Speak to us +44 (0)1273 35 80 80
or Make a Booking
Confidence through competence
Course Browser

News

Education Policy Institute/Wellcome report demonstrates effects of CPD on teachers and students

CPDIn a newly released report from the Education Policy Institute (EPI), commissioned by the Wellcome Foundation, continuing professional development (CPD), which includes training courses, mentoring and seminars has been found to play a crucial role in improving teaching quality, and the learning outcomes of pupils.  The report also goes on to demonstrate the positive effects on teacher retention, as well as how access to professional development for teachers has improved.

The impact of professional development on pupils

According to the report, CPD programmes “have the potential to close the gap between beginner and more experienced teachers”; the impact of CPD for a newly-qualified teacher on pupil outcomes is comparable to the impact of a teacher with ten year’s experience. The effect of CPD was also found to have similar attainment improvements as large, structural reforms to the school system.

In addition, the evidence suggests that CPD has a greater effect on pupil attainment than other interventions that might be considered by schools, such as performance-related pay for teachers or lengthening the school day. CPD is also relatively cost-effective; although one-to-one tutoring was found to impact pupil attainment to a higher degree, these can be very expensive, both financially and in terms of time.

Perhaps most tellingly, though, was that CPD programmes were more positively received by teachers when compared to other interventions, such as large structural changes to the school system. These can be expensive and cause higher staff turnover and dissatisfaction.

The impact of professional development on teacher retention

With an increase in high-quality CPD, retention problems improve, particularly for newly-qualified and early-career teachers. While it is understood that access to CPD is only one of many factors behind the number of teachers leaving the profession, targeted CPD programmes for teachers in the early stages of their careers can increase retention rate and instil an atmosphere of positivity and future ambition within them. Induction training and mentoring programmes are particularly effective for improving retention rates early on.

Improving access to professional development for teachers

It doesn’t seem that simply throwing CPD opportunities at teachers is sufficient, however. “Teacher turnover is a major impediment to the effectiveness of a CPD programme” the report states, suggesting that courses that offer flexibility, in terms of cohort start dates, deadlines and so on are more likely to be successful.  Furthermore, when the CPD programme receives sustained support from school leaders, it is found to have a greater impact on pupil attainment. Finally, understanding the high workload of teachers can make them more effective – “interventions are likely to see success if they are both attractive and strive to minimise the demands placed on teachers.”

Real Training – high-quality, flexible and effective professional development

This report supports what we at Real Training have long-believed to be the case; that providing professional development courses of the highest-quality, delivered flexibly through Campus Online leads to significant positive effects on pupil’s learning outcomes, across the full range of special educational needs. We understand that teachers are under a vast amount of pressure and have wildly varying workloads, which is why we allow you to work at your own pace and in your own time, from anywhere you have access to the internet. Our courses start at multiple points throughout the year, giving you the option to begin your journey when it suits you best.

Our courses and qualifications cover a vast array of SEND and leadership topics and include our

You can download the full report here.

When you have decided which cohort works best for you or your colleagues, please complete our simple online booking form. If you have any questions regarding our NPQ courses, please get in touch with us here

 

Ready to step up to a Leadership role? Our NPQs can make it happen!

If you are looking to move into a leadership role, it is essential you stand out as an exceptional candidate in a very competitive field. One of the most effective ways to do so is to achieve a National Professional Qualification (NPQ).

These qualifications are designed to give delegates the opportunity to develop their knowledge, skills and leadership behaviours needed to lead an effective education setting, as well as moving ahead in their careers, through gaining a DfE-recognised qualification in leadership.

We offer two DfE-approved NPQs that can greatly increase your opportunities in these areas:

  • NPQSL – for current and aspiring senior leaders with responsibilities across an education setting.
  • NPQML – for current and aspiring middle leaders with responsibility for a team.

These qualifications are designed to develop your leadership skills, knowledge and confidence so that you can become highly effective leaders in your setting. With our flexible, online and practice-led learning model you will be able to set your own study schedule and work at your own pace, implementing improvement plans into your setting from the outset.

Book for the March cohort here to get started as soon as possible. Start your learning journey with us in the next couple of weeks and book by 15th March to join this cohort.

If March is too soon, please visit our NPQ web page for information on upcoming cohorts throughout 2020.

Why study with Real Training?

