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101 Educators providing Courses

Sing and Sign Birmingham

sing and sign birmingham

London

I live in Birmingham with my Partner James and my 3 wonderful Children - Flynn, Coel and Phoebe. I have enjoyed signing with my older sister, through my work - working with children/adults with additional needs and A/autism and with my own children! Using baby signing with my children (starting with Flynn in 2001!), it helped them to tell me what they wanted/needed or how they were feeling. Baby signing boosted their confidence, helped them to be included and lessened their frustration! It really is amazing when your baby can start a 'conversation' with you about something that they are interested in! My children could tell me so, so much with their signs, before they were physically able to tell me with their voices - just wonderful! They were all super keen to say the words that they were signing too, which eventually happened in abundance! Flynn and Coel are both now very articulate, happy boys, who are proud to still be able to sign. My Daughter Phoebe is now 5 and she adored her Sing and Sign journey! She really is an avid dinosaur fan and I believe that she could actually talk the hind legs off a donkey (or T-Rex), telling you all the dinosaur names! She has started school now and as with her brothers, her teachers are amazed at her astounding vocabulary and she proudly shares her signing! It really is a magical and wonderful skill to learn together and one that can be taken on through life too! My work prior to this has always been promoting rights and inclusion - why shouldn't little ones have this too?! I study British Sign Language (BSL) also and I am currently at Level 3 and I am passionate about Deaf Awareness too. Being so passionate about communication and baby signing lead to me wanting to tell the World! - well Birmingham at least and so I bought my own little bit of Sing and Sign! I am very excited and happy to be able share Sing and Sign with you!

Safe Start Education

safe start education

London

Welcome to Safe Start School Tameside, an Independent SEN provision for students 11-16 years with additional needs. I am extremely proud to be leading the staff and pupils at Safe Start School towards achieving their personal and professional goals. Having worked with vulnerable young people since my early career I see it my mission to ensure all young people who attend Safe Start are given the educational tools any student in mainstream provisions are provided with. It is my goal to ensure we support our students to transition from requiring guidance with life skills to making independent decisions to becoming successful adults. I lead with a high expectation of delivering Quality First Teaching at Safe Start School and providing a high quality education for our children. Mrs Carol Nolan Executive Director's Welcome Thank you for taking the time to look at Safe Start School. We are a Tameside based education provider with a trauma-informed lens, helping students build their resilience and flourish in a happy and healthy way. We are advocates using the ACE & Thrive programmes which is embedded into our whole school vision and ensure all staff receive the accredited training through my role as external Lead Trainer. We have a dedicated and unique approach to education and build a curriculum around the needs and goals of students for them to live the best lives possible. Our committed team of professionals work alongside young people in a wrap-around service that encompasses a child’s life to allow them access to the best services and information available. The team takes a unique and innovative approach to educating key stages 3 and 4 working both in and out of the classroom. My role is to oversee our school vision and support the Senior Leadership Team to ensure no child is left behind and all students leave Safe Start with qualifications and a successful post 16 pathway. Mrs Rachel Pilling MBE

Scottish Music Therapy Trust

scottish music therapy trust

Edinburgh

The Scottish Music Therapy Trust is run by a team of volunteers students, music therapists, academics and other professionals dedicated to promoting music therapy. If you are interested in joining the team and becoming a trustee, please get in touch via our Contact page. Chair: David Jones David is not a Music Therapist! He is a keen amateur musician with a background in disability awareness. He has sat on a number of committees advising both the public and private sector on how best to support the needs of the disabled community, not only in Scotland but throughout Europe. The SMTT allows him to combine these interests in music and in disability. Trustee: Dr Philippa Derrington Philippa is a Music Therapist and Programme Leader of the MSc Music Therapy at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh. Trustee: Duncan Campbell Duncan is an Edinburgh based Music Therapist, having graduated from the MSc Music Therapy course at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, in 2018. He has clinical experience of working with adults and children with learning disabilities, ASD, mental health and also working with Alzheimer’s/Dementia. Currently Duncan is working full time within NHS Lothian’s CAMHS. Trustee: Nadine Allan Nadine is a registered Music Therapist who graduated from the MSc Music Therapy course at Queen Margaret University in 2020. She is currently working with ELM Music Therapy in Aberdeen and the shire. Nadine has clinical experience of working with children, adolescents and adults with additional support needs and mental health difficulties. She is currently working mainly with children who have profound multiple learning disabilities in schools, as well as co-running a Sing and Sign group. Trustee: Hannah Quigley Hannah is a student on the MSc Music Therapy Course at Queen Margaret University. Before beginning the course in September 2021, she studied Music at the University of Edinburgh where she gained experience delivering community music workshops in schools, mainly for children with additional support needs. Trustee: Tilly Mütter Tilly is a student on the MSc Music Therapy Course at Queen Margaret University. After completing her undergrad in Canterbury she became the Music Lead at The Sunflower Federation Schools in Hertfordshire; for students with additional needs and profound multiple learning disabilities, where she used music to help improve the student’s individual targets.

