Training for Early Years Settings

The SEND Occupational Therapy team support children and young people to improve their confidence in daily activities and build independence skills in early years / mainstream education settings. Training is FREE to private, voluntary, independent (PVI) settings, childminders and Local Authority nursery schools within Birmingham.

Please email for further information around dates for upcoming training that your setting can access.

Contact: bchc.sendtherapy@nhs.net.

If you would like to find out more information about our offer, please see our links below:

SENCo Advice Meetings

Every private, voluntary, independent (PVI) settings and Local Authority nursery schools in Birmingham can access a 30-minute virtual Occupational Therapy SENCo advice meeting (1 per half-term). SENCo’s can discuss their concerns regarding a general topic or a specific query about a child/ young person in their setting with a SEND Occupational Therapist.

Meetings are hosted virtually and led by your district / locality SEND Occupational Therapist. The following people can attend: SENCo, teaching staff and parents/ carers.

The SEND Occupational Therapist can provide universal advice and strategies to support your setting. Common topics include toileting, dressing, pre-writing skills and feeding.

Staff will be required to fill out a meeting template prior to the booked session, this will help guide the discussion.

Staff can book this meeting by emailing the SEND Occupational Therapy Team on: bchc.sendtherapy@nhs.net

Sensory Circuit Training

Sensory circuits are a series of activities that aim to prepare children/ young people to be prepared to engage effectively for the day ahead. Sensory circuits can support with a child/young person’s physical, social and emotional development and their engagement in learning.

Training Information

The SEND Occupational Therapy team deliver a FREE half-day training on sensory circuits within private, voluntary, independent (PVI) settings, Local Authority school nurseries and mainstream schools in Birmingham. Three trainings are available every half term for early years, primary and secondary schools.

The training covers basic sensory integration theory and uses a practical approach to teach attendees how to set up and run their own sensory circuit.

We also offer sensory circuits at home training that parents can attend for FREE.

We rely on settings hosting our training. Early years settings who are interested in attending this training will be required to attend the host venue where it is being held. The host venue will be different for each date and time we offer the training. One member of staff per setting can attend the training due to demand and availability.

If you would like to volunteer to be a host, please see the hosting tab for more information.

Following attendance at the training you will be provided with a FREE resource pack to support you to set up your own sensory circuit within your setting.

We kindly ask all early year’s settings to provide feedback to allow us to evaluate the impact of the training within your setting. 

Hosting

Your setting will need to meet the criteria to be a host for our sensory circuit training to ensure your setting is appropriate. Hosts can send up to three members of staff to the sensory circuit training.

Please complete the sensory circuits school checklist to confirm you meet the criteria and email it to bchc.sendtherapy@nhs.net

SEND Occupational Therapy will contact the host to confirm arrangements before training. The host will also receive a copy of the register before the training with DBS details for delegates.

Booking

To book onto the sensory circuit training you can email the SEND Occupational Therapy team on bchc.sendtherapy@nhs.net expressing your interest.

The following information is required via email:

  1. Full name of the staff member who will be attending
  2. DBS number
  3. Setting name and address including postcode
  4. Email address for your delegate
  5. Any access/ reasonable adjustments (if not applicable please state N/A)

*Please note – the above information is required for attendance

FAQs

Please see our ‘hosting’ tab for more information.

Please see the ‘booking’ tab for more information.

Yes, you will be sent a certificate after attending the training

Yes, if you are a host venue, then you can have up to three members of staff attend.

Please wear comfortable clothing and something to drink to ensure you stay hydrated.

Following attendance at training, you will be sent a resource booklet with the content that is discussed at the training.

Stay & Plays and Coffee Mornings

A SEND Occupational Therapist can attend private, voluntary, independent (PVI) settings, Local Authority Nursery Schools and mainstream schools in Birmingham at their stay & plays and coffee mornings to raise awareness of the SEND Occupational Therapy team. They can offer universal advice, support and signposting to parents/ carers.

At both stay & plays and coffee mornings, the SEND Occupational Therapy team can deliver a short presentation (if requested in advance) about the team and their offer. They can provide informal universal advice to parents/ carers. Please note the team are not able to provide direct training to setting/ school staff or parents on specific topics at these sessions.

