quality training for sen teachers

With a fast-changing agenda for teaching children with special needs, high-quality training is a key issue for Special Educational Needs (SEN) teachers. There are literally hundreds of different courses, seminars, workshops and conferences run throughout the UK, ranging from two-hour refreshers to week-long residential courses.

Contacts and courses

Advisory center for education
You can arrange for the ACE Centre team to speak or provide training at your school, college, university or any other relevant institution. Alternatively, you can bring a group of up to 15 people for training at the ACE Centre. Post-assessment training sessions are available for those supporting young people who have been assessed at the centre. Conferences and residential courses are designed to respond to key issues relating to the needs of communication-impaired learners. Alternatively, 2.5-hour advice and training sessions are held monthly for individuals or small groups.

Contact the ACE at
www.atschool.eduweb.co.uk

Association of Workers for Children with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (AWCEBD)
The AWCEBD's annual residential study course offers lectures, working groups and special interest groups in a friendly and informal environment. It also hosts the annual David Wills lecture, and is currently developing more training resources.

Contact the AWCEBD at
www.mistral.co.uk/awcebd

The British Association of Teachers of the Deaf (BAOTD)
The BAOTD is the only association representing the interests of teachers of hearing-impaired children and young people in the United Kingdom. It holds regular conferences and workshops to develop the professional expertise of its members and also provide support for people working with deaf children. Courses and conferences are open to non-members.

Contact the BAOTD on their website at
www.batod.org.uk

The British Dyslexia Association (BDA)
The BDA provides all kinds of advice on issues surrounding the needs of children with dyslexia, and runs an annual conference in April.

Contact the BDA on their website at
www.bda-dyslexia.org.uk/

The National Association for Special Educational Needs (NASEN)
NASEN is the leading organisation in the UK that aims to promote the education, training, advancement and development of all those with special educational needs. NASEN has more than 10,000 members and organises many events throughout the country dealing with a variety of SEN subjects.

Contact the NASEN on their website at
www.nasen.org.uk/events

NFER-NELSON
NFER-NELSON is a provider of assessments, training and consultancy for professionals in the educational, health and careers guidance environments. It runs around 350 courses, conferences and seminars each year, including several for SEN teachers.

Contact NFER-Nelson on their website at
www.nfernelson.co.uk

The Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB)
The RNIB has information about short courses, accredited modular training courses, UK conferences and more at its comprehensive website. It can also help with specially tailored one off courses in some cases.

Contact the RNIB on their website at
www.rnib.org.uk/curriculum

The Scottish Sensory Centre (SCC)
The SCC promotes and supports new developments and effective practices in the education of children and young people with sensory impairments ie visual, hearing or dual (deaf/blindness) sensory impairment. The SSC organises short courses, and you can access its schedule for the next year at its website:

Contact the SCC at
www.ssc.mhie.ac.uk

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The Government's Programme of Action: Meeting Special Educational Needs (SEN) sets out a broad agenda to ensure that the needs of all pupils with SEN are met through greater access to the curriculum and specific training for teachers. You can access details of its SEN teacher training initiatives at its website.

Teacher Training Agency:
www.teach-tta.gov.uk