SEND Centre for Excellence Training

As part of EPNE, a SEND Centre for Excellence, we are now delivering a range of programmes reflecting the 'People' theme of the Education Training Foundation (ETF) SEND Centres for Excellence, which prioritises developing staff confidence, skills, and resilience in meeting the needs of diverse learners.

The sessions are designed for a wide audience across Further Education settings, including teachers, curriculum managers, leaders, governors, support staff, and pastoral teams.

Our next session: Raising the Bar on the Journey to Excellence: Leading Change so Every Learner Thrives is now open to book.

❯ Book your place

SC Bede General FE 7542 Web (1)

Read our Story - Putting People at the Center of Excellence

❯ Read our Story

Session 1: Regulate to Educate - Trauma informed practice in FE SEND: from theory to Tolerance windows

This webinar focuses on how staff working with post 16 learners identify and respond to trauma related behaviours in education settings. You will learn how trauma presents in the classroom, including signs such as withdrawal, heightened anxiety, disengagement, or challenging behaviour. The session will support you to understand what sits behind these responses and how your approach can either reduce or increase distress.

  • Date: 3rd June 2026
  • Time: 4:15pm – 5:30pm

Session 2: Regulate to Educate - Building emotionally safe learning environments for SEND learners

The session provides practical strategies for co regulation, including tone, body language, and clear communication. You will explore how teams agree consistent routines, language, and responses across departments. There is also a focus on staff wellbeing, helping teams stay aligned, manage pressure, and maintain a calm, supportive environment for learners.

  • Date: 11th June 2026
  • Time: 4:15pm – 5:30pm

Session 3: Developing an effective curriculum for SEND learners in mainstream post-16 settings

This webinar explores how to design clear and meaningful curriculum intent for post 16 learners, with a strong focus on alignment to EHCP outcomes, employment pathways, and independence. You will examine how to move from broad statements to precise intent that drives planning, teaching, and assessment.

  • Date: 24th June 2026
  • Time: 4:15pm – 5:30pm

Session 4: Staff wellbeing and retention in SEND provision: A practical approach

The session sets out clear leadership approaches that improve morale and stability. This includes managing workload through realistic expectations, protecting time for high impact work, and removing unnecessary tasks. You will examine how consistent communication, visibility, and recognition from leaders strengthen trust and reduce stress.

  • Date: 23rd September 2026
  • Time: 4:15pm – 5:30pm

Session 5: Professionalising the SEND workforce: whole organisational approach to CPD

The session covers how to support staff through targeted training, coaching, and professional development that links directly to learner needs and outcomes. You will also examine how to work effectively with external partners, including employers, support services, and specialist providers, to ensure a consistent and informed approach.

  • Date: 14th October 2026
  • Time: 4:15pm – 5:30pm

Session 6: Developing inclusive practice in mainstream settings

This webinar supports teachers working with both SEND and non-SEND learners, with a focus on shared responsibility for outcomes. You will explore how strong collaboration between teachers and support staff improves consistency, reduces gaps in support, and strengthens learner progress.

The session looks at practical ways to plan and deliver adaptive teaching. This includes clear differentiation, flexible approaches to instruction, and the use of support staff to enhance learning rather than create dependence.

  • Date: 25th November 2026
  • Time: 4:15pm – 5:30pm

Session 7: Developing the stakeholder voice in SEND provision

This webinar focuses on how staff gather and act on learner voice in meaningful and structured ways across post 16 provision. You will explore how learner voice moves beyond consultation to co production, where learners shape decisions about their learning, support, and environment.

The session covers practical and accessible methods for gathering feedback. This includes adapted surveys, visual tools, one to one discussions, and informal approaches.

  • Date: 9th December 2026
  • Time: 4:15pm – 5:30pm

Session 8: Effective use of support staff in FE SEND settings

This webinar focuses on the effective deployment, training, and impact of support staff in post 16 settings. You will examine how unclear roles and passive support limit learner progress, and how a shift to active learning facilitation improves outcomes.

The session sets out clear expectations for roles and accountability. You will explore how teachers and support staff plan together, define responsibilities, and maintain a shared focus on learning rather than task completion.

  • Date: 30th September 2026
  • Time: 4:15pm – 5:30pm

Session 9: FE is not an Island: The use of external partners to deliver high quality SEND provision

This session focuses on how leaders plan and deliver high impact CPD that improves outcomes for learners with SEND across post 16 settings. You will explore how to move away from one off training towards sustained professional development that leads to consistent changes in practice.

  • Date: 10th February 2027
  • Time: 4:15pm – 5:30pm

Session 10: Developing a workforce approach to deliver impactful AP provision

This webinar focuses on staff development as the key driver for improving learner engagement and re engagement in post 16 settings. You will explore how staff mindset shapes outcomes, particularly how expectations, language, and consistency influence whether learners reconnect with education.

The session looks at effective outreach approaches, including how staff build trust with learners who have disengaged and maintain consistent, respectful communication.

  • Date: 10th March 2027
  • Time: 4:15pm – 5:30pm

Curriculum

This delivery plan sets out a structured programme of professional development sessions designed to strengthen inclusive practice across post-16 education, with a focus on supporting learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

Each session has been aligned with the ETF Professional Standards to ensure that provision is underpinned by national expectations for teaching and learning. 

SC Foundation Studies FE 010

Book your place

To access our training session, you will need a Education Training Foundation account, which you can find below.

Sign up for an account