Attendance at these webinars is open to all, and these are free of charge to Salford schools and professionals. However, if you are attending from a school or setting from a different local authority there will be charge of £40. This will be invoiced by Salford City Council after the event.
If you are unable to attend a session for any reason, we ask that you notify us as soon as possible, but at least five working days before. There will be a charge of £40 if you book on the session and fail to attend.
To register please fill out the following link using the information below for the training you wish to attend.
Supporting autistic learners: CPD event
This is an exciting opportunity to develop knowledge, strengthen practice, and improve outcomes for autistic learners.
This event is aimed at:
- Class teachers
- SENCOs
- Teaching assistants
- Wider support staff
We are particularly keen to welcome Early Career Teachers (ECTs).
What can you expect?
This is an opportunity to:
- Collaborate with specialist teachers and teaching assistants
- Learn from colleagues and share effective practice
- Network with schools working within the same phase
- Explore useful resources and strategies
- Gain a refreshed approach to supporting autistic children and young people
Early Years
- Tuesday 20 October 2026
- 9am to 12.30pm
- The Court House, Worsley, Salford, M28 2PB
Primary
- Tuesday 13 October 2026
- 9am to 12pm
- The Court House, Worsley, Salford, M28 2PB
Secondary
- Tuesday 13 October 2026
- 1pm to 4pm
- The Court House, Worsley, Salford, M28 2PB
Cost: Free
Complete the booking form
Please note: You can only use the booking form if you are from a Salford school. For other schools or settings please email AdminLSS@salford.gov.uk
Neurodiversity Affirming Play
This training explores the importance of play through a neurodiversity-affirming lens, recognising and valuing the different ways children play, communicate and interact. Designed for professionals who work with primary-aged pupils, the training will promote approaches that recognises individuals' strengths and interests.
The training will cover:
- Autistic joy
- Supporting joint play
- Interest based learning
- Play Schemas
- Multi-Sensory Play
- Neurodiversity Affirming Goals
Duration: Minimum of one hour
Venue, date and time: Delivered in-house - contact team to agree date
Cost: Free
Complete the booking form
Please note: You can only use the booking form if you are from a Salford school. For other schools or settings please email AdminLSS@salford.gov.uk
Using Visuals Effectively in the Classroom
Primary
This training explores how visual support can be used to improve communication, increase engagement, reduce anxiety, and promote independence for primary aged pupils. Designed for professionals working in primary schools, the session focuses on practical strategies that can be embedded into everyday classroom practice.
The training will cover:
- Using visual timetables and routines to provide structure and support transitions
- Developing visual communication to improve understanding and promote independence
- Using visuals to enhance learning activities, supporting attention, organisation, and engagement
- Supporting emotional regulation through visual tools and strategies
Participants will develop an understanding of how to use a range of visual supports effectively within the classroom and explore practical approaches that can be adapted to meet the needs of all learners. While particularly beneficial for autistic pupils and those with SEND, the strategies shared promote inclusive practice and support positive outcomes across the whole class.
Duration: Minimum of one hour
Venue, date and time: Delivered in-house - contact team to agree date
Cost: Free
Secondary
This practical training explores how visual supports can be used to improve communication, increase engagement, reduce anxiety, and promote independence for secondary-aged pupils. Designed for professionals working in secondary schools, the session focuses on practical strategies that can be embedded across lessons and the wider school environment.
The training will cover:
- Using visual timetables, routines and schedules to support organisations, transitions and predictability.
- Developing visual communication to improve understanding, reduce reliance on verbal instructions and promote independence.
- Using visuals to enhance learning, support attention, organisation, task completion and executive functioning.
- Supporting emotional regulation through visual tools and strategies.
Participants will develop an understanding of how to use a range of visual supports effectively within secondary settings and explore practical approaches that can be adapted to meet the needs of all learners. While particularly beneficial for Autistic pupils and those with SEND, the strategies shared promote inclusive practice and support engagement, independence, and positive outcomes across the school environment.
