Training for professionals, parents and carers
Training is available to parents and carers in Lambeth and Southwark and to professionals working with children and young people in Lambeth, Southwark and beyond.
We offer a variety of formats for our training sessions: live webinars, self-directed e-Learning, and face to face classroom sessions. All classroom sessions are offered in our local boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark.
Please talk to us about your training needs. We can offer bespoke training on a range of topics including:
- autism
- developmental language disorder
- colourful semantics
- complex needs
- social emotional and mental health.
We can be flexible around dates and times.
How to book
There is a charge for some of our courses for parents or carers of children known to our service. There is a charge for parents or carers outside of Lambeth and Southwark.
Up to 3 people per setting can apply for up to 3 courses each financial year. Training is free for Lambeth schools.
To book a place on a course please email gst-tr.contactslt@nhs.net. You can also use this email for any training queries or to discuss bespoke training for your setting.
Have a look at our Facebook page for training updates and tips.
- Cost: £110 for professionals or £20 for local parents and carers, £45 for parents or carers who do not live in Lambeth or Southwark
- Dates: Wednesday 4 June and Wednesday 2 July 2025
(both sessions need to be attended)
- Time: both sessions are 9.30am to 12.30pm
- Delivery: classroom learning
At the end of the course you should be able to:
- identify and explore relevant topics for a talking mat
- understand and use the talking mats framework
- Cost: £110
- Date: Tuesday 24 February 2026
- Time: 9.30am to 3pm
The course will help you to:
- understand recent definitions of Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), also known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- understand the range of communication, interaction and behavioural differences associated with ASD and ASC
- identify the sensory differences that can be associated with ASD and ASC
- identify strategies for supporting autistic children, such as environmental modifications, teaching and interaction strategies
- understand how knowing about neurodiversity might impact how we support autistic children and young people
This course is recommended for teachers, support staff, special educational needs co-ordinators (SENCOs) and any other professionals.
- Cost: £30
- Delivery: e-learning
This course will help you to:
- develop greater awareness about how Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), also known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) presents in girls
- increase your understanding of how this may present at school and at home
- increase your knowledge of support and resources for autistic girls
Recommended for class teachers, special educational needs co-ordinators (SENCOs) and support staff.
- Delivery: e-learning or classroom
Contact us using the email address at the top of this page for more information.
This course will cover an overview of eating, drinking and swallowing development and signs of difficulty. It will not cover how to support children with specific swallowing needs.
The course will increase your understanding of:
- typical eating, drinking and swallowing development
- signs that a child or young person is having difficulty
- different textures of food and drinks
- how to manage and seek help
The course is recommended for:
- education staff in nurseries, schools or further education settings
- saff supporting children and young people in care settings
- other professionals
Dates available on request.
A 7-week free course for parents and carers who have a primary or secondary aged child with a diagnosis of developmental language disorder (DLD). The sessions will be delivered virtually in the evening. These sessions have been developed by Afasic and NAPLIC.
This course will help you to:
- understand DLD and how it applies to your child
- develop strategies to support your child at home
- gain ideas for how to support your child’s learning
- meet other families of children with DLD
In order to join the course you must be a parent or carer with a GP in Lambeth or Southwark with a child diagnosed with developmental language disorder.
- Cost: £325 plus VAT e-learning plus 10 virtual group tutorials or £400 with an individual follow-up session in setting
- Delivery: e-learning with weekly tutorials
This course will help you to:
- be more effective in supporting children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN)
- identify the needs of the child and give practical strategies to support the child more effectively
Recommended for early years practitioners.
- Cost: £30
- Delivery: e-learning
This course will help you to:
- identify why it is important to get a pupil's view
- describe the process and approaches for collecting a pupil’s views
- plan how to implement an appropriate approach for collecting a pupil’s views
- feel more confident in using a range of approaches to collect a pupil’s views
Recommended for: class teachers, special educational needs co-ordinators (SENCOs) and support staff.
- Cost: £45
- Delvery: live webinar
- Date and time:
- Tuesday 23 September. Time 3-5pm.
