Online Learning for Practitioners

Falkirk Educational Psychology Service is at the early stages of developing online learning content for our practitioners. Please feel free to provide us with feedback at educationalpsychologyservice@falkirk.gov.uk. Please return to these pages as we increase our offer.

We recognise that individuals will be learning at their own pace and having differing amounts of prior knowledge that when considering live training can be more easily adapted to. We are using the level descriptions to try to assist individuals pick online courses and learning which is relevant more easily.

Informed Practice

Getting It Right for Every Child (GIRFEC)

GIRFEC – an overview (June 2022). This is a 30 minute introduction to GIRFEC provided by Louise McClatchey, Educational Psychologist. This consists of 1) audio PowerPoint, 2) a draft copy of Falkirk’s Child and Young Person’s Integrated Assessment and Plan and 3) useful links. This can be viewed by anyone working as part of a team around the child/young person or as a whole team CPD activity.

Understanding Behaviour. Duration ~20 minutes.

This is a short introductory module based on the Understanding Behaviour in Context workshop. It provides an overview of reframing behaviour and several relationship based practice approaches to supporting children’s behaviour and emotional development

Introduction to Getting it Right for Children and young people who Experience Anxiety

This is an introductory online session to understanding and responding to anxiety experienced by children and young people. The content is also of use to adults in supporting their own mental health. The session is available and recommended for all staff working across early years, primary and secondary Falkirk Council establishments.
This session is delivered in 3 parts and is designed to be completed in the following order:
Part 1: Understanding anxiety (approximately 15 minutes, depending on time taken for 1 activity).
Part 2: Understanding anxiety continued (approximately 25 minutes).
Part 3: Responding to anxiety (approximately 1 hour including activities)
This session is brought to you as part of ongoing work on the Anxiety Toolkit, which is currently in a pilot phase. The session will also be of use to staff involved in the pilot of the anxiety toolkit as revision of the work already undertaken. Further information will be made available to education establishments over the course of session 2020-2021.

Skilled Practice

There are multiple health and wellbeing resources for staff available on this Blog. There are links to reading resources, sources of support and webinars. Navigating this and becoming familiar with what works best to safeguard and respond to wellbeing and mental health is recommended and should take at least one day. If we are to recommend one course in particular it is the Covid-19 Psychological First Aid module via Tura Learn – the portal used by NES, NHS Education for Scotland.

The Low Arousal Approach and The Star Analysis online version – Duration ~ 50 minutes.
This module introduces the low arousal approach to managing challenging behaviour based on the work of Bo Elvin, Clinical Psychologist and the team at Studio III. It looks in detail at the cycle of arousal and focuses on the role of the adult in managing the challenging behaviour without escalating the situation.
The second part of the module introduces the STAR Analysis as an example of a functional analysis framework for making sense of behaviour.

Learning Modules – see page for more description

Enhanced Practice

Compassionate and Connected Communities. Online learning has been developed for participants of the CCC Course 2019/20. Individuals have been invited directly. If you have not received your invite please contact the course facilitators by email.

Anxiety Toolkit. Falkirk EPS have developed the Anxiety Toolkit with partner agencies and schools and early years establishments in the authority. From August 2020, all establishments will be invited to access online content that will enhance their assessment processes in relation to anxiety. Schools and establishments who have participated in the development of the Anxiety Toolkit will be invited to collaborate further in the piloting of interventions to support children and young people with anxiety. see Anxiety Toolkit section

Making Your Programmes Successful: Enhancing the impact staff development has on practice. Online learning has been developed for practitioners completing this programme for session 2019/20. Individuals have been invited directly. If you have not received your invite, please contact the course facilitators.

Expertise

Fix it Folder. This is an Augmentative and Alternative Communication approach to Restorative Conversations. Several short modules of 10-15 min illustrating how to use the Fix-it-Folder Resource, with links to the resource.

Recommended online professional learning modules from other providers

Dyslexia and Inclusive Practice OLCreate: Dyslexia Scotland (open.edu) The 3 modules on dyslexia and inclusive practice have been refreshed and updated and are available through the link below. Developed in partnership with Scottish Government, Education Scotland, Dyslexia Scotland and the Open University these 3 incremental modules provide practitioners, managers and local authority staff with a deeper understanding of the Scottish context for inclusion and dyslexia.

Introduction to Autism and Inclusive Practice OLCreate: Education Scotland – Inclusion and Equalities (open.edu) This introductory module aims to support to develop an awareness of what autism is, its impact and how it can be supported within an inclusive school community.

Inclusion in Practice: The CIRCLE Framework: Primary OLCreate: Education Scotland – Inclusion and Equalities (open.edu) The CIRCLE Framework of Inclusion materials have been adapted by Education Scotland in consultation with Edinburgh City and Queen Margaret University and incorporates the 2021 edition of the manual/resource This module aims to support class room practitioners: (i) Understanding of how to promote effective inclusive practice using the CIRCLE Framework of inclusion (ii) Awareness of how to promote a learner centred approach where learners are listened to and involved in the management of their own learning (iii) Awareness of tools to support the documentation of evidence of assessment and input.

Augmentative and Alternative Communication CALL Scotland has produced a series of 2 online learning modules on Augmentative and Alternative Communication accessed AAC Modules (aacscotland.org.uk)

Preterm babies

https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/helm/dev/prism/index.html

Supporting children born preterm in school – link to a project partnership by University of Leicester, University of Nottingham, Loughborough University, University College London, and Ulster University. The website contains five online modules for education staff and can be completed in approximately one hour. The modules are:

What is preterm birth?
Educational outcomes following preterm birth
Cognitive and motor development following preterm birth
Behavioural, social and emotional outcomes following preterm birth
How can educational professionals support preterm children