We have heard from the Department for Education (DfE) today that NPQ funding is available for our National Professional Qualifications for the May 2019 intake and we wanted to share this good news with you straight away.
NPQ funding – Places are available for leaders and aspiring leaders in:
Maintained schools, academies, free schools and PRUs in category 5 and 6 areas
Schools in a MAT which includes a category 5 or 6 area school
Fully-funded places available for NPQML, NPQSL, and NPQH
Book now to secure your place and don’t forget that NPQ funding is not limited to one place per school, so if you are already studying with us, please share this news with your colleagues who may wish to book. If you are looking to book a number of colleagues onto the programmes, please contact our Account Manager, Natalie Rowe, directly on natalie.rowe@realgroup.co.uk or 01273 35 81 92.
The deadline for submissions for our May cohort is 15 May.
Take a look at our dedicated NPQML, NPQSL, and NPQH pages online to find more information.
We’re happy to be able to share two pieces of great news at the start of the summer term.
Firstly, registrations are now open for this autumn’s free Access Arrangements Update course.
Secondly – having taken on board feedback from some of last year’s delegates who need to maintain SASC CPD – we’ve now registered the course with SASC and those completing the course now benefit from three SASC-accredited CPD hours.
How do I register for the free Access Arrangements Update?
Registration is simple. Simply click on this link and enter your email address, name and confirm that you are an access arrangements professional and you’ll automatically receive a log-in.
What if I am already registered from last year?
Then the good news is you don’t need to do anything at all. As soon as the new JCQ update is released and we’ve created the course, you’ll be sent a reminder and the new course will be in your personal Campus Online dashboard.
I’ve forgotten my log-in details
Again, this is no problem. To reset your password simply visit Campus Online and follow the links and you’ll have access once again.
If I register today, can I see the current free Access Arrangements Update?
Absolutely. For our free course, we give access to registrants for the entire year, so you can go back and check on the details of the current updates at any time. The next update course will be available from early September.
Will I gain a certificate upon completion?
Again, the answer is yes. Once you have completed the different strands (which should take around half a day) you will be able to download a certificate to show you have finished the update.
Can I share this with my colleagues?
As part of our duty to maintain professional standards, we would like this to be accessed by as many people as possible. The only caveat is that this course is intended for qualified access arrangements professionals. This update does not confer the right to carry out access arrangements to those without CPT3A or an equivalent JCQ-recognised qualification.
This article was originally written for and published by the International School Leader Magazine.
Author: Jalak Patel (Senior Educational Psychologist at Real Group Ltd which provides e-learning, training and assessment specialising in special educational needs and inclusion).
As a greater number of international schools adopt increasingly more inclusive policies and practices, the question becomes ‘How can we support all members of our school community to join us on this journey?’
I was reminded of this recently when talking with a head teacher who had been observing the quality of interactions between staff and students in her school. She noted that there appeared to be some staff who naturally adopted a more positive, inclusive manner when engaging with students and others who were less so. Interestingly, she recognised that these differences existed across all areas of the school community. She wondered if whole school training might provide an answer.
Ask the important questions
For whole school training to have any real impact, my experience has taught me that certain factors have to have been considered beforehand. What does the senior leadership team want to achieve? Moreover, what do they truly believe in? Before we can ask others to ‘do as we say’, we have to examine our priorities and make sure that they are in line with our purpose.
Welcoming a diverse range of students into our schools will undoubtedly make our classrooms a more interesting and vibrant place to learn. However, it may also lead to a change in the academic outcomes that many international schools have traditionally strived for. Do we truly value a student’s incremental progress against what they could do last week, last month or last year? Or is the message sent to staff that academic outcomes still outweigh other considerations?
What does whole school mean?
When we say ‘whole school’, how often do we really include the whole school? When was the last time that you included teaching assistants, school administrators and lunchtime supervisors to whole school training? What about your school caretaker? International schools operate within a wider cultural context, and levels of understanding around interacting with and supporting students with additional needs may vary. Being able to articulate a shared understanding of inclusion and its importance is an important step when contemplating change.
Including all members of staff in training, while immensely valuable, naturally leads to some logistical concerns: we tend to think of English as our main language of instruction but is it useful to consider whether another language of delivery might be more appropriate for some members of staff? Is the training being delivered at a time that is convenient for all? Are part-time staff expected to come? Will everyone be paid for the time they are there? These are all important considerations when we want to maximise the impact of whole school training. For inclusion to work we need everybody to understand and be on board.
We also need staff to be able to share their concerns and anxieties in a welcoming environment. For some staff, this may be the first time that they are going to be working with students who require some level of differentiation. For others, they may be concerned that their competence will be called into question. Effective senior leadership, in the form of an open door, a listening ear and a safe space, can help to alleviate these anxieties and lead to solution-focused conversations.
