News

We will be attending 41st COBIS Annual Conference, 6-8 May 2023 in London!

Catch us on Stand 35 for a chat about our courses, new routes to take with your previous qualifications and some freebies! 

The theme for this conference is Leading Learning for a New Paradigm, we are excited to be at this exhibition to learn more about evolving pedagogy and educational structures. 

We will be giving out our brochures which detail our courses, pathways, apprenticeships opportunities, as well as some pens and notepads! 

Feedback from our delegates is very important to us. This is why we ask every delegate to fill out a feedback form upon completion of their course. This provides us with extremely valuable data on what we’re doing right, and where we can improve. We’ve been carefully analysing the data from 2022, and below are highlights from the results.

• 93% of delegates rated our course as good or very good.
• 94% of delegates rated the extent to which their course met their developmental priorities as good or very good.
• 94% of delegates rated the course tutors as good or very good.

Comments from our delegates!

“Real training is able to provide high quality blended learning CPD experiences for SENCos which are genuinely invaluable in their daily practice”

• Mark Norwood, CPT3A delegate, 2022

“It really makes you consider your setting and what needs addressing in terms of mental wellbeing”

• Fiona Day, SMHLC Delegate, 2022

“The course I studied was very relevant, well structured and very well supported by staff. The online portal was easy to navigate and use. Progress bars and days left on course helped to keep me on task”

• Joanne Shallow, NASENCO, 2022

We witnessed our dedicated delegates receive their Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters at Middlesex University in July 2022. To see their months and years of hard work come to fruition on their day of graduation means a great deal to all of us at Real Training. This is an amazing opportunity for us to all come together and celebrate, especially for the delegates who opt to study with us completely online!

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

Penny Earl – Senior Mental Health Leadership Certificate

Penny is currently working as a Resourced Provision Manager for children with Speech, Language, and Communication Needs (SCLN). She works in a primary school in Hampshire. Penny recently completed our Senior Mental Health Leadership Certificate and has shared her experience with us.

How has the course helped make an impact at school? 

It has raised the profile of mental health with the Senior Leadership Team – so they now see it as something significant to be put on our school improvement agenda and understand how it is important within the OFSTED framework. It has also provided resources and links to resources that will be useful for future development around mental health. Lastly, it has given insight into the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) implementation framework which can be used across the school when implementing change in order to ensure that this is done with the greatest likelihood of success

What made you choose the Real Training course over other options?

I googled providers approved by the government funding scheme. I picked Real Training because the summary and details of the course were the clearest

What was your experience of learning with Real Training? 

The remote training days were well planned and delivered by trainers who were, I felt, responsive and empathetic towards the students. They adjusted the pace and content to our needs and presented the content clearly. I dislike remote training and my views on this haven’t changed as a result of this course. However, the technology worked well and I felt some features of the platform were helpful in encouraging interaction e.g. during break-out sessions. There was also the advantage of making links with people I might not have met if it had been face-to-face local training.

The virtual learning environment was clearly set out and easy to manage and the ability to ‘tick off’ sections and see how I was progressing through the course was quite motivating for me. I also found the breakdown about how to pace the course very useful. There were lots of excellent resources which I have saved for future use. However, I really felt I needed the course to be spread over a longer period of time in order to get the best out of the resources. I am in a privileged position in that I work full time, have no class, set my own timetable and have a fair amount of related back experience meaning that I could skim some of the reading content being already familiar with it. I had to be very organised and disciplined to get through it and meet the criteria required for the assessed piece. 

Lastly, what are the top 3 things you are looking to do within your setting, since completing the course?

• I want to ensure mental health gets the status it needs within my school and that it is recognised as a necessary driver to school improvement by our Senior leadership team
• I want to implement my plan around staff wellbeing and mental health
• I want to establish the link between my role as SMHL and the Mental Health Support Team that is just establishing in our area

Senior Mental Health Lead Training – how to apply for grant funding                                                        

The Department for Education (DfE) has just provided an update on the grant funding for senior mental health leads, for all state-funded schools and colleges in England. This article provides information on how to apply for grant funding for the Real Training Senior Mental Health Leadership courses.

Eligible schools and colleges must apply for a senior mental health lead training grant by 31 March 2023, and commence training by 31 July 2023. So make sure to take advantage of the funding while you still can!