  • Ease of application – we don’t have complicated application processes, no interviews to attend and there’s no application essay to write. So long as you have an undergraduate degree, are working in a UK or international education setting, full support of a sponsor and plan to move into a headship role within 18 months, all you need to do is book your place online.
  • Flexible learning – Our NPQ courses are delivered fully online through Campus Online, our very own virtual learning environment, featuring learning experiences and activities that will give you the practical edge in your setting at the click of a mouse.
  • Practice-led learning – Real Training’s practice-led learning model means you receive the content and theory you need, along with opportunities to make a difference to your setting through putting theory into practice and reflecting on the process.
  • Qualifications with credibility – Study with us and you will discover highly respected NPQ courses validated by Middlesex University and recognised by the DfE.

NPQH qualification also available

We also offer the NPQH (National Professional Qualification for Headship) for those who aspire to rise to the position of Headteacher in the next 12-18 months. If you are already an experienced senior leader who is highly motivated to become a headteacher soon and have the full support and endorsement of a sponsor (usually, this will be your headteacher or line manager) then this could be the perfect qualification to fulfill your ambitions.

When you have decided which cohort works best for you or your colleagues to move in a leadership role, please complete our simple online booking form. If you have any questions regarding our NPQ courses, please get in touch with us – you can call us on +44 (0)1273 35 80 80 or contact us here.

Cognitive Abilities Profile (CAP) Course date announced – 23-24 June 2020 – Novotel London Bridge Hotel

The next Cognitive Abilities Profile (CAP) course has been announced. It will take place in London on 23-24 June 2020 at the Novotel London Bridge Hotel.

This course is designed to train professionals in the comprehensive use of CAP. As a detailed evidence-based tool for consultation and structured data collection, it can be used by a range of professionals, including:

 

  • Educational and clinical psychologists
  • Therapists
  • SENCOs and specialist teachers

Although the course will be highly relevant to psychologists, therapists, and teachers, those who do not work in one of these professions are also welcome – as long as they work in the learning and development of children, adolescents, and adults.

This Cognitive Abilities Profile (CAP) course will bring the unique benefits of dynamic assessment (DA) and cognitive education into the mainstream work of practitioner psychologists and specialist teachers. This will not only teach you how to use CAP to structure an in-depth individualised assessment but will also show you how to use CAP for systematic consultation and observation – which may mitigate the need to carry out individual direct work with a particular student.

By the end of the course you will be able to:

  • Use CAP to help teachers, parents and others understand the learner’s needs.
  • Develop recommendations that lead to an intervention plan (IP).
  • Understand how to use the profile systemically to review progress.

This course isn’t formally assessed. However, clear staging posts over the two days will ensure that your learning and practice are embedded every step of the way.

For more details, and to book your place, please visit our CAP page.

2019 Delegate Feedback Review

Feedback from our delegates is very important to us. This is why we ask every delegate to complete a feedback form upon completion of their course. This provides us with extremely valuable data on what we’re doing right, and what we can improve upon. We’ve been carefully analysing the data from over 1,000 delegates in 2019, and below are highlights of the results.

  • 96% of delegates rated our course as good or very good.
  • 97% of delegates rated the extent to which their course met their developmental priorities as good or very good.
  • 93% of delegates rated the course tutors as good or very good.
  • 93% of delegates rated their experience of the course administration from Real Training as good or very good.
  • All metrics have improved year-on-year from 2018 to 2019, reflecting how we strive to improve, always.

Nearly 3/4 of our delegates report that they are considering studying further modules with us.

Some comments from our delegates

“An amazing course. I loved how accessible it was. I could work in the evenings/ weekends/ holidays etc. It fitted around my workload easily as there are no formal deadlines apart from the one a year on from when you start. As everyone’s workloads are different this is ideal. There were no university visits so no time off of work. The website was easy to use and navigate around. My Tutor was fantastic, and always available for support. I would really recommend booking a course with Real Training.” – Sarah Phillips, NASENCO

“It is an excellent organisation which will help you advance in terms of your personal development, knowledge and understanding whilst providing all the support you may require, want or need.” – Daniel Smith, AAC Online

“I have recommended Real training to several colleagues from the North east who are in the process of completing this accreditation.” – Dawn Ablewhite, CCET Intensive

“The tutoring I have received through Real Training has been far superior to that during my undergraduate degree or masters both of which were face to face not distance learning. My tutor has been encouraging and supportive throughout and offered really clear feedback. Overall it has been brilliant! With the support of my tutor I have had everything I needed to complete this course. I loved how easy everything was and how varied the online journals etc there were for you to access. It was also so lovely to have an online community. It’s a brilliant way to complete the task especially if you’re a parent. Very supportive tutors and community.” – Ella Browning, NASENCO

If you are thinking of enrolling on a course with us, either for the first time or a returning delegate, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us on +44 (0)1273 35 80 80 or contact us here.