Landmarks Specialist College

landmarks specialist college

London

Landmarks started to offer day services and post-16 education in March 1995, where the curriculum was largely practical and land-based, working in farm buildings in Creswell, Derbyshire. Since that time Landmarks has grown and developed its educational offer so that by the time of writing this welcome, Landmarks supports over 150 post-16 and day service Learners, all of whom learn a variety of essential life skills from our five sites located across the East Midlands and South Yorkshire. We have changed our curriculum from purely land and animal-based to include several vocational subjects such as; hospitality, catering, cookery, retail, administration and labouring. These additional subjects support our learners to make informed choices about the type of vocations they would like to follow. College life at Landmarks involves being taught in practical, real-life situations, whilst being supported by highly trained and experienced staff who are experts in working with learners with additional needs. It is important for me, as it is for my team, that whilst learners are with us, they focus on developing knowledge, skills and behaviour that makes a real difference to their lives. I hope from reading the case studies and outcomes featured within this website, you can see what difference that focus has made to our learners’ lives. I am extremely proud of all our learners’ achievements, either becoming more independent so that they can attend activities they enjoy or securing employment for the first time in their lives. Indeed, we are so keen to support our learners that when you leave Landmarks, should you need support to maintain employment or seek advice you can contact our dedicated ‘After College, Aftercare’ team. I do trust that you will enjoy exploring our website and getting to know us a little better. Of course, it is only by visiting Landmarks that you will truly get a feel for the place. Whilst we run regular open events, please feel free to contact our learner recruitment team, who can organise a visit just for you, so you get a perfect opportunity to ask all the questions you have about learning at Landmarks. Also, we are always keen to hear from like-minded colleagues from other institutions, or from those interested in working with us in the future. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you wish to know more.

Action4youth

action4youth

Aylesbury

Action4Youth is an ambitious, proactive charity focused on driving forward the crucial youth agenda to transform lives for the better. Every child should have the opportunity to be heard, to be safe and to succeed. Collaborative We believe change is most impactful when delivered in collaboration with other youth agencies and key partners. We build partnerships across sectors so that we can share resources and expertise to secure the best possible outcomes for young people and their communities in Buckinghamshire and beyond. Empowering We listen and engage with our young people to give them a voice in developing our work and agenda. Our Youth Board and groups have a fundamental role in ensuring our programmes meet the needs of young participants across a wide spectrum of differing backgrounds including young people from the most deprived areas of society, those with disabilities and additional needs, and those who need support and inspiration to reach their goals and surpass limitations. Everything we do engages the rising generation of our community to work together in helping not only themselves but each other. For us it’s about inspiring young people to become Inspiring Young People. What we do As a charity, we rely on the generosity of grant-giving organisations and individuals to enable us to deliver the following: Policy and Change We are leaders within the youth sector and we are actively engaged with local government, the police, and other stakeholders to shape policy across Bucks. Our annual conference is a crucial opportunity for key representatives from the wider charity and statutory sectors to come together to discuss and share ideas on how we can make an impact on the lives of young people. Intervention and Inspiration We deliver a wide range of programmes including holistic support for vulnerable and disadvantaged young people, employability and enrichment programmes such as The Inspiration Programme, leadership and life skills initiatives, as well as delivering national programmes such as National Citizen Service and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Many participants are signposted to other Action4Youth programmes on a pathway to opportunities they did not believe were possible through disadvantage or disability. Leadership and Training We provide valuable leadership and training to our membership organisations: around 70 local voluntary youth groups so that they can operate effectively to safeguard the young people of their communities. Courses include safeguarding, diversity and inclusion, health and safety and others. Outdoor Learning Additionally, we operate an outstanding outdoor learning centre, Caldecotte Xperience, in Milton Keynes which offers a range of adventure learning activities that deliver measurable improvements in educational attainment, as well as building teamwork, bonding and trust. It is the leading centre in the region for young people with complex needs, with SEND trained staff and specialist equipment that enable those with disabilities to learn new skills in a safe and supportive environment.