Step 1 – Read the guidance for grant funding to ensure eligibility

The DfE has published a comprehensive guide to applying for grant funding. Initially, we recommend you visit this page, which offers a useful overview of topics such as what the grant must be used for, eligibility criteria when to complete the submission and so on. It will also provide information regarding creating a ‘DfE Sign-in account’ which is necessary in order to access the form. 

You can also visit this page which will offer more information on the conditions of the grant and application guidance. We highly recommend you read all of this information to avoid submission errors that could delay or invalidate your application unnecessarily.

Note: if you are not eligible for funding, don’t worry as we have non-funded places available too. Our courses are just as relevant to those working in non-state or international settings as well.

Step 2 – Decide on the course you wish to apply for grant funding

In order to receive the grant payment, you will need to confirm to the DfE which training course you have chosen.

At Real Training, we offer two DfE quality-assured Senior Mental Health Leadership courses. Click the links below to visit our course pages and learn more:

Senior Mental Health Leadership Certificate (SMHLC) – aimed at those who are new to a Senior Mental Health Leadership role or are aspiring to become a leader in this area.

Senior Mental Health Leadership – Advanced Award (SMHLAA) – aimed at those who have some experience in the role, and have some existing training in mental health leadership.

If you are unsure which of these is best for you, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our experienced course advisors who will be happy to help, either by email info@realgroup.co.uk or by phone on +44 (0)1273 35 80 80.

We encourage you to apply for a grant BEFORE you book a course if your place is reliant on this funding.

Step 3 – Collate information for your setting in preparation for application

It is important to ensure you have the relevant information to hand in and that certain conditions are met before commencing the application process. This includes, but is in no way limited to:

• Having a commitment from your setting’s senior leadership team to develop a whole school, college or centre approach to mental health and wellbeing
• Details of your senior mental health lead, who will receive the training in 2022 to 2023 financial year, to oversee your setting’s whole school, college or centre approach
• Authority to submit a claim for this training grant on behalf of your educational setting

Having this information readily available will enormously reduce the time it takes to apply and helps ensure correct information is provided first time.

Step 4 – Complete the application form

Once you have all of the necessary information required, you can access the form here. At this point, you will need to log into your DfE account. It is important to check all the details that the DfE holds for your account –  you can complete this form if any of them are incorrect. You will then be guided through the application form, step-by-step.

Once complete, you will be asked to agree to the declarations set out in the grant terms and conditions. You will then receive an email of confirmation, containing your claim reference. It isn’t possible to make amendments to the application form once submitted. However, if errors have been made or circumstances change, you can submit another application, the details of which will be used, and previous applications disregarded.

Step 5 – Book your course

Once you have received confirmation of your grant, you can visit our booking form to book your place on one of our Senior Mental Health Leadership courses. 

Step 6 – Confirm your chosen course with the DfE

The DfE will ask you to complete a further form to confirm that you have booked your chosen course. This form should appear right after completing the first form. This will enable them to authorise payment of your grant.

Real Training – Year in Review

We’ve had a great year here at Real Training, all thanks to our wonderful delegates, as well as the staff and directors who make it all happen. We are led by three educational psychologists who are committed to education and its ability to change lives. Through empowering you, we can make a real difference in students’ lives. As we are nearing the end of 2022, let’s look at some of our biggest accomplishments this year.

January 2022 – The launch of our first Senior Mental Health Leadership courses

The Department for Education (DfE) created a new quality criteria for Senior Mental Health Lead training courses, which help to define this important senior role in schools. While many schools and colleges already have a mental health lead, the knowledge and skills they have may vary. With mental health being a top priority for all educational settings, the goal is for a senior member of staff within the school or college to gain confidence and competence in leading the mental health provision across the whole school.

At Real Training, we offer an introductory Senior Mental Health Lead Certificate and a Senior Mental Health Leadership Advanced Award – both have been quality assured through a robust DfE process. 

February 2022 – Sporting and Educational Futures joined Real Group 

Earlier this year we partnered with Sporting and Educational Futures, who are an Ofsted Outstanding Provider offering a variety of apprenticeships. They have a team of specialist experienced teachers, senior staff, assessors and IQAs who support and mentor learners on their apprenticeship programmes. This year they won the Education & Childcare Apprenticeship Provider of the Year at the Apprenticeship Awards 2022, as part of the Annual Apprenticeship Conference and Exhibition.