UK Children’s Mental Health Week & Leading Inclusivity

 

This week is the UK Children’s Mental Health Week. Set up by children’s mental health charity Place2Be, UK Children’s Mental Health Week aims to bring to the national attention the importance of children and young people’s mental health. For 2020, the theme is ‘Find your Brave’ and the organisers will be asking everyone to think about what makes them feel brave, what bravery means to them and tips for young people on how to be brave.

Understanding Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs within your educational setting

UK Children’s Mental HealthAccording to Place2Be, around one in three children in every primary school class has a mental health difficulty, and many others struggle with challenges including bullying and bereavement. The issue has never been more apparent with the rise in importance of social media in the lives of young people. Having the theoretical understanding and practical skills to make a positive difference to young people with mental health challenges has become very desirable in educational settings. Fortunately, these topics and more are covered in our module; Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs (SEMH). This 30 masters-level credits module is available as part of our Masters in Leading Inclusive Education (MALIE) Programme, and our Master of Education in Special Educational Needs & Disability (MEd SEND) programme.

SEMH & MALIE

MALIE is an exciting, distance-learning pathway for education professionals from all phases and settings, who wish to progress into leadership roles or to develop their leadership skills, in the crucial area of inclusion. Developing inclusive education practice to support the needs of all learners is one of the most important challenges facing education professionals today. The programme includes the completion of two 30 masters-credit modules from a choice of six, of which Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs (SEMH) is one. The MALIE Programme aims to develop your skills and confidence to enable you to lead inclusive practice in your setting, allowing you to create a safe, supportive learning environment for students with special mental health needs.

SEMH & MEd SEND

Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs (SEMH) is also available as a skills & knowledge module in our award-winning SEND programme. This module has been designed to develop your understanding of social, emotional and mental health needs, understand the skills that you need to use to make a positive difference to your setting, and develop the essential knowledge of the latest policies, theories, and research. Completion of this module along with the Evidence and Pedagogy for Inclusion module leads to the Postgraduate Certificate SEND: Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs, or you can take the 30 masters-level credits to work towards a Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits) or MEd SEND (180 credits).

The Effective SEN Support Provision – Middle Leaders course is live!

Effective SEN Support Provision - Middle Leaders course

We are pleased and proud to announce that a brand new Effective SEN Support Provision – Middle Leaders course we have created in partnership with Whole School SEND is now live – and all educators can access it free of charge!

This course is aimed at current and aspiring middle leaders who want to develop, embed and enact new skills in SEN support and provision.

You can learn more about the course and how it could benefit your teams by accessing the dedicated page here. If you think some of your colleagues may be interested, all they need to do to register here and to enter their name, school name and email address and they’ll be given access immediately.

How this course benefits participants and their schools?

By completing this free CPD course, delegates will be able to:

• Understand how middle leaders can support strategic SEND provision while identifying opportunities to coordinate with other leaders in the school #

• Consider how effectively whole school approaches are implemented in their subject area

• Reflect on how line management can support effective SEND provision.

• Identify strategies and resources to support colleagues, including early career teachers, within a department to develop their practice

• Reflect on how subject-specific content can be presented to pupils with SEND

• Consider how assessment and tracking can support the identification of pupils with SEND

• Assess the learning environment for pupils with different needs, then identify and implement key strategies and resources that will support them

How is the course delivered and how long does it take?

The Effective SEN Support Provision – Middle Leaders course is delivered fully online and should take most current or aspiring middle leaders no more than 15 hours. The great news is you’ll be able to access the course for 12 months, so you can enjoy the course at a time, place and pace which works for you. However, there is no time like the present to continue to develop your inclusive leadership skills and knowledge.

What is more, there is no limit at all to how many people from one setting can take this course, so if you think several colleagues might benefit from taking this CPD course, please forward this email to them. Alternatively, if you or a colleague have any questions about this course, or any of our other programmes, please don’t hesitate to contact us either by email at info@realgroup.co.uk or call on 01273 358080.

National Professional Qualifications in Qatar

 National Professional Qualifications in QatarOur flexible National Professional Qualifications in Qatar allow you to develop the knowledge, skills and leadership abilities to take you to the next step in your career. We are proud to partner with the Qatar International School in Doha to deliver our online National Professional Qualification in Senior Leadership (NPQSL) and National Professional Qualification in Headship (NPQH) courses with additional face-to-face support sessions. The next Doha cohort starts in February 2020.