The Edge Academy Trust

the edge academy trust

Birmingham

Welcome to the website of The Edge Academy- I hope it provides you with a flavour of academy life and all of the information you require. I was immensely proud to be appointed Principal of The Edge in 2018 and am thoroughly enjoying what is now my fifth year in role- I live locally, was born and bred in Northfield and have a great affinity for the academy having initially joined it as Vice Principal before becoming Principal. Prior to joining The Edge, I started my career as a French teacher, became a Head of Year and went on to work on senior leadership teams for ten years in three secondary schools in Nottinghamshire and the West Midlands. The Edge Academy aims to be a welcoming, stable and friendly place for our students. We aim to provide the best possible environment for students to learn and develop with an understanding of the world around them. Together, we strive to bring the best out of our students, ensuring that they maximise their potential and are prepared as fully as possible for reintegration to mainstream education or for progress to further learning and life – be that post-16 study, employment or training. Full details of our “Safe, Ready, Respectful” curriculum can be accessed on the “curriculum” tab of our website or directly by going to https://www.theedgeacademy.co.uk/curriculum/ Our aim is to offer what our students need to help them make the most of their potential. This requires a highly flexible approach, specialised skills and lots of experience in working with young people with additional needs. Our challenge and motivation is to “Unleash Greatness through our Safe, Ready, Respectful Values”. Whilst mainstream schools are incredible forces for good in society, helping to socialise, educate and engage the next generation, the journey through mainstream education, for some youngsters, is not a smooth one. For some students, success in the education system means we have to offer something different. At the Edge Academy, we challenge students to take responsibility for being SAFE, modify their behaviour, improve attitudes to school life and make academic progress across the range and breadth of curriculum opportunities available. In addition to classroom-based learning, students are provided with enrichment opportunities throughout the academic year. We respect that all of our young people are individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds and life-experiences. We passionately believe that by assisting them to overcome their personal barriers, they should be entitled and READY to access the full-range of opportunities available in society. One of our core values is to place children and families first. At The Edge, our families get to know the teams who support their child well and are actively supported to work in partnership with professionals. Right from the start, we make sure that we are RESPECTFUL to spend time listening to our young people and their families to find out as much as we can, as together we develop the start of their Edge learning journey. We continually develop and adapt our support for each family, so that whilst caring for their children, we also acknowledge our responsibility to listen to and understand the needs and priorities of parents and carers.