July 2022 – Real Training Graduation Reception

We had a great couple of days witnessing our dedicated delegates receive their PGCerts, PGDips and MEds at Middlesex University. To see their months and years of hard work come to fruition on their day of graduation means a great deal to all of us at Real Training. We celebrated with a number of our delegates from 2022, as well as a second day on which we met our 2021 and 2020 graduates!

We plan to host a similar event next year for our graduates in 2023, so current delegates, please – keep an eye out for an invitation, as we are always delighted to help celebrate your achievements…

October 2022 – Tes SEND Show

We exhibited at the Tes SEND Show in October, this is the UK’s leading SEND show, and an annual must-see! Dr. Siobhan Mellor and Sarah Norris, both integral members of the team at Real Group spoke at the SEND Solution Theatre about Inclusive Frameworks: Supporting Pupil Mental Health and Achievement. 

We also exhibited at a number of events including: ECIS Leadership Conference, CST Annual Conference, COBIS 40th Annual Conference, FOBISIA Annual Leadership Conference, BSME Annual Conference, Inspiration SEND Network Conference and Independent Schools SEND Conference. Keep an eye on our socials next year to see where we will be exhibiting in 2023!

November 2022 – We won at the EducationInvestor Awards! 

We were delighted to win the Exporting Excellence award at this year’s EducationInvestor ceremony. This accolade recognises their focus on making a difference and enhancing the lives and education of all children, including those with SEND, all over the world. Directors Mark Turner and Siobhan Mellor accepted the award. 

October 2022 – One of our former delegates won the Teacher of the Year award

Jemini Patel, a recent delegate on our National Award for SEN Coordination course won the Teacher of the Year Award at Nasen’s sixth annual awards ceremony. She decided to study our NASENCO course as she felt she needed to develop her knowledge to support the children in her class with SEN. She believed the children needed more support and wanted to be able to improve this. Speaking of her win, Jemini said: “It is a great honour to receive this award. This award has inspired and motivated me to continue and develop our inclusive practice even further.”

We cannot wait to see what 2023 has to bring! From all of us here at Real Training we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Jemini Patel – NASENCO

Jemini worked as a teacher at the Whitefriars School in Harrow. She decided to study our NASENCO course as she believed the children in her school needed more support. She is now working as SENCO and Assistant Head Teacher at an all-through school for children aged 4 – 19 years old. Jemini Patel has recently won the Teacher of the Year Award at nasen’s sixth annual awards ceremony!

“Our school and our pupils are lucky to have Jemini, and Jemini is a very worthy winner of this award. We are very proud of you”.

-Whitefriars School Headteacher, Jonathan Watson

What made you choose the Real Training course over other options?

The course was recommended by a colleague, as she completed her NASENCO course with Real Training and informed me about the flexible route into becoming a SENCO. I liked the modules where you could trial and implement strategies and projects in your school. I particularly enjoyed the Comparing Settings module, as it allowed me to compare provisions and learn about what other schools did.

What was your experience of learning with Real Training? 

It really went above my expectations as I thought distance learning would mean researching everything independently. This was not the case, the up-to-date research being all in place really helped develop subject knowledge and the support given by my tutor was amazing. She really provided me with in-depth support and guidance. Support was consistently given so I never felt alone. Questions were answered immediately, and guidance was step-by-step so that I could fully understand.

How has the course helped develop you as an educational professional and what do you hope to achieve with the new knowledge/skills in the future?

I have developed a strong subject knowledge, as well as effective practices that I can take into my role. It has helped me to create effective action plans to guide provision for SEN pupils.

Lastly, what are the top 3 things you are looking to do within your setting, since completing the course?

1. Developing staff subject knowledge on SEN
2. Developing speech and language provision in the school
3. Using PECs as a way for children to communicate

We are delighted to share that Jemini Patel, a recent delegate on our National Award for SEN Coordination course, has won the Teacher of the Year Award at nasen’s sixth annual awards ceremony.

Prior to completing the course, Jemini worked as a teacher at the Whitefriars School in Harrow. She decided to study our NASENCO course as she felt she needed to develop her knowledge to support the children in her class with SEN. She believed the children needed more support and wanted to be able to improve this.

Jemini is now working a SENCO and Assistant Head Teacher at an all-through school for children aged 4 – 19 years old.

The progress in her phase is outstanding and she feels this was largely due to the SEN interventions she learnt about on the course. One of the projects Jemini tackled as part of the NASENCO course was to implement interventions in her class. These were so successful, they have now become a whole-school practice and Jemini believes this is a direct result of what she learnt from the course.