How you benefit from the NPQSL and NPQH qualifications

The two courses are designed by expert education practitioners and educational psychologists to provide current, innovative and practice-focused training that will give school leaders the insight and tools they need to become highly effective leaders.

  • NPQH (National Professional Qualification for Headship) for those who aspire to rise to the position of Headteacher in the next 12-18 months.
  • NPQSL (National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership) – for current and aspiring senior leaders with responsibilities across an education setting.

These Department for Education (DfE) approved qualifications in leadership aim to help staff in education settings at all levels to develop their knowledge, skills, and confidence to lead teams, departments, and entire schools successfully. Our colleagues in international schools are informing us that NPQs is being viewed as a necessity rather than simply desirable to being considered for leadership roles.

The majority of our NPQ course content is delivered online via our proprietory Campus OnlineTM platform, allowing you to be completely flexible with your learning schedule, as well as giving you access to support from course tutors, fellow delegates and a wealth of resource materials.

Additional face-to-face sessions facilitated by Qatar International School in Doha

For both the NPQSL and NPQH qualifications, our colleagues at Qatar International School will be facilitating seven additional face-to-face sessions aimed at enhancing the predominantly online content, allowing opportunities for discussion, networking and support and to practice skills in key areas.

The sessions focus on the following areas:

NPQSL

• Leading with impact

• Strategy & improvement

• Increasing capability

• Teaching and curriculum excellence

• Preparation for assessment

NPQH – As above, and in addition:

• Working in partnership 

• Managing risks and resources

These sessions run from February to November. Please contact us for more details.  

Book now to avoid disappointment! The next National Professional Qualifications in Qatar starts on 15 February 2020, so to ensure you are ready to start by that date, visit our booking page to secure your place. If you would like to know more, contact us or call us on +44 1273 35 80 80.

iSENCo: Award-winning training for your international setting

iSENCoiSENCo: a unique qualification designed for educational professionals working in an international setting. This year has been one of professional recognition for Real Training. In April, we were awarded SEN Resource Supplier of the Year at the GESS Global Awards ceremony in Dubai. Then to top off a fantastic year, our SEND programme was awarded the top 5-star award in the CPD category of the Teach Primary awards in October. The acknowledgement from established industry awards is extremely important to us, as it demonstrates our courses are valued by leaders and experts in the education sector as well as employers and our own delegates. One of the latest additions to our award-winning SEND Programme is our International Award in SEN Coordination (iSENCO).

The iSENCo course

This is a unique qualification designed for educational professionals working in an international setting. The aims are:

  • To develop effective leadership and management skills in relation to SEND coordination within an international school setting.
  • To develop an understanding of how wider cultural, political, historical and community contexts influence SEND provision internationally.
  •  To engage with international research and evidence-based practice regarding inclusive education.
  • To critically examine the research on interventions in the field of SEND and demonstrate both knowledge and understanding of both its applications and limitations.
  • To develop different models of partnership within their setting, with an understanding of the place of power and ethics in listening to and understanding children, parents and carers

What’s more, our Campus Online platform allows you to be completely flexible with your learning schedule, as well as giving you access to support from course tutors, fellow delegates and a wealth of resource materials. The iSENCO course will fully enable SEN professionals in an international setting to deal with the unique challenges associated with working with third culture kids, students with EAL and students with SEN who may require additional support.

Who is it for?

The iSENCO represents a fantastic opportunity for career growth for school SENCOs, inclusion managers or teaching staff who aspire to become a leader in SEND. Unlike the UK-focused NASENCO course, they do not need to hold the UK Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), unless they wish to complete an additional module to gain the UK’s mandatory qualification for mainstream school SENCOs – the NASENCO qualification.

When can I start the course?

The iSENCO runs three times a year: 15 January, 15 May and 15 September.

If this is a course that would benefit your school and pupils and you would like to know more, contact us or call us on +44 1273 35 80 80

Read what some of our past delegates have said about our iSENCO course

“The tutoring I have received has been really helpful, the advice given has been clear along with any questions I have had about a module, or assignment – I have felt supported throughout the course and Katie has been really quick with her responses.” – Sophie Kilding

“It is a fantastic opportunity for correspondence learning to complete courses and attain qualifications in fields of study that are not readily available in this country.” – Amanda Varkel

“[The tutor] was an excellent support, as were all of the Real group staff. My tutor was always very supportive, gave good and constructive feedback.” – Stacy Coombs

“I’d thoroughly recommend it … The course has helped me delve deeper into things like academic language, and think about the effect of culture on motivation for example.” – Louise Linton

UK Anti-Bullying Week and Leading Inclusivity

UK Anti-Bullying Week Promoting UK Anti-Bullying Week 2019

As you are no doubt already aware, this week is Anti-Bullying Week in the UK. Organised by the Anti-Bullying Alliance, UK Anti-Bullying Week runs in schools across England with the goal to inform schools and settings, children and young people, parents and carers to know that it takes a collective responsibility to stop bullying. Whether it is verbal, physical, online or in-person, bullying has a significant impact on a child’s life well into adulthood.

