CPD
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) takes many forms.
At Three Spires, our inclusion team works with senior leaders, governors, SENCos, DSLs, support staff, teaching staff and others from within our own organisation and beyond.
CPD can be conversational, through networks, developmental, progressive, national, local or targeted. We work with our settings to develop what is needed in order to improve practice based on identified training needs.
Take a look below and explore the opportunities that already exist – and don’t hesitate to ask for broader input if needed.
To access any of the CPD events that are offered by the inclusion team, please contact [email protected]
An example of our training offer
Network meetings
Our networks meet regularly throughout the school year and bring together the specialist teams across our schools.
- DSL meeting: monthly via Microsoft Teams – 1 hour
- Attendance meeting: half-termly via Microsoft Teams – 45 minutes / 1 hour
- SEND and Safeguarding governor link champion network meetings: termly via Microsoft Teams- 1 hour
- SENCo network meetings: termly in Stafford – 3 hours
- Behaviour network meetings: termly in Stafford – 3 hours
DSL Development Day
Our DSL development day is a day dedicated to policy development, training and revising the impact of our lessons learned reviews from the academic year. DSLs and Deputy DSLs from across the trust come together to ensure that the Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy for the coming academic year is fit for purpose. We support our DSLs in being able to deliver the annual safeguarding training to their whole staff and help them to plan the bespoke training that their individual settings will need.
In recent years, we have had guest presenters at this day as well, for example in July 2024, we welcomes Laura Nott from the Lucy Faithfull Foundation.
Annual safeguarding training for all staff
Coproduction is key to the success of this training session. The annual safeguarding training that is delivered to all staff across the Trust is developed initially by the central safeguarding function, and then enhanced with the trust’s network of DSLs are the annual DSL development day.
The training ensures that the lessons learned from the previous year are revisited, that any national policy change is shared and understood, reminds staff of their statutory duties, focusses on referrals to the DSL team within their own setting and explores topical matters that are highlighted on individual setting’s development and training plans. With a focus on relational practice, our safeguarding training is not ‘chalk and talk’ – it needs to be engaging and it needs to be relatable. Our colleagues need to understand the importance of safeguarding, not just its statutory status!
Maximising the use of TAs in the classroom (different sessions for teachers and TAs)
It is always surprising to note quite how opposing in understanding our teachers and TAs can be when it comes to unpicking the role of the TA in the classroom. In part this is because the role is not clearly defined nationally – there are no agreed standards, processes or protocols. In part, it is because the role has evolved significantly over the years. In part, it is because there is often a misunderstanding of one’s own role and that of others in the world of education. In short, this needs to be explored, unpicked and resolved!
TAs are one of the most significant resources in a school. They work with some of the most vulnerable young people and the role can make an immense difference to the lives of individual children, whole classes of children, the individual teacher, and the whole school – with good quality support and training, it will be more likely to be a successful role in the school.
Our specialist teacher delivers a focussed CPD session (1 hour in duration) for teachers and a separate one for TAs, which explores the purpose, the value, the role and the impact of TAs in the classroom.
Adaptive Teaching
Often confused with ‘differentiation’, our specialist teacher has developed a fabulous 1 hour CPD session which focuses on adaptive teaching – and how this is NOT differentiation.
With takeaways that can be used “tomorrow”, this session is practical, thought-provoking and suitable for all … those who have been in the classroom for 5 minutes, those who have been in the classroom for 5 years and those who have earned their long service stripes. It makes you think!
Writing SMART targets
Target setting is not simply the job of the SENCo – so many people should be involved and so many people can be involved!
This session focuses the mind on ensuring that targets on Person Centred Panning documents are SMART, that is:
- specific
- measurable
- achievable
- realistic
- timely
Understanding sensory profiles
Focussing on debunking an area which is increasingly well understood by those in education, health and social care, our specialist teacher has developed a training session for staff which helps them to better understand what a sensory profile is – what it means – and, more importantly, how these are unique to individual children. There is no ‘one size fits all’ – what can staff in school do – and why will it be of benefit to the child in front of them?
Safeguarding training for governors and trustees
Our central team develops training to support governors and trustees – to find out more about this, visit the safeguarding and inclusion specific detail about this offer here.
SEND law
There is so much to consider when working with children who have special educational needs and / or disabilities. Our SENCos, headteachers and governors in particular need to have a good understanding about the law – and the difference between legislation, statutory guidance, guidance and regulations. Knowing how to prioritise workload is really important and helping school leaders to understand the importance of some meetings compared to others can help with managing workload.