If you would like to request a SEND Occupational Therapist to attend your stay and play or coffee morning, please email any  upcoming dates to: bchc.sendtherapyteam@nhs.net

Fun With Food Training (Part One)

Fun with Food Training is a half-day training for early years settings (private, voluntary, independent PVI settings, Local Authority school nurseries and reception class). It aims to support early years staff to understand what is involved in the steps to eating and drinking and provide universal strategies to support children within your setting. This is delivered jointly between SEND Occupational Therapy (OT) and Speech and Language therapy (SLT) teams.

Please see the tabs below for further information about this training.

Training Information

The SEND Occupational Therapy team in collaboration with the Speech and Language Therapy team deliver a FREE half-day training on Fun with Food for early years staff in private, voluntary, independent (PVI) settings, Local Authority school nurseries and reception class’s in Birmingham.

The training is delivered once per term within a host setting. The training will support staff with developing awareness, promote positive eating and drinking interactions within their settings.

Early years settings interested in attending this training will be required to attend the host venue where it is being held. The host venue will be different for each date and time we offer the training.

One staff member per setting can attend the training due to demand and availability. If you would like to volunteer to be a host, please see the hosting tab for more details.

Following attendance at the training you will be provided with a FREE resource pack to support your setting.

We kindly ask all early year’s settings to provide feedback to allow us to evaluate the impact of the training within your setting. 

Booking

To book onto the FREE Fun with Food training you can email the SEND Occupational Therapy team on bchc.sendtherapy@nhs.net expressing your interest.

The following information is required via email:

  1. Full name of the staff member who will be attending
  2. DBS number
  3. Setting name and address including postcode
  4. Email address for your delegate
  5. Any access/ reasonable adjustments (if not applicable please state N/A)

*Please note – the above information is required for attendance

FAQs

Please see the ‘booking’ tab for more information.

Yes, you will be sent a certificate after attending the training

You may wish to bring a pen and paper to make notes, also a drink to keep you hydrated.

Following attendance at training, you will be sent a resource booklet with the content that is discussed at the training.

Pancake smiley face.
Ice cream.
A construction site modelled from Cheerios and crackers.

Fun With Food Group (Part Two)

Fun with Food Training is a half-day training for early years settings (private, voluntary, independent PVI settings, Local Authority school nurseries and reception class). The Fun with Food group is an early year’s FREE training for staff to be supported by a member of the SEND team to help set up a group within your setting. The group will support the development of feeding skills through food play and sensory food play for children with a restricted diet/ fussy eaters. We advise around universal communication strategies that can be implemented within the group and within your setting.

Please see the tabs below for further information about this training.

Training Information

The SEND Occupational Therapy team in collaboration with the Speech and Language Therapy team deliver FREE face to face training on setting up Fun with Food group activities. These sessions are for private, voluntary, independent (PVI) settings, Local Authority nursery schools and mainstream reception class’s in Birmingham.

The aim of the Fun with Food group is for staff to be able to understand strategies to support feeding and mealtimes, as well as being able to set up a Fun with Food group within your settings.

Following attendance at week one; introduction session you will be provided with a FREE resource pack with ideas and activities to support your setting to set up a Fun with Food group.

Parents are encouraged to participate within the final session and will also be provided with a resource pack to support with intervention continuing at home to promote positive experiences with food. 

We kindly ask all early year’s settings to provide feedback to allow us to evaluate the impact of the training on children, young people and families within your setting. 

Booking

To book onto our FREE Fun with Food group training please email us to express your interest at bchc.sendtherapy@nhs.net

We will require the following information via email:

  1. Full name of the staff member who will be attending
  2. Name of setting, address and postcode
  3. Email address for your delegate

*Please note – you will need to provide the information above to be able to attend the training

FAQs

Please see the ‘booking’ tab for more information.

Yes you will be sent a certificate after attending the training.

One member of staff is able to attend the training once per academic year.

You may wish to bring a pen and paper to make notes during the introduction session. However, it is expected that the setting provide and prepare the food items for the practical elements of setting up the group.