The course will help you to:
- understand the critical role of environments in shaping children's communication and learning behaviour, and overall well-being.
- consider how environments can help or hinder emotional regulation
- learn how to make the most of your environment and create spaces that enable communication
- understand how visual supports enable communication
- increase your awareness of a range of tools and strategies to support positive changes to environment in your own settings
- Cost: £135 (free for children's centres and LEAP settings who are participating in the LEAP Evelina Award programme)
- Date: dates for the 3-part course are given on request
- Time: 9.30am to 3.30pm
- Delivery: live webinar
The course will help you to:
- develop an understanding of speech and language development in children aged between 0 and 5 years
- identify children with possible difficulties in understanding and using language
- develop an understanding of the wider impact of speech and language difficulties
- explore strategies and activities that can be used in pre-school settings to influence language development
- develop an understanding of English as an additional language and communication development
- Cost: £30
- Delivery: e-learning course
This course will give an overview of speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) in schools and how to support them.
There will be opportunities to focus on strategies for specific key stages (please specify whether you would like to focus on primary or secondary education in your application).
The course will help you to:
- develop an understanding of how speech, language and communication skills develop in pupils across their academic life
- support identification of students with possible SLCN
- increase understanding of how language and communication difficulties can impact on pupils’ access to the national curriculum
- explore strategies that can be used to influence language development and access to the curriculum
- provide practical activities to support pupils with language and communication difficulties
Recommended for class teachers, special educational needs co-ordinators (SENCOs) and support staff.
- Cost: £45
- Date and time
- Wednesday 8 October 2025 3-5pm
- Delivery: live webinar
The course will help you to
- understand how in-tune interactions support communication development
- consider how and why young children communicate
- learn about Adult-Child Interaction (ACI) principles that support child language and use these during interactions
- develop your knowledge around children's learning styles and the roles adults play
- understand of language through a variety of strategies
- explore tools to support your practice
This course is recommended for:
- early years practitioners
- children's centre practitioners
- childminders
- other childcare providers
- Cost: free to local schools and settings
- Date: Tuesday 7 October 2025
- Time: 3.30pm to 5pm
The course will help you to:
- understand the Zones of Regulation approach and how it can help children and young people
- feel confident to start using the Zones of Regulation in your educational setting
- learn about where you can seek further information and resources related to this approach
This course is recommended for:
- class teachers
- special educational needs co-ordinators (SENCOs)
- support staff
- Cost: £30
- Delivery: e-learning
This course will help you to:
- explore some key messages about bilingualism
- increase confidence around having conversations with parents and colleagues
- signpost families to where to find more information about bilingualism
Recommended for parents and carers, teachers, special educational needs co-ordinators (SENCOs) and early years practitioners.
- Cost: £45 for professionals, £20 for parents who live outside of Lambeth and Southwark
- Dates: Wednesday 18 June 2025
- Time: 3.30pm to 5pm
- Delivery: classroom learning
An introduction to LEGO therapy is a simple, effective approach that uses LEGO to help children and young people develop their attention and listening, turn taking, communication and interaction skills. It is relevant for use with children with a wide range of needs and across a range of settings.
The course will help you to:
- understand the background and principles of LEGO therapy
- identify the skills needed to carry out LEGO therapy
- think creatively about how to use LEGO therapy in your own setting
- lead and evaluate a LEGO therapy session
This course is recommended for:
- parents and carers
- class teachers
- special educational needs co-ordinators (SENCOs)
- support staff
- other professionals working with children and young people with social communication and language difficulties
Dates:
- Wednesday 30 April 2025, 10.30am-12 noon
- Thursday 26 June 2025, 1.30pm-3pm
- Friday 5 September 2025, 9.30am-11am
- Monday 3 November 2025, 3.30pm-5pm
- Tuesday 6 January 2026, 10.30am-12pm
- Wednesday 4 March 2026,1.30pm-3pm
These are fun and interactive small group virtual sessions for anyone interested in learning about Makaton.
