All schools within Blackpool are allocated a dedicated Advisory Teacher who works collaboratively with SENCOs, school leaders and staff to identify priorities, plan support, and develop inclusive practice across the setting.
Advisory Teachers and SEND Advisory Officers provide strategic advice, guidance and practical support in a range of areas, including:
- SENCO supervision and professional support
- Development and implementation of the Graduated Approach across all areas of SEND
- Supporting the identification and assessment of pupils with SEND
- Advising on SEND provision planning and effective responses to pupil needs
- Supporting SENCOs with SEND action planning, provision mapping, assessments and interventions
- Delivery of staff meetings, professional development and training
- Identifying and addressing emerging themes and trends relating to SEND within schools
- Supporting priority year groups, classes or cohorts through observations, learning walks and recommendations to enhance learning environments and classroom practice
The team offers specialist support across the following areas of need:
- Communication and Interaction
- Cognition and Learning
- Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH), including trauma-informed approaches
- Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) and Assistive Technology
In addition to providing SEND-focused advice and guidance, Advisory Teacher link meetings offer valuable professional support for SENCOs. This collaborative approach helps promote consistency across Blackpool schools, fostering a shared understanding of SEND, effective identification of needs, and the use of assessment to inform high-quality provision and intervention.
Blackpool's SEND support team training offer to schools and colleges.
If you would like to book any of the following training for your setting please email sendsupport@blackpool.gov.uk
Training offer
| Training | Area of SEND | Cost |
|---|
| New to SENCO role |
General SEND training |
Free |
| TA use of the graduated approach toolkit |
General SEND training |
Free |
| ECT SEND training |
General SEND training |
Free |
| Elklan Let’s Talk Level 1 for TAs (for 5 to 11-year-olds) |
Communication and interaction |
£100 pp |
| Supporting reluctant talkers in the classroom |
Communication and interaction |
Free |
| Neuroinclusive Education Network – making sense of autism |
Communication and interaction |
Free |
| Neuroinclusive Education Network – additional modules |
Communication and interaction |
Free |
| The use of visuals in the classroom |
Communication and interaction |
Free |
| BLANK levels of questioning |
Communication and interaction |
Free |
| Speech production difficulties workshop |
Communication and interaction |
Free |
| Language difficulties workshop |
Communication and interaction |
Free |
| Communication difficulties workshop |
Communication and interaction |
Free |
| Cygnet for parents |
Communication and interaction |
Free |
| Active spellings |
Cognition and learning |
Free |
| Colourful semantics |
Cognition and learning |
Free |
| Precision teaching |
Cognition and learning |
Free |
| Adaptive teaching |
Cognition and learning |
Free |
| Identifying and supporting children and young people with mathematical difficulties |
Cognition and learning |
Free |
| Dyspraxia awareness |
Cognition and learning |
Free |
| Trauma and attachment aware schools |
SEMH |
Free |
| Anxiety in the classroom |
SEMH |
Free |
| Behaviour is communication |
SEMH |
Free |
| Nurture Circles - nurturing trust, attachment and regulation through play |
SEMH |
Free |
| Using therapeutic story telling with children |
SEMH |
Free |
| Picture your feelings – exploring emotions through images |
SEMH |
Free |
| Recognising and responding to sensory seeking behaviours in the classroom |
Physical and sensory |
Free |
| An introduction to assistive Technology |
Physical and sensory |
Free
|
Course for parents
The team can run any of these training sessions in your setting for parents you think would find this beneficial.
Courses for parents
| Training | Cost |
|---|
| Cygnet |
Free |
| Recognising and responding to sensory seeking behaviours |
Free |
| Dealing with children’s anxiety |
Free |