Mark Taylor Support

mark taylor support

Telford

Taylor Support is a provider of specialist support for children, young people and adults with a disability in Telford and the surrounding areas. We are dedicated to working closely with service users and their families to provide highly personalised, flexible, safe, outcome-based support. We will support service users to access new experiences, learn new skills, access social interaction opportunities and increase confidence, all while promoting free choice and independence. We aim to provide services such as but not restricted to; 1:1 Support & 2:1 Support – support to access social activities, education settings and more…. Flexible service user led Small Group Support i.e. 4 services users: 2 support workers – promoting social interactions while exploring new experiences in the community. Jumpin’ Wednesdays @ Airea51 – Group sessions to a maximum of 8 service users with supervision, 1:1 and 2:1 support options. Local Activity Based Overnight Residential Opportunities – minimum 16hrs personalised, activity-based support programmes including an overnight stay within the Telford Area. Weekend Residential Opportunities – 48hrs weekend residential trips with venues to include Pioneer Centre @ Cleobury Mortimer, Alton Towers Resort and Chester City Break (including Chester Zoo visit and more). Life Skills Project – Small group Life Skills Project to focus on individual needs whilst developing independence through lifelong learning and community integration. Alternative Education based support programmes. We are also keen to work with services users and families to offer new, bespoke support packages, individually designed using a person-centred approach. These packages will aim to challenge the status quo and offer new exciting options to meet service user needs and respond to identified gaps in service. Taylor Support is led by Mark Taylor and Holly Taylor. Mark Taylor has over 17 years of experience working within this speciality. Previous roles involved successfully managing a highly regarded service for children and young people with a disability aged 3-25yrs within Telford as part of Telford and Wrekin Council’s Ican2 short breaks provision. Holly Taylor has over 14 years of experience working within the education and social care sector. 7 years specifically managing social care provisions for Children and Adults with additional needs. Qualified with a BA hons degree and Early Years Professional Status (level 6), Previous roles include working in Early years provisions, mainstream school support, family support worker, case worker and now as proud Co-Owner and Director of Service Delivery of Taylor Support. Holly is the registered CQC manager and Safeguarding trainer. Holly feels that through the varied roles she has carried out, in particular supporting families to best meet needs, leading on reviews, EHCP meetings, liaising with professionals, to being the service lead locally for the short breaks activity offer for children and young adults with additional and complex needs provides her with a holistic view and experience to best support the business. Holly loves her role now managing a company focused on providing bespoke and personalized support for vulnerable children, young people, adults and families as well as maintaining direct face to face work to ensure the service meets the needs of the people they provide a service for.

My Kind Of Thinking

my kind of thinking

Westbourne

Vicki is a qualified teacher with over 20 years’ experience in schools, colleges and universities. She worked as a secondary school teacher for a number of years before working with students with additional needs. After several years running programmes for young people and adults in the FE sector, Vicki undertook a Masters in Education, specialising in Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLDs), along with additional training to assess for dyslexia. She is also a qualified SENCO and worked for several years as an Advisory Teacher for the local authority. Vicki currently works part-time in a HE setting assessing and tutoring individuals with specific learning difficulties. Each year she assesses over 80 students for Disabled Students Allowance and continues to offer advice and assessments to a number of local schools. Vicki is the current Chair of the Dorset PATOSS group. Vicki lives in Swanage and relaxes by walking in the Purbeck hills with her dog Poppy, pottering in her tiny garden and acting as roadie to her musical teenage sons. She helps out in the family bookshops whenever she can and has provided training on dyslexia to booksellers from across the UK. MEd. Equality and Diversity Associate Member of the British Dyslexia Association (AMBDA) Assessment Practicing Certificate BDA (APC 17/ APC09011) OCN L4 Workplace Assessor National Award for SEN Coordination (NASENCO) PGCE Geography and SEN BSc. (Hons) Geography Alice Humpheson fullsizeoutput_461d Alice has significant experience of helping adults and young people realise their potential, having worked in a range of educational settings including universities, colleges and adult community learning for nearly 20 years. Initially teaching IT, maths and English to a wide range of learners, Alice later trained to specialise in specific learning difficulties where she gained a Masters from the University of Southampton and qualified to both teach and assess individuals with dyslexia and other SpLDs. Alice is a keen advocate of assistive technology and strongly believes that individuals are far more likely to achieve when they are provided with the right tools, enabling them to use existing strengths to overcome challenges. As a current SpLD practitioner and study skills tutor for university students, Alice has plenty of opportunity to develop and maintain her understanding of the challenges that individuals with a SpLD face, and this insight helps inform her work as an assessor. Alice has 2 children and lives in Mudeford. When she’s not working, Alice enjoys paddle boarding and exploring the New Forest either by foot or on her bicycle. MSc Education (SpLD) Member of the Dyslexia Guild (MDG) Associate Member of the British Dyslexia Association (AMBDA FE/HE) Assessment Practicing Certificate BDA (APC 500002643-OF7999) BA (Hons) Post Compulsory Education and Training Certificate in Education JEB Teacher Trainer Diploma in ICT Skills We also work with a team of other fully qualified teachers and assessors who are quality assured by a range of professional bodies including the British Dyslexia Association (BDA), Professional Association of Teachers of Students with Specific learning difficulties (PATOSS) and The Dyslexia Guild. All our assessors hold full DBS certificates, indemnity insurance and belong to a professional body. All information is stored in line with GDPR recommendations.