This course will give you an insight into Makaton, including:
- what it is and how it can support communication
- approximately 30 Makaton signs and symbols
- thow Makaton can be used at home, school, nursery or other settings
Recommended for anyone who is interested in finding out about Makaton or anyone who is interested in attending further training such as a level 1 or 2 workshop in the future.
- Cost: £110 for professionals, £21 for parents and carers (cost is inclusive of course materials), 10% discount if booking both levels
- Dates: Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 May 2025
- Time: both sessions are 9.30am to 4.30pm
- Delivery: classroom learning
The level 1 workshop will:
- provide information on the use and purpose of Makaton and give an overview of this system of communication
- introduce you to the signs and symbols from stages 1 and 2 and some additional Makaton core vocabulary
- explore ways of using Makaton signs and symbols
The level 2 workshop will:
- introduce you to signs and symbols from stages 3 and 4 and some additional Makaton core vocabulary
- explore ways of using Makaton signs and symbols
This course is recommended for:
- professionals who need to use Makaton in their work
- parents and carers of children with speech, language or communication difficulties
- Cost: £110 for professionals, £21 for parents and carers (cost is inclusive of course materials), 10% discount if booking both levels
- Dates: Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 July 2025
- Time: both sessions are 9.30am to 4.30pm
- Delivery: classroom learning
The level 3 workshop will:
- help you to improve and develop your signing and symbol skills and learn how to use them effectively every day
- revise the signs and symbols you learned in your level 1 and 2 training, and learn the signs and symbols for stages 5 and 6 of the core vocabulary
The level 4 workshop will:
- revise the signs and symbols you learned in your Level 1, 2 and 3 training, and learn the signs and symbols for stages 7 and 8 of the core vocabulary
After level 4 training you'll have completed the core vocabulary.
This course is recommended for:
- professionals who need to use Makaton in their work
- parents and carers of children with speech, language or communication difficulties who live in Lambeth or Southwark
After attending a workshop you'll receive a participant's manual which includes the Makaton symbols and signs that you learned in the workshop. You'll also be given a certificate of attendance, please keep it in case you want to attend further Makaton training.
- Cost: £600
- Delivery: a 2-day course and a 1-day tutorial in a classroom setting
The course is based on case discussions around allocated cases and will include a series of short lectures, group discussions and participant presentations. You'll be asked to bring cases including a video case study from your own practice to discuss at the tutorial.
To attend the course you must be a speech and language therapist with paediatric dysphagia training and experience. You will also need:
- previous theoretical training in infant dysphagia if possible
- some experience of having observed or worked with infants under 12 months old with dysphagia with or without support
- the opportunity to observe or work with at least 1 infant between the workshop and the tutorial (contact us if you are unable to organise this as we may be able to support you)
By the end of the course you'll be able to:
- apply theoretical knowledge about infant feeding difficulties to clinical practice
- manage infants with feeding and swallowing difficulties with supervision
- carry out a comprehensive assessment to evaluate feeding and swallowing difficulties in infants
- develop a holistic management plan for infants with feeding difficulties
- use a range of compensatory and rehabilitative intervention approaches for infants with feeding difficulties
A practical approach to assessing and managing children and young people with dysphagia.
This is a 4-day course and a 1-day tutorial.The course consists of lectures, practical sessions and discussion. Full participation in the 5 days is essential.
To attend the course you must be a qualified speech and language therapists with up to date registration with HCPC. You'll also need:
- some experience of having observed or worked with children and young adults with dysphagia with or without support
- access to an active caseload of children and young people with dysphagia
- access to an identified supervisor with specialised knowledge in paediatric dysphagia
The course will help you to:
- apply theoretical knowledge about children and young people’s eating and drinking difficulties to clinical practice
- assess, diagnose and manage their dysphagia with supervision such as second opinions and support as needed
- consider the ethical and legal challenges faced with managing children and young people with dysphagia
This course will help you to:
- support your child’s transition into primary school
- find out about strategies around areas such as play, language and social communication
- learn who to ask for further support
A 2-part webinar (you must attend both sessions):
- Cost: £110
- Dates: Wednesday 14 and Wednesday 21 May 2025 (both sessions need to be attended)
- Time: session 1, 9.30am to 12.30pm, session 2, 1am to 4pm
- Delivery: live webinar
Please note this course will not cover autism specific theory and strategies.