Jemini added that the flexibility of the course really appealed to her and Anne, her course tutor, was very attentive throughout.

On 14 October 2022, Jemini attended the glittering celebration at the Grand Hotel in Birmingham, where she received her award.

Speaking of her win, Jemini said: “It is a great honour to receive this award. I have an amazing team at Whitefriars who have supported me to make a difference, which I am thankful for. This award has inspired and motivated me to continue and develop our inclusive practice even further.”

Whitefriars School Headteacher, Jonathan Watson, added, “Jemini’s work is phenomenal. Jemini works tirelessly with dedication, commitment, and expertise to ensure pupils with special educational needs and disabilities at our school receive a fully inclusive education. Jemini’s unwavering belief in the potential of all, combined with her drive to continually improve provision, has resulted in high quality pupil support. Our school and our pupils are lucky to have Jemini, and Jemini is a very worthy winner of this award. We are very proud of you”.

We wish to congratulate Jemini on her fantastic achievements and look forward to seeing the further development of both herself and her students.

We are very excited to be exhibiting at the Tes SEND Show this week! This is the UK’s leading SEND show, and an annual must-see!

Come and visit us on 7-8 October, at Stand 135. We have resources, goodies, information and more!

On the first day of the exhibition, Friday 7 October, Siobhan Mellor, our Director of Pedagogy and Learning, and Sarah Norris, one of our Senior Educational Psychologists, will be delivering a talk, ‘Inclusive Frameworks: Supporting Pupil Mental Health and Achievement,’ in the SEND Solution Theatre at 11.30 to 12.00. This talk is free to attend, so make sure to come along!

Register here today for this free event!

Earlier this month we had a great couple of days witnessing our dedicated delegates receive their PGCerts and MEds at Middlesex University. To see their months and years of hard work come to fruition on their day of graduation means a great deal to all of us at Real Training. We celebrated with a number of our delegates from 2022, as well as a second day on which we met our 2021 and 2020 graduates! 

Delegates visited us before their ceremony for a chat with the academics who led their courses. They also had the chance to meet other delegates, enjoy a glass of bubbly, and have a photo with our very own photographer. This is an amazing opportunity to come together and celebrate graduating, especially for the delegates who opt to study with us completely online. We plan to host a similar event next year for our graduates in 2023, so current delegates, please – keep an eye out for an invitation, as we are always delighted to help celebrate your achievements..

“My graduation for the NASENCo post graduate degree was a wonderful experience from start to finish. The campus, which I was a stranger to, was welcoming and each and every one of the staff made me feel special. The Real Training team welcomed my family and I warmly for a drinks reception and it was lovely to get to know some of the other delegates. It was a truly wonderful day, which I will cherish forever.”

-Emma Heasman, Postgraduate Certificate in SEND: National Award for SEN Coordination

Congratulations to all of our hard-working graduates, it’s been a pleasure!

Aaron Pape – CPT3A

Aaron currently teaches Sociology at a Sixth Form College in Bexhill-On-Sea. Aaron completed the Certificate in Psychometric Testing, Assessment and Access Arrangement (CPT3A), which he was enrolled onto by his workplace. Aaron was happy to study with Real Training as his colleagues stated to him that it provided all the necessary elements to obtains the qualification needed.

What was your experience of learning with Real Training? 

Real training provided very good provision of guidance in how to navigate around the website and how to access the resources available to the delegates. The tutoring was also of a good standard, guiding myself on where to improve certain aspects of my work but also allowing myself to steer the ship of my own learning. Some of the tasks required were of a challenging nature, which was very good for academic and professional practice. The course met my expectations and I would recommend it to those wishing to pursue a career within the realms of SEN or access arrangements.

How has the course helped make an impact at school?

Particularly with the AAC, it has allowed me to complete a Form 8 to the appropriate JCQ standards, which has helped the college with completing access arrangements.

How has the course helped develop you as an educational professional and what do you hope to achieve with the new knowledge/skills in the future?

I am now aware of the immense testing and research that is undertaken to compile these psychometric tests. It has helped me in further my educational development early on in my career. I hope to further my knowledge in the subject area and help those members of staff who may have questions about exam concessions and JCQ regulations.

Lastly, what are the top 3 things you are looking to do within your setting, since completing the course?

1. Educating staff members of the requirements of exam concessions.

2. How to implement and write effective normal ways of working testimonials.

3. As a teacher myself, being more vigilant in students who may be entitled to exam concessions.