SEND Workshops for Families and Professionals

Learn. Empower. Advocate. Prepare.

A programme of workshops helping families and professionals better understand and support children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

Read about our workshops Book your FREE place
a parent and child with SEND

Open to parents, carers and professionals

in Devon or Torbay

Take part online

Join in via your computer, tablet or smartphone

Attend in person

Workshops at accessible community locations

The Parent Carer Forum Devon and SEND Family Voice Torbay in collaboration with Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD), are pleased to be funding and delivering a new programme of workshops designed to support families and professionals to better understand SEND.

These workshops will cover a wide range of topics associated with neurodiversity and SEND, helping to build knowledge, confidence and practical understanding. They aim to equip families and professionals with helpful information, strategies and resources to support children and young people in everyday life.

Developed in partnership with families and system partners, the workshops reflect the topics that parents, carers and professionals have told us would be most valuable. They form part of our wider commitment to ensuring families have access to early support, clear information and practical guidance.

The workshops are open to all families and professionals across Devon and Torbay and will be delivered both online and in accessible community settings to enable as many people as possible to attend.

a photo of SEND workshops in progress

SEND workshops topics include:

  • Sensory Differences
  • Masking
  • Communication
  • Anxiety
  • Sleep Difficulties
  • Behaviour
  • Dyslexia
  • Independence Under 12
  • Independence Over 12

What to expect from our online and in-person SEND workshops

  • A chance to learn more about a particular SEND subject
  • Confidence in understanding and meeting your child’s needs.
  • A combination of professional knowledge and the lived experience of parenting a SEND child.
  • Ideas, effective strategies and signposting to other services which may benefit your family.
  • A chance to ask questions, as well as receive extra support if needed.

Our workshops are open to all parents and carers in Devon and Torbay and as long as you have access to a computer, smartphone or tablet with an internet connection, you’ll be able to join – FREE OF CHARGE!

You don’t need any previous experience of the topics covered in our workshops. You can join in as much or as little as you like. 

Our workshops are also open to associates wishing to learn more about SEND subjects and what we do at Parent Carer Forums Devon and SEND Family Voice Torbay.

“It felt comfortable and informal, Chelsey clearly has a great deal of knowledge, fascinating to learn more – I could see several behaviours in my own children (and my husband and I when we talked about the adult behaviours!)”

Our Workshop Programme

Our Developmental Therapists bring extensive experience across SEND, education and child and adult development. All therapists are degree-level trained and complete comprehensive in-house training alongside ongoing professional development. This ensures our work remains informed, ethical and evidence-led.

Check our programme on Eventbrite for dates and times of our workshops

This presentation will provide valuable insights into autism, including an overview of the key challenges individuals may face, the distinctions between how autism presents in males and females, as well as practical strategies for managing behaviours associated with autism such as demand avoidance and sensory overload. Additionally, participants will gain an understanding of how executive functioning difficulties can impact individuals with autism.

You will acquire an understanding of ADHD and its key symptoms. You will also learn about specific behaviours associated with ADHD, including Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), conduct disorder, and antisocial personality disorder. Additionally, you will explore how executive functioning difficulties affect individuals with ADHD. Finally, you will gain knowledge on effectively managing behaviors and addressing needs related to ADHD.

Participants will increase their knowledge regarding various types of behaviour exhibited by children and young people, as well as potential underlying causes. Additionally, they will learn practical and readily applicable strategies to assist in promoting better behaviour regulation in children and young people, as well as supporting adults in facilitating behaviour change in the child or young person.

During this session, you will acquire knowledge of various types of learning difficulties, such as dyslexia, and how they can impact the learning process. You will also learn about the effects of executive functioning difficulties on children and young people with learning challenges. By the end of the session, you will have gained sufficient knowledge and strategies to provide effective support to children and young people with learning difficulties.

In this session, you will gain knowledge on various types of motor skill challenges that children and young individuals may face, such as dyspraxia. You will also explore the impact of executive functioning issues on individuals with motor skill difficulties. Additionally, you will learn effective strategies to support children and young people with motor skill challenges, empowering them to overcome obstacles and enhance their skills to the best of their abilities.

During this session, participants will gain insight into executive functioning, its functions, and the potential challenges that may arise when it is impaired. Additionally, strategies for helping young adults develop self-motivation and access resources for fostering independence in areas such as financial management, living autonomously, and budgeting will be discussed.

During this session, participants will gain knowledge of the various stages of language development, as well as insight into different language disorders. Strategies for supporting communication in children and young people with language difficulties will be presented, along with techniques for enhancing and fostering language development.

In this presentation, we will discuss the concept of auditory processing and the potential challenges faced by children or young individuals who experience difficulties in this area. We will explore strategies for supporting individuals who are sensitive to noise and provide guidance on navigating a world where verbal communication is prevalent.

During this session, participants will have the opportunity to enhance their knowledge of the sensory system, including the three lesser-known senses: proprioception, vestibular, and interoception. The session will cover topics such as understanding the challenges faced by children and young people who struggle with sensory regulation, distinguishing between sensory meltdowns/overwhelm and tantrums, and recognising the connection between sensory difficulties and anxiety.

Additionally, participants will explore how executive functioning can be impacted during sensory meltdowns, the concept of stimming and its benefits, as well as strategies for modifying stimming behaviours if they become harmful. Practical techniques for regulating the sensory system and supporting individuals with sensory challenges will also be addressed during the session.

In this presentation, we will explore the various stages of social development in children and young people, as well as strategies for fostering growth in this area. Additionally, we will discuss methods for identifying and addressing gaps in social development, including the cultivation of friendship skills.

This presentation will address the various stages of emotional development in children and young people, as well as strategies to support this development. The discussion will also include techniques for promoting mental wellbeing, fostering independence in children and young people to manage their own mental health, and promoting healthy habits for maintaining a positive mental state.

In this presentation, you will gain an understanding of the distinctions between visual perception, visual stress, and the Irlen Syndrome. We will explore the potential challenges faced by children or young individuals experiencing difficulties in these areas, as well as strategies for providing them with appropriate support. Additionally, we will discuss the implications of these difficulties on various aspects of life, including home, school, work, and daily activities, and provide guidance on effectively addressing and remedying these challenges.

Understanding what masking is, why people might do it and when it can be supportive strategy as well as looking at why it may be detrimental to children and young people. Additionally, we will consider the impact on wellbeing and daily life for people who mask and those who support them. It also includes strategies to support children, young people and adults who may be masking and how to help them feel safe enough to drop the mask on occasion.

Book a place on one of these courses on our Eventbrite page

You’re not alone on this journey

Join one of our supportive workshops created to help families better understand SEND and feel confident to support your children in everyday life.

Book your spot on one of our workshops Contact us with your questions
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