Duration: Minimum of one hour
Venue, date and time: Delivered in-house - contact team to agree date
Cost: Free
Complete the booking form
Please note: You can only use the booking form if you are from a Salford school. For other schools or settings please email AdminLSS@salford.gov.uk
Social Stories and Comic Strip Conversations
This is a practical workshop looking at various examples of social stories and comic strip conversations. Participants will find out what makes a purposeful social story and will have the opportunity to write their own social stories with support and guidance from a specialist teacher.
How and when to use comic strip conversations will be explored, thinking particularly about the effectiveness and impact of using this approach. Participants will get the opportunity to create their own comic strip conversations.
Both approaches will be discussed using a neurodiversity affirming lens, recognising and valuing the experiences of neurodivergent individuals.
Duration: Minimum of one hour
Venue, date and time: Delivered in-house - contact team to agree date
Cost: Free
Complete the booking form
Please note: You can only use the booking form if you are from a Salford school. For other schools or settings please email AdminLSS@salford.gov.uk
Connection over Compliance: Understanding Demand Distress and Supporting Autistic Learners through Collaboration
This training explores factors that may influence demand-based distress in autistic children and young people through a neurodiversity-affirming lens. It is suitable for teaching and support staff who want to foster positive relationships, meaningful engagement and inclusive practice.
In this session, we will consider what young people may be experiencing, and how anxiety, stress, sensory differences, uncertainty and a need for autonomy may influence a young person’s ability to engage with demands in school.
We will explore practical ways to build trust, reduce distress, and support engagement through collaboration rather than compliance. Participants will develop a deeper understanding of the factors that can contribute to demand-based distress. You will leave with strategies to create environments where autistic learners feel safe, understood, and empowered to succeed.
Duration: Minimum of one hour
Venue, date and time: Delivered in-house - contact team to agree date
Cost: Free
Complete the booking form
Please note: You can only use the booking form if you are from a Salford school. For other schools or settings please email AdminLSS@salford.gov.uk
Shared Experiences: Developing Attention, Engagement and Communication
Shared Experiences is an approach used to build attention and foster early communication skills for autistic children and young people with social communication differences. It aims to develop natural and spontaneous communication through the use of visually based and highly motivating activities. Through four stages, the early fundamentals of language including awareness of others, attention, listening, shared attention, switching attention and turn-taking are developed.
Following completion of the initial training, a member of the LSS ASC Team will offer further implementation support. This support will include helping schools identify appropriate pupil groups, support with selecting a suitable environment for session delivery, and modelling up to four sessions with the identified pupils.
Duration: Initial training- minimum of one hour
Venue, date and time: Delivered in-house - contact team to agree date
Cost: Free
Complete the booking form
Please note: You can only use the booking form if you are from a Salford school. For other schools or settings please email AdminLSS@salford.gov.uk
Supporting deaf children and young people in the classroom
Date and time: Tuesday 29 September 2026
Sessions (the session in the afternoon is a repeat of the morning session)
- Session 1: 9.30am to 12pm
- Session 2: 1.30pm to 4pm
Venue: Community Room 1, Broughton Hub, 50 Rigby Street, Salford, M7 4BQ
Please pass this information on to members of staff who have or are going to have deaf children or young people in their class or have an interest in deaf education.
This highly evaluated, bespoke half day course will be delivered by Teachers of the Deaf from the Learning Support Service.
Course objectives are to:
- Develop an understanding of the implications for learning and general development of hearing loss and deafness.
- Outline effective, practical strategies and resources to support curricular access.
- Demonstrate the benefits of hearing aids, radio aids and other necessary equipment.
- Share good practice on the effective use of the support from the Teacher of the Deaf and support from specialist teaching assistants.
Feedback from previous courses:
- "It was useful to work in small groups and discuss the individual child that you are focusing on at work."
- "I gained a lot of useful information which I can put into practice to improve the understanding of the child in the classroom."
- "I will feel a lot more confident in the classroom."
- "The most relevant course I’ve ever attended."
- "Excellent presentation, clear information, friendly atmosphere, very enjoyable."
Complete the booking form
Please note: You can only use the booking form if you are from a Salford school. For other schools or settings please email AdminLSS@salford.gov.uk
For further information and enquiries, if there are further development opportunities you would like to be offered on the programme, or if you are enquiring about bespoke training in your school, please email madeline.metcalfe@salford.gov.uk or call 0161 607 1678.