When you have attended the introduction training, you will be sent a training booklet with the content that is discussed at the training along with resources you can use to the email that you provided upon booking. This will also include information for parents to implement.

Yes, you do need to have attended the Fun with Food Training (Part One) to access this training but the Fun with Food training is beneficial.

This will run for 5 weeks and parents are encouraged to attend the final session.

Children who present as picky/fussy eaters, children with a beige or bland diet.

Children who have difficulty swallowing will not be suitable to attend this training.

Food art of a farm with crops and farm animals
Food art of a beach and sea with marine life.
Food art

FREE Online Webinars

The SEND Occupational Therapy deliver FREE online training webinars to support early years settings in Birmingham. The webinars cover a variety of topics from sensory tots to motor tots to support daily activities. The training is for private, voluntary, independent (PVI) settings and Local Authority school nurseries in Birmingham. This training is delivered once per term virtually and provides an overview of how you can support children within your setting.

Training Information

Please visit our Eventbrite page for a full list of our webinar topics which cover:

  • Sensory Tots: Sensory Friendly Settings for Birmingham Early Years Settings

  • Classroom-Based Equipment for Birmingham Schools

  • Sensory Friendly Settings For Birmingham Schools

  • Preparing for Secondary School for Birmingham Families

  • Motor Tots: Motor Development for Birmingham Early Years Settings

  • Handwriting for Birmingham Schools

  • Sensory & Anxiety for Birmingham Schools

  • Moving on from Secondary School for Birmingham Families

  • Motor Tots: Developing Independence for Birmingham Early Years Settings

  • DIY Independence Skills for Birmingham Schools

  • Motor Tots: OT Strategies for Birmingham Early Years Settings

  • Sensory Circuits at Home For Birmingham Families

  • Preparing for Secondary School Webinar for Birmingham Families

Booking

To book onto our FREE virtual webinars please visit our Eventbrite page.

This event is for professionals working within private, voluntary, independent (PVI) settings and mainstream early years settings in Birmingham.

Please ensure you answer all pre-requisite questions, if these are not completed fully, your booking may be refunded.

If you have any further questions, please see our frequently asked questions tab or email us on: bchc.sendtherapy@nhs.net  

Please see the ‘booking’ tab for more information.

Yes, you will be sent a certificate after attending the training.

Yes, but please all register individually.

When you have attended the training, you will be sent a training booklet with the content that is discussed at the training along with resources you can use to the email that you provided upon booking

This may be if you are not a staff member from a private, voluntary, independent setting (PVI)/ mainstream school in Birmingham

Ready, Steady, Reception

Ready, Steady, Reception is a FREE training for Early Years settings whereby staff will be supported by a member of SEND Occupational Therapy to help you set up a group within your setting to support the development of communication and interaction, pre-writing skills, toileting, dressing and mealtimes.

Training Information

SEND Occupational Therapy delivers training within schools in Birmingham. Ready, Steady, Reception is a FREE training that is available for both nurseries and reception classes. Staff will be supported by a member of SEND Occupational Therapy to help you set up a group within your setting to support the development of communication and interaction, pre-writing skills, toileting, dressing and mealtimes.

Following attendance at the introduction session, you will be provided with a FREE resource pack with ideas and activities to support your setting to set up Ready. Steady, Reception Groups within your setting.

Booking

To book onto our FREE Ready, Steady, Reception training, you can email us to express your interest at bchc.sendtherapy@nhs.net. We will require the following information via email:

  1. Full name of the staff member who will be completing the group
  2. Name of setting
  3. Email address for your delegate

*Please note, you will need to provide the information above to be able to attend the training

FAQs

Please see the ‘booking’ tab for more information.

Yes you will be sent a certificate after attending the training.

One member of staff is able to attend the training once per academic year.

You may wish to bring a pen and paper to make notes during the introduction session. Schools need to provide the equipment/resources for the sessions planned.

When you have attended the introduction training, you will be sent a training booklet with the content that is discussed at the training along with resources you can use to the email that you provided upon booking. This will also include information for parents to implement.

This will run for 6 weeks, with the first week being online and the remaining 5 weeks are in-person.

Teddy bear seated next to red clothing.
Toilet sequencing chart.
Lentils and cutlery