Hirstwood Training

Hirstwood Training We are a small but enthusiastic training team encouraging staff to provide effective sensory learning & communication opportunities anywhere!

23/09/2026

What’s coming up at Hirstwood Training? 👀📅

We’ve got a packed autumn programme ahead, with practical SEND training covering sensory learning, behaviour, regulation, curriculum, play, learning environments and much more.

Here’s what’s on the way:

🌈 2–31 October
The Sensory Festival

🔄 Transitions: Reducing Anxiety and Supporting Behaviour
With Carol Allen & Chris Barson

🧠 21 October
PICA: Understanding & Responding
With Chris Barson🗓️

6 November
Making the Day Make Sense: Sequenced Learning in an SLD/ASD Classroom
With Nick Sheffield🏫

13 November
Starting Strong in SEND: Practical, Sensory and Inclusive Approaches
In person in Central London🌍

18 November
Is Your Learning Environment Inclusive? Neurodiversity and Universal Design for Learning
With Carol Allen & Chris Barson💭

19 November
Understanding Distressed Behaviour Through a Sensory Lens
With Clive Smith🧩

20 November
Making the Day Make Sense: Sequenced Learning in a PMLD Classroom
With Nick Sheffield⚖️

26 November
Getting Started with Self-Regulation for Neurodivergent Learners
With Chris Barson📚

27 November
Curriculum: Check, Consider, Change! Building a Coherent, Engaging and Meaningful Curriculum for Learning🎈

4 December
Let’s Get Playful! Embedding Play Across the Curriculum

Whether you’re looking for fresh classroom strategies, deeper understanding or practical ideas you can start using straight away, there’s plenty to choose from this term.

👉 Explore the upcoming programme and find the training that’s right for you:
https://buff.ly/OxYzruD

22/06/2026

✨ Introducing Sensory Sparks ✨

A new way to bring short, practical sensory learning into your school week.

Sensory Sparks is designed for busy teachers, TAs, support staff and school teams who want useful ideas they can actually put into practice — without needing hours of planning.

Each Sensory Spark brings together:
🎥 10-minute video CPD
💡 10-minute expert insights
🃏 Ready-to-use activity cards
🧰 Practical sensory resources
🌱 Sensory shoestring ideas

Watch. Try. Use. Listen. Make. Reflect.
A full year of sensory support, one spark at a time!

Sensory Sparks is coming soon from Hirstwood Training.

21/06/2026

We’ve got something new sparking away…

At Hirstwood Training, we’re always looking for practical ways to help educators create meaningful sensory learning experiences.

And very soon, we’ll be sharing something new.

Something full of ideas, inspiration and little sparks to support schools, settings and services with practical sensory ideas, creative inspiration and simple approaches that can make a real difference.

More coming very soon…

Writing: write from the start!📅 19 June 2026 | 9.00 am – 12.00 pm🎤 With Carol Allen🔗 Book here: https://buff.ly/Ah3hlOTS...
15/06/2026

Writing: write from the start!

📅 19 June 2026 | 9.00 am – 12.00 pm
🎤 With Carol Allen
🔗 Book here: https://buff.ly/Ah3hlOT

Session 3: Targets to facilitate and support (Part A) ✅

Writing has structure and form. Even at the earliest stages, we can highlight key elements so learners build strong foundations for later work.

In this session, Carol focuses on two essential areas:

🧱 The craft of writing
The building blocks that make writing possible, before letter formation

🧭 Writing conventions
The “rules” that help writing make sense to other people (so marks carry meaning beyond the moment)

Book today and strengthen early writing foundations with clear, teachable targets.

Writing: write from the start!📅 19 June 2026 | 9.00 am – 12.00 pm🎤 With Carol Allen🔗 Book here: https://buff.ly/Ah3hlOTS...
11/06/2026

Writing: write from the start!

📅 19 June 2026 | 9.00 am – 12.00 pm
🎤 With Carol Allen
🔗 Book here: https://buff.ly/Ah3hlOT

Session 2: Purpose, genre and form ✅

Writing isn’t just “making marks”. It’s about capturing thoughts and ideas and sharing them with others.

In this session, Carol explores how purpose shapes writing from the earliest stages, so learners understand that writing does something real.