Embedding good practice
The model of training adopted by a school may go some way to develop not just knowledge and understanding of inclusion but also everyday practice. We know, from research into good practice, that an effective model of whole school training includes the delivery of knowledge and key concepts, modelling and demonstration, and opportunities for practice alongside developmental feedback, coaching and mentoring. For inclusion to become embedded as part of our everyday values and behaviours, planning effective whole school training should include opportunities for all members of the school community to be involved in these different stages of development.
Change takes time. In the context of a fast-paced school, it can be difficult to recognise and celebrate small steps of success. Having a clearly defined action plan, with sufficient time to implement each stage, and opportunities to monitor and reflect is key. Including everyone in discussions around ‘what works’ and ‘how we can improve’ may lead to some interesting and innovative ideas for the future. In settings where there can often be a high level of transience – in either the senior leadership team or in the wider school community – it will be important to revisit all aspects of the plan on a regular basis.
Whole school training is most effective when the process itself is as inclusive as the ethos that schools are working towards; where there is a shared vision held by all, a clear approach for working towards mutually agreed goals, opportunities for solution focused conversations to take place and celebration of all achievements, no matter how large or small!
Key considerations
- What are your school priorities for the coming year? Consider how inclusive they are.
- Have you seen examples of good practice that you admire? Speak to colleagues in other settings about how they have achieved their goals.
- Inclusion doesn’t just happen within the four walls of a classroom. All facets of the school community need to be considered – people, building, teaching styles and learning materials.
- Be aware of the wider cultural context in which your school sits.
- To be truly inclusive, there needs to be a shared vision of what inclusion means and what this looks like in your school. Every single member of the school works together to ensure that all learners feel respected, valued and supported to achieve their goals.
Last month, Real Training was awarded SEN Resource Supplier of the Year at the GESS Global Awards ceremony in Dubai. In addition to this, our SEND Programme was highly commended in the Special Education Resource category at the Education Resources Awards (ERA) last week.
We are so excited to have been acknowledged in these established industry awards as it gives us great confidence that our courses and qualifications are valued by acclaimed leaders and experts in the education sector as well as our own customers.
Of course, one of our latest additions to our established SEND Programme is our International Award in SEN Coordination (iSENCO). This is a unique qualification designed and developed with – and exclusively for – educational professionals working in an international setting.
Course content
The iSENCO qualification aims to develop the delegate’s skills in leading the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision at an international setting. This includes looking at current challenges facing international schools when looking to develop a fully-inclusive setting. Delegates will gain a deeper understanding of how the wider cultural, political, historical and community contexts influence the school’s SEND provision. Through Real Training’s practice-led learning model, delegates will be reviewing current SEND and inclusion policies and implementing strategies to make a difference in their setting throughout their learning journey. Take a look at our iSENCO page for more information on course content.
Suitability for the qualification
iSENCO is an ideal qualification for the school’s SENCO, the Inclusion Manager or maybe a current teacher who is an aspiring leader in SEND. Although they need to have completed an undergraduate degree, 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.
Book now for the May cohort
If you are ready to book yourself, or a colleague, onto the iSENCO course please complete our simple booking form today and we will be in touch straight away to progress your booking, ready for the May 2019 cohort. This is a great month to start, as the delegate will have time to complete much of the reading and assignment preparation over the summer holidays and therefore be ready to implement positive changes in their setting in the new academic year.
Are you looking to become a qualified Access Arrangements Assessor ready for the next academic year? With our intensive CPT3A qualification, you still have time.
Our Certificate in Psychometric Testing, Assessment and Access Arrangements (CPT3A) comprises the Certificate of Competence in Educational Testing (CCET) and the Access Arrangements Course (AAC) to meet the Joint Council for Qualification’s (JCQ’s) requirements for qualified assessors, as long as you also hold a qualification to teach.
How can you benefit from the CPT3A qualification?
There are many benefits to the CPT3A qualification – not only for the educator completing the course but also for the educational setting and the children who attend it. Upon completion of CPT3A, you will be able to:
- Select, administer and evaluate a wide range of educational tests and assessments.
- Read, write and interpret reports, allowing you to better support other professionals, such as educational psychologists.
- Provide better in-house support to all children and parents in your setting.
- Purchase psychometric tests that would otherwise be restricted and gain a 10% discount through the Dyslexia Action Shop.
- Join our SEND Programme with 30 credits towards a postgraduate qualification.
- Complete access arrangements applications in your setting as a qualified Access Arrangements Assessor in line with JCQ requirements.
- Record your CPT3A qualification on the British Psychological Society‘s (BPS’s) Register for Qualifications in Test Use (RQTU) and access their database of test reviews.
2019 Dates and venues
If you’re looking to be qualified to apply for access arrangements in October, we recommend our CPT3A intensive route – one of the 3-day intensive CCET courses in May, followed by the 1-day intensive AAC in June or September – this should allow you to be qualified in time.
CCET
- 8-10 May, Bristol (Aztec Hotel, Bristol)
- 22-24 May, London (Novotel City South)
AAC
- 28 June, London (Novotel City South)
- 20 September, London (Novotel City South)
- 27 September, Manchester (Venue TBC)
If these dates or venues are not suitable, please take a look at our dedicated CPT3A page online for details of all available intensive courses. Alternatively, CCET and AAC can be completed as online modules, to be started as soon as you are ready.