Creating and leading a fully-inclusive setting

So what better time than now to focus on ensuring your setting is fully-inclusive. Have you ever considered how diverse your curriculum is with respect to gender and sexuality? Do you think you use the best strategies to promote inclusion whilst respecting and valuing different cultures and additional learning needs? All these topics and more are covered in Real Training’s Masters in Leading Inclusive Education (MALIE) Programme

MALIE is an exciting, distance-learning pathway for education professionals from all phases and settings, who wish to progress into leadership roles or to develop their leadership skills, in the crucial area of inclusion. Developing inclusive education practice to support the needs of all learners is one of the most important challenges facing education professionals today. With modules such as Gender & Sexuality, Communities & Culture, and Migration & Language Acquisition, the MALIE Programme aims to develop your skills and confidence to enable you to lead inclusive practice in your setting, allowing you to create a safe, supportive learning environment for those at most risk from bullying and social exclusion.

Inclusive National Professional Qualifications

For those looking to attain a DfE-accredited NPQ in middle, senior or headship, Real Training also offers practice-led, fully-online courses to provide current, innovative and practice-led training that will give school leaders the insight and tools they need to become highly effective leaders, with a particular focus on inclusion.

Supporting children with SEND

In addition to these qualifications, Real Training’s 5 star award-winning SEND programme, ranging from the NASENCO course; a mandatory qualification for all SENCOs in schools, right up to the MEd in SEND. These focus on the inclusive education for all children with SEND, and can be tailored to suit your individual institution’s needs. To celebrate recently winning the 5-star Teach Primary Award in the CPD category, 5 lucky winners who book a SEND Programme module for the January 2020 cohort by 31 December 2019 will win a £60 Love2Shop voucher. A perfect excuse to hit the January sales!

MA in Leading Inclusive Education – The challenges, and opportunities, of an inclusive and diverse society

Masters in Leading Inclusive EducationJoining MA in Leading Inclusive Education 

The Department for Education has recently released a consultation response on the government’s new forward-thinking proposal surrounding relationship and sex education in state schools. The range of the responses to the proposal demonstrates the array of views held by teachers, parents, and Heads about what and how we teach children in primary and secondary about relationship/sex education. Whilst the government’s new initiative is broadly to be welcomed, it is equally reasonable to say that it isn’t without controversy.

The interplay of some sincerely held cultural and religious beliefs and the mandatory teaching on relationships and sex education cannot be tackled easily or without friction, evidenced by some recent, high-profile school gate protests. The new policy places greater responsibly on schools and senior leaders to manage the process of informing students about healthy relationships and sex while, all maintaining sensitivity to differing cultural and religious views in their communities.

Leading in an inclusive environment with confidence

Senior school leaders and the community have raised concerns about support at hand to help communicate these topics in a sensitive way, particularly in regard to the teaching of LGBTQ+ relationships.

This was why we, in partnership with Middlesex University, created a new Masters programme – MA in Leading Inclusive Education.

The MA in Leading Inclusive Education is modular, allowing delegates to pick and choose the subject areas most relevant to them, with a wide range of topics covered, including Migration and Language Acquisition, Learning Differences and others. In light of this new government initiative, two modules that may be of most interest are Gender and Sexuality and Communities and Culture. These 30-credit modules can help educators to bridge this gap and help you in navigating, planning and collaborating in the new curriculum with confidence.

The programme is designed to be entirely flexible, allowing NASENCO graduates to select anything from one 30-credit module, or continuing to gain a Postgraduate Diploma or the full MA. And as it is delivering fully online, fully supported by one-to-one expert tutors, modules are designed to work around educators’ real lives.

In such a multicultural nation such as our own, the importance of inclusive education cannot be understated. School leaders, in particular, understand this- they just may not have the tools and skills available yet to ensure cohesive and positive outcomes for all students.

To find out more about the programme, modules and if your National Award in SEN Coordination can be transferred as 60 credits into this Masters, get in touch with on +44 (0)1273 358080 or email info@realgroup.co.uk

Speak to us

01273 35 80 80

or Make a booking

Complete the online booking form to
enrol on one of our training courses