This course will help you to:
- develop an understanding of how communication difficulties may impact on a child or young person with behaviour that challenges or social emotional and mental health needs (for example disruption, school refusal, aggression, defiance and anxiety)
- develop an understanding of the links between language and emotional regulation
- look at challenging behaviour more holistically and identify communication needs as part of a profile
- identify strategies and approaches to support communication and relationship building
Recommended for staff working with children who are at a conversational level and who present with behaviour that challenges.
- Cost: £30
- Delivery: e-learning
This course will help you to:
- gain a more in-depth understanding of selective mutism
- identify children with selective mutism in nursery and school settings
- use practical strategies to support a child with selective mutism more effectively
Recommended for class teachers, special educational needs co-ordinators (SENCOs) and support staff.
- Cost: £30
- Delivery: e-learning
At the end of the course you will know:
- the causes and triggers of stammering
- how to create an environment that can support fluency and stammering
- how to support the child or young person to be a confident communicator
Recommended for anyone working with children and young people over the age of 9 who stammer.
- Cost: £30
- Delivery: e-learning
This course will help you to understand:
- the causes and maintaining factors of a restricted feeding pattern
- a range of practical strategies to support a child or young person with a feeding difficulty in different mealtime contexts
- the importance of mealtime structure and routines
This course is recommended for:
- class teachers
- special educational needs co-ordinators (SENCOs)
- support staff
- parents and carers
- other professionals
- Cost: £30
- Delivery: e-learning
This course will help you to:
- define and explain neurodiversity, neurodivergence and ableism
- provide examples of neuroaffirmative practice
- discuss some of the challenges involved in adopting a neuroaffirmative approach in schools and colleges
Recommended for:
- class teachers
- special educational needs co-ordinators (SENCOs)
- support staff
- other professionals
- Cost: £30
- Delivery: e-learning
This course will help you to:
- develop basic knowledge of a range of visual support systems including Makaton signing, PECS, schedules and communication books
- explore the use of visuals in routines and class environments
- learn about adapting your communication style to support children’s learning and communication
- consider how to implement in these in your own setting
Recommended for class teachers, special educational needs co-ordinators (SENCOs) and support staff.
- Cost: £60, 50% discount for students and some free places are available for local residents
- Date: Tuesday 28 October 2025
- Time: 9.15am to 1pm
- Delivery: live webinar
Visit the Eventbrite website to book your place.
The course will help you to:
- understand speech and language therapy as a profession and a possible career
- meet a range of speech and language therapists working with different specialist client groups
- listen to a newly qualified speech and language therapist reflect on their first role and answer questions about their experience entering the profession
Recommended for anybody who is considering a career as a speech and language therapist.
This session will support you to:
- transition from primary to secondary school or to further education settings
- gain ideas and advice around areas including organisation, friendships, vocabulary learning and study skills
Recommended for parents and pupils.
Dates available on request
- Cost: £60
- Delivery: live webinar
This course will teach you how to use the WellComm screening toolkit with children from 6 months to 6 years old. The trainer will use a range of video examples and practical activities to ensure that you have the opportunity to see the screening tool in action and to practise making decisions about scoring and next steps.
It is essential that you have a copy of the WellComm screening tool to refer to throughout the session.
By the end of the course you will know how to:
- administer the WellComm screening toolkit
- calculate a child’s WellComm score using the traffic light scoring system
- take appropriate next steps for children identified as needing further support
This course is recommended for professionals who work with children from 6 months to 6 years old.
- Delivery: e-learning (please select either primary or secondary)
This session will help you to:
- find out about how Evelina London speech and language therapists work in schools
- gain an understanding around different types of support for speech, language and communication needs
- know where to go for further advice
This session is recommended for parents and carers.