You’ll explore practical ways to build four broad writing purposes:
🧰 Functional writing: writing to do things (labels, lists, signs, choices)
📖 Narrative writing: writing to tell stories (events, characters, sequences)
🗂️ Informational writing: writing to share facts (about me, topics, interests)
✨ Poetic writing: writing for expression (sounds, patterns, feelings, playful language)

Book today and start building meaningful early writing through purpose.

🙌 Empower your unsung heroes!Teaching Assistants are at the heart of special education. With the right CPD, they can hav...
09/06/2026

🙌 Empower your unsung heroes!

Teaching Assistants are at the heart of special education. With the right CPD, they can have an even greater impact in the classroom.

Give your TAs the recognition—and training—they deserve with The Big Bundle.

🎯 Give your TAs the tools to thrive—start their CPD today!

👉 https://buff.ly/lFssPGf

Getting Started with Self-RegulationFor neurodivergent learners📅 25 June 2026 | 9.30 am – 12.30 pm🎤 With Chris Barson🔗 B...
09/06/2026

Getting Started with Self-Regulation
For neurodivergent learners

📅 25 June 2026 | 9.30 am – 12.30 pm
🎤 With Chris Barson
🔗 Book here: https://buff.ly/IRoYTpl

Not just theory. You’ll leave with resources. ✅

This session includes a breakout activity to create practical tools you can use back in your setting, plus a round-up of helpful supports and a Q&A with Chris.

You’ll leave with:
🧰 Practical resources built during the breakout
🧠 Clear understanding of self-regulation and overload (meltdown, shutdown, burnout, inertia)
🛠️ Low-arousal, sensory and co-regulation strategies you can use straight away
🧭 The 4 Ds framework to guide decisions in the moment
❓ Time to ask your real questions in the Q&A

Book today and leave with tools you can implement immediately.

Getting Started with Self-RegulationFor neurodivergent learners📅 25 June 2026 | 9.30 am – 12.30 pm🎤 With Chris Barson🔗 B...
08/06/2026

Getting Started with Self-Regulation
For neurodivergent learners

📅 25 June 2026 | 9.30 am – 12.30 pm
🎤 With Chris Barson
🔗 Book here: https://buff.ly/IRoYTpl

Why attend?
Because you want to leave with usable resources, not just notes. ✅

This session includes a breakout activity where you build a mini-plan or simple activity on a theme (sensory regulation, emotions, problem solving, self-advocacy, mindfulness/cognitive strategies, or a calm kit). You’ll also get a tools round-up and Q&A.

You’ll take away:
👥 A practical resource from the breakout plus ideas shared by other groups
🧰 Low-tech and high-tech tools that fit the learner (not one-size-fits-all)
🤝 Guidance on introducing tools supportively (not as rewards or punishments)
🔁 How to avoid over-reliance and build routines that prevent escalation
✅ A list of options to try straight away

Book today and leave with practical tools and routines you can embed in your setting.

Autism: Why So Sensory? A Twilight!📅 10 June 2026 | 4 pm – 5 pm🎤 With Chris Barson🔗 Book here: https://buff.ly/V0foo8iWh...
08/06/2026

Autism: Why So Sensory? A Twilight!

📅 10 June 2026 | 4 pm – 5 pm
🎤 With Chris Barson
🔗 Book here: https://buff.ly/V0foo8i

When you understand sensory needs, your response changes. ✅

This twilight session helps you decode sensory actions so you can support autistic learners with more confidence in the moment and plan environments that reduce overload.

You’ll take away:
🔍 The “why” behind sensory behaviours (seeking, avoiding, coping, regulating)
🌿 How sensory differences can affect wellbeing, focus, and communication
🧠 Ways to interpret sensory behaviours as information, not “misbehaviour”
🛠️ Practical tools and strategies to support regulation and engagement in your setting
🏫 Simple classroom adjustments that can reduce sensory pressure

Reserve your place today and strengthen sensory-informed practice.

08/06/2026

Writing: write from the start!

📅 19 June 2026 | 9.00 am – 12.00 pm
🎤 With Carol Allen
🔗 Book here: https://buff.ly/ItDe6ie

Who should attend? The people who build writing into everyday practice. ✅

Ideal for:
👩‍🏫 Teachers and classroom practitioners
🧑‍🏫 Teaching assistants and learning support staff
🧭 SENCOs and literacy/SEND leads
👥 Teams who want shared early writing approaches across adults and across days

If you’re supporting learners with autism and/or severe and complex learning needs, this session helps you create consistent early writing opportunities before letter formation.

Book today and build stronger, shared early writing practice.

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