Accessibility Tools

Events List

Secondary

Samantha Austin (TOVE School Improvement Director Teaching and Learning) facilitates this training

Aimed at all  secondary school class teachers. The training will explore a range of powerful teaching approaches and strategies to foster independence, critical thinking, and motivation. To develop teachers’ pedagogical knowledge in order to encourage autonomy by creating an environment that encourages self-directed learning, challenge, decision-making, and responsibility for pupils progress. Practitioners will gain a deeper knowledge of why it is important to develop learners’ autonomy and have some practical strategies to build on their practice and take back to their departments.

 

Areas of Focus:

·       Fostering a ‘growth mindset’ in our classrooms.

·       Embedding a culture of self-reflection and evaluation in the classroom.

·       Setting clear learning goals and scaffolding.

·       Strategies to develop ‘critical thinking’ in everyday teaching with a focus on creating effective questions

        and tasks.

·       How to promote and encourage speaking and listening in our classrooms to develop autonomy.

 

 

Event Date Thu, 29 Jan 2026 9:00 am
Event End Date Thu, 29 Jan 2026 4:00 pm
Cut off date Thu, 22 Jan 2026
Individual Participant Price £50 per delegate non-members; Secondary SLA members 2 free places. Lunch provided
Location GUTP House Training Centre

 James Rawbone facilitates this training

 

Key objectives:

To provide an introduction to coaching by exploring the differences between mentoring and coaching and identifying what are the key principles of effective coaching.

The training session will involve facilitated discussion on understanding what coaching is and is not, supported by opportunities for group discussion to unpick key elements of coaching.

There will be a focus on identifying the differences between mentoring and coaching, and the two key fundamentals to effective coaching of listening and responding.

The use of the GROW model to structure a coaching conversation will be explored, along with introducing some tools that can be used to self-evaluate the effectiveness of coaching.

Session Outcomes:

An understanding of what makes coaching different to mentoring. Introduction to skills that can be used to ensure that a coaching conversation is effective.

 

Note: This is a repeat of the training held on 3/12/2025

 

Event Date Wed, 11 Feb 2026 3:30 pm
Event End Date Wed, 11 Feb 2026 5:30 pm
Cut off date Fri, 06 Feb 2026
Individual Participant Price Secondary and Primary SLA members 2 free places. Non-members £20 per delegate
Location Online via Zoom

This training is facilitated by Ann Pugh (Director of the Grand Union Training Partnership & ECTE Facilitator)

Overview:

A day focusing on key elements that leads to successful classroom practice.

Providing a toolkit of knowledge, approaches and techniques to support delivery in the classroom for Cover Supervisors & HTLAs.

Focus:

  1. Communication skills - understanding communication pie.
  2. Classroom routines and managing behaviour.
  3. Understanding the principles of cognitive architecture; how pupils learn.
  4. Effective questioning techniques in the classroom.
  5. Engaging students in the classroom.

 

Lunch included, this is a repeat of last year’s course.

 

Event Date Thu, 12 Feb 2026 9:00 am
Event End Date Thu, 12 Feb 2026 4:00 pm
Cut off date Thu, 05 Feb 2026
Individual Participant Price £230 per delegate; SWAN secondary SLA members receive 2 free places.
Event Venue Information http://bit.ly/2RyDCwm
Location GUTP House Training Centre

This training is facilitated by Kim Lynch

 

Join this practical online session designed for Teaching Assistants, Teachers, and SENCOs who want to make a real difference for pupils with dyscalculia. Suitable for secondary school-based colleagues.

 

The session will explore:

  •  What is dyscalculia, and what do we know about the causes and indicators
  • What difficulties are associated with dyscalculia
  • How to assess dyscalculia
  • Advice for assessing need and designing support for young people with dyscalculia.
Event Date Wed, 25 Feb 2026 3:30 pm
Event End Date Wed, 25 Feb 2026 5:00 pm
Cut off date Fri, 13 Feb 2026
Individual Participant Price Secondary SLA members 2 free places. £20 per delegate non-members
Location Online via Zoom

This training is facilitated by Hayley Best (Speech & Language Therapist) from Let’s Talk Autism

 

Join us for an engaging, thought-provoking session focused on supporting speech and language development.

This session is aimed at Secondary SENCos, TAs, HLTAs, and SEND leaders and Year 6 primary.

 

The session will explore: 

  • What does Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) look like and why is it important for educational practitioners?
  • How SLCN and communication are categorised and what can go wrong
  • How to spot difficulties in the classroom and the impact on learning and social development
  • Top tips for supporting SLCN in the classroom

 

Event Date Mon, 16 Mar 2026 1:30 pm
Event End Date Mon, 16 Mar 2026 3:00 pm
Cut off date Mon, 09 Mar 2026
Individual Participant Price Secondary SLA members 2 free places. Primary SLA members 1 free place. £20 per delegate non-members
Location Online via Zoom

Gary Aubin facilitates this training.

Gary Aubin brings a wealth of expertise and practical insight to this session. As the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) Content Specialist for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, Gary plays a key role in shaping national guidance and supporting schools to improve outcomes for all learners. He is the creator of the widely respected SENDMatters.co.uk blog and author of The Lone SENDCO, a highly regarded handbook offering clear, grounded support for SENDCOs navigating the complexities of the role.

Audience

The training session is suitable for SENCOs, Deputy SENCOs, and Senior Leaders.

Join us for a dynamic, practical session that goes beyond simply collecting information. We will dive into the real “so what?” of data—showing you how to transform what you gather into meaningful actions that shape and strengthen your provision.

Discover how to balance targeted interventions with high-quality teaching and learn the core principles that make interventions truly effective. Whether you are looking to refine your current approach or build confidence in decision-making, this session will equip you with the tools, clarity, and strategies to make every piece of data count.

Empower your practice. Elevate your outcomes. Book your place today!

 

Event Date Wed, 18 Mar 2026 9:00 am
Event End Date Wed, 18 Mar 2026 4:00 pm
Cut off date Wed, 11 Mar 2026
Individual Participant Price £80.00 per delegate non-members; Secondary SLA members 2 free places. Primary SLA members 1 free place. Lunch and refreshments included.
Event Venue Information http://bit.ly/2RyDCwm
Location GUTP House Training Centre

This training is facilitated by James Rawbone

 

Key objectives:

To provide an introduction to coaching by exploring the differences between mentoring and coaching and identifying what are the key principles of effective coaching.

 

The training session will involve facilitated discussion on understanding what coaching is and is not, supported by opportunities for group discussion to unpick key elements of coaching.

There will be a focus on identifying the differences between mentoring and coaching, and the two key fundamentals to effective coaching of listening and responding.

The use of the GROW model to structure a coaching conversation will be explored, along with introducing some tools that can be used to self-evaluate the effectiveness of coaching.

Session Outcomes:

An understanding of what makes coaching different to mentoring. Introduction to skills that can be used to ensure that a coaching conversation is effective.

 

Note: This is a repeat of the February training.

 

Event Date Wed, 01 Jul 2026 3:30 pm
Event End Date Wed, 01 Jul 2026 5:30 pm
Cut off date Wed, 24 Jun 2026
Individual Participant Price Secondary and Primary SLA members 2 free places. Non-members £20 per delegate
Location Online via Zoom

By Post or Email

SWAN Training School Alliance

GUTP House
Sponne School
Brackley Road
Towcester
Northamptonshire
NN12 6DJ

Telephone: 01327 350284 x 7251

Send us a Message

Sponne School website

How to Find Us