If you wish to discuss the CCET or CPT3A study options in more detail, please contact us.
Join us in London on 15-16 May to learn about an alternative and unique way to effectively assess your student’s progress.
Our Cognitive Abilities Profile training is designed to train education professionals in how CAP can be used to structure an in-depth individualised assessment for students from early years into adulthood.
During the 2-day course, you will cover a range of topics including:
- The principles, key questions and concepts of dynamic assessment and how they apply to CAP.
- The different models of cognitive processes and the seven functional domains of cognitive abilities.
- The contents of the CAP toolkit and how to use this to develop informed and effective interventions.
We advise you to purchase a CAP toolkit in advance of the event. This can be purchased on the Dyslexia Action Shop website.
The course is open to anyone who works in the learning and development of children, adolescents and adults, and is particularly relevant for psychologists, therapists, teachers and SENCOs. Book now to attend our 2019 course on 15-16 May at the Novotel London City South hotel.
To find out more about the Cognitive Abilities Profile training, please visit our dedicated CAP course page online. Alternatively, you can ask our course advisors any unanswered questions by contacting us.
We have been told that staff training often gets overlooked as this is something that can be seen as an avoidable expense. But what if staff training actually saves you money, meaning that you have extra budget to spend on other important areas?
CCET Training – what is it?
Every school needs to undertake student assessments during the year – tests to assess for progress as well as for special needs. Many schools invest in Educational Psychologists (EP) or Specialist Teachers to carry out these tests on the school’s behalf. However, did you know that our Certificate of Competence in Educational Testing (CCET) qualification trains educators on how to carry out these services in-house? This can, therefore, lead to reductions in spending on outsourced services or perhaps simply means you are able to afford more meaningful services from your EP or Specialist Teacher, rather than just the standard assessments.
Who and how?
The CCET training is an open-access course so we welcome applications from any of your staff members. However, it is worth noting that the qualifications they hold in addition to CCET will determine which tests they will be able to purchase from the test providers. Please contact us on 01273 358080 for further advice on this.
Our qualification can be completed flexibly online with full tutor support. Alternatively, we offer several 3-day intensive courses for those wishing to fast-track their learning. There are still a few places remaining for our upcoming courses in London and Birmingham this month:
- 13-15 March, London (Novotel London City)
- 20-22 March, Birmingham (IBIS Birmingham New Street)
If you are interested in either of these courses, you can book now via our simple online booking form. For further information regarding the course content, please visit our dedicated CCET page online. You can also visit our Certificate in Psychometric Testing, Assessment and Access Arrangements (CPT3A) page if you are interested in your colleague also becoming a qualified Access Arrangements Assessor.
Since we launched CCET in 2006, we have trained over 2500 teachers, SENCOs and other professionals and they are now carrying out educational testing for their schools in the UK and all over the world. If you are interested in investing in in-house expertise in this area and have unanswered questions, please contact us.
We wanted to write this article to let you know some wonderful news we’ve received from Dubai last night.
As a company long committed to developing SEN expertise across the globe, it was with great pride that, at last night’s GESS Education Awards ceremony in Dubai, we were chosen as the global SEN Resource Supplier of the Year.
Our view of inclusion has always been that, just as there should be no barriers in education when it comes to special educational needs or disabilities, for us to do all we can to improve outcomes for all we needed to support the global education sector. Thanks to our practice-led learning model and next-generation online platform, allied to hugely experienced tutors, we now have course participants in 70 countries.
Award-winning SEN training for education professionals worldwide
As part of our support for British International Schools, we have two face to face events coming up soon for our renowned CCET course. CCET (Certificate of Competence in Educational Testing) is the gold standard in teacher training for testing in attainment and ability. Additionally, those taking the full CPT3A course are authorised by the JCQ to carry out access arrangements – and can join our MEd SEND programme as if they have 30 credits.
In the coming months, we will be delivering two 3-day CCET intensive courses in Dubai and Qatar:
- 16-18 April, Dubai (GEMS Wellington Academy)
- 19-21 May, Qatar (Qatar International School, Doha)
Spaces on both courses are limited so if you are interested, please submit your registration soon. Registering takes two minutes, and no payment is taken at this stage.
We’ve had very positive feedback last year from this inaugural Access Arrangements Update course which attracted nearly 1,000 participants. Based on that, we are very pleased to confirm that we will be running another Access Arrangements Update at the start of the next academic year – and once again it will be completely free of charge.
One of the areas of feedback we’re looking at is the sign-up process, so in the run-up to the next course, we are working on a more user-friendly registration mechanism for participants. As soon as registrations are open, we will make an announcement.
- An introductory video
- A film and slide presentation on gathering, presenting and submitting evidence
- A detailed run-through of the changes to access arrangements for the coming year
- Reminders and clarifications
- A step-by-step guide on completion of a Form 8
For more details, have a look here.