP who have severe difficulty attending school.

Anger: how do we understand and manage this complex emotion?

15 July 2020

Anger is not a bad emotion, however it is challenging when anger is expressed in potentially harmful ways. Learn more about how to respond to anger and how to support children and young people to understand it and express it in more helpful ways.

Training provided by Specialist Teachers

Precision Teaching

Wednesday 10th June 2020, 1:30 – 3:00 pm

This course will cover activities and ideas that can be used by teaching assistants to support the delivery of the ‘teaching’ part of a Precision Teaching intervention. Training will then move on to discuss the ‘testing’ part of Precision Teaching and how results can be used to support pupils and move their learning forward.
Venue: Inclusion Support Office, Woodhouse Fold, Alfred Squire Road, Wednesfield, WV11 1XU
Cost: £70 per delegate

Planning for Ofsted: Using case studies to evidence impact

Friday 7th February 2020, 1:30pm – 4:30pm

This will be a dialogic session for SENCos where you will be presented with a number of different ‘cases’ as exemplar material to discuss and analyse; as well as having the opportunity to discuss ideas with colleagues from across the city.
Venue: Graiseley Strengthening Families Hub, Pool Street, Blakenhall, Wolverhampton, WV2 4NE
Cost: £80 per delegate

Training provided through Outreach Services

Autism Practitioner’s Award (APA)

23rd March 2020, 15th June 2020

3 day course for teachers and TAs. Focus on practical classroom strategies for pupils with ASD. This course is delivered for free. Delegates must attend all 3 sessions. Book directly with Eve Griffiths by email at egriffiths@pennfields.com

Autism Leader's Award (ALA)

2nd March 2020, 20th April 2020, 18th May 2020

Masters level qualification in Autism Leadership accredited by the University of Wolverhampton. Aimed at SENDCos and Senior Leaders. University charge £395 for their accreditation. All dates at Penn Fields School, 1pm-4:30pm. Delegates must attend all 6 sessions. Book directly with Eve Griffiths by email at egriffiths@pennfields.com

Getting it Right: Leading Mental Health in Schools Award

February 2020 – February 2021

This is a Masters Level Accredited Leading Mental Health in Schools Award in collaboration with Wolverhampton University. It hopes to offer the opportunity for experienced setting staff to develop their knowledge, understanding of SEMH and develop skills and approaches, including whole-school approaches to support practice in their setting to promote emotional wellbeing and respond to mental health needs.

20 Masters Credits

To register your interest and to sign up please confirm your intention to attend our Introductory Workshop on 13th December 2019 at 3pm at our Alfred Squire Office.

3 hour monthly sessions, with an assessed piece of work to be submitted.

Venue: Alfred Squire Office, Woodhouse Fold, WV11 1XU (TBC dependent on numbers)
Cost: £360

Events & Training For Professionals