Alison Ford – iSENCO
Alison Ford is Head of Inclusive Education & Therapy at The Overseas Family School, a non-selective international K-12 school in Singapore.
Completing our International Award for SEN Coordination course while working in her previous setting, allowed her to progress in her career. Alison is particularly interested in Autism, Social Emotional Wellbeing & Mental Health, and Family Support.
What made you choose the Real Training course(s) over other options?
I heard of the iSENCO course through a colleague who had also completed it. He recommended the program and found it very accessible. I was looking for a flexible online learning course with a view towards completing a master’s degree. I liked that the iSENCO was a self-paced, stand-alone certification that I could also use to build up credits towards the MEd.
What was your experience of learning with Real Training?
I found the online learning platform intuitive and my tutor was very personable and responsive. The support from others in the program was also valuable as we tried to find our way around. My only suggestion at the time was to have some collation of the assessments to help me plan my workload and approach the course from the beginning. Once I had collated and got my head around this myself, I found the tasks much less overwhelming!
How has the course(s) helped make an impact at school?
My final project was an essential part of the service development at my school at the time. I have since moved on to a leadership role at a much larger school, and what I learned from the iSENCO forms the foundation of my role now as I lead the strategic development of our whole school provision for therapy and learning support. The iSENCO was a good learning process for me to plan and think strategically, and it helped to better inform my role now in a much larger setting.
How has the course(s) helped develop you as an educational professional and what do you hope to achieve with the new knowledge/skills in the future?
I think the iSENCO helped to develop my confidence and expertise in strategic service development. I gained an understanding of what it means to be a leader, the different approaches to leadership, and how my own personality and life experience may shape my own approach to leading others. Career-wise, the iSENCO is a good certification to show employers that you have training and experience in leading and maintaining organisational change.
Lastly, what are the top 3 things you are looking to do within your setting, since completing the course?
- Guide our whole school initiative for inclusion! A challenging but rewarding role leading an amazing team of Learning Support specialists and Therapists in a busy school of 3000.
- Possible further study towards an Educational Doctorate.
- Support for colleagues also on the course. So far I have referred four others who have completed the course or have just joined!
If you’d like to connect with Alison, you can follow her on LinkedIn. You can find further information about the iSENCO on our webpage.
We are delighted to be exhibiting once again at the Tes SEND Show next month!
Taking place on 13 & 14 October, we will be at Stand 135 alongside our sister companies Dyslexia Action, Educational and Sporting Futures and the Dyslexia Action Shop.
The Tes SEND Show is the UK’s leading SEND show and an annual must-see. In addition to an exhibition, there are free talks, seminars and workshops on all aspects of SEND. We are looking forward to returning and meeting attendees.
Come and chat to us in-person about training courses, apprenticeships and educational resources!
If you’d like to attend, you can register HERE for this free event.
Lucy Wayman – CPT3A
Lucy from Bristol, UK, works as a freelance maths tutor for students not in the school system, she is also a dyscalculia assessor within Constellation Education.
Lucy has a special interest in ADHD, ADD and autism. She has recently completed her Certificate of Competence in Education Testing (CCET), and will soon be completing the Access Arrangements course (AAC), for the Certificate in Psychometric Testing, Assessment and Access Arrangements (CPT3A).
What made you choose the Real Training course over other options?
It was a great blend of live online teaching and self-study. Having three full days of group teaching was really useful at raising the issues, meeting other people in the same situation and covering the main features of the course, with the opportunities to discuss and collaborate with other delegates.
What was your experience of learning with Real Training?
The three days of teaching were incredibly enjoyable, and very full on. You really felt like every minute was accounted for and designed with a purpose. I came away from those days much better informed about psychometric testing, clear about the assignments I had to do, and enthused about getting my independent study done.
How has the course helped make an impact at school?
Combined with my dyscalculia training, I feel confident about carrying out psychometric testing, and more importantly, being able to interpret results in a way which will help my students.
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 will complete the rest of the CPT3A course and look to gaining my APC so that I can both assess for exam access arrangements, and assess and diagnose dyscalculia.
Lastly, what are looking to do within your setting, since completing the course?
Review the efficacy of testing that is currently in place and try to streamline the process, while improving usefulness of the tests done.
If you would like to know more about Lucy Wayman, connect on LinkedIn. For more information on CPT3A, click here.
This week, Middlesex University will be hosting their 2023 Graduations.
From everyone here at Real Training, we would like to congratulate all our delegates on their achievements.
We would love to share in your celebrations! Share photos of your special day with us on social media by tagging us in your posts and using our hashtag #RTGRAD2023
We look forward to seeing your photos and sharing the celebrations with you!
A brand-new opportunity to bring educational testing in-house
We are delighted to partner with our ‘Ofsted Outstanding’ sister company, Sporting Futures Training (UK) Ltd on the launch of the Learning and Skills Assessor Apprenticeship. This is a brand new opportunity for primary schools to bring educational testing and assessment in-house.
Apprentices will learn how to use psychometric tests to effectively assess the progress of students and identify appropriate support strategies. Being able to better interpret test results will improve understanding and communication about individual learning needs, both internally and with external agencies, allowing the apprentice, and their colleagues, to respond to these needs more efficiently.
The apprenticeship offers free training as it can be funded through the Apprenticeship Levy at no additional cost to schools. (The government contributes 95% of training costs for a Non-Levy organisation).
Registration is open with the first cohort due to start in September 2023.
A brief overview of the apprenticeship:
- A 13 month online programme inclusive of the End Point Assessment
- The apprenticeship comprises live teaching sessions, seminars and tutoring leading to the achievement of the Learning and Skills Assessor Apprenticeship
- ‘Off the job’ training packages that work for schools
- Requires a commitment of 6 hours release time per week
- Open to all members of staff in a primary school that are interested in gaining additional skills in assessment. For example, schools may choose to upskill one or more teachers, HLTAs, TAs or LSAs to provide valuable support for the SENCO. Or you could opt to develop new expertise for the SENCO themselves.
- Costs £0 as it is fully funded using the Apprenticeship Levy. An optional value-added extra is available for £75 + VAT, which enables apprentices to ‘top-up’ and gain the gold standard, Certificate of Competence in Educational Testing (CCET) qualification, set by the British Psychological Society
Interested in learning more about this opportunity to develop valuable skills in educational testing and assessment? Read additional information about the Learning and Skills Assessor Apprenticeship.
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!
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 its importance 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 to ensure the greatest likelihood of success.
What made you choose the Real Training course over other options?
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 its importance 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 to ensure the greatest likelihood of success.
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, such as 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 background 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!