Our hugely popular AI and Data Literacy 4-day courses are kicking off again from September, for their fifth and possibly final year!! (We’re awaiting the decision on our project funding continuing…cross your fingers for us!)

What previous cohorts have said about the course:

• “I’ll struggle to find more enjoyable, worthwhile and welcoming CPD!”
• “To ALL teachers (not just for CS teachers!): This is a really engaging and worthwhile course to attend. I learned a lot – probably the best professional learning course I have been on.”
• “Whether you know anything about data/AI literacy or not, come on this course and you will be amazed! Your mind will be opened to a new way of engaging your pupils across all areas of the curriculum.”

As part of our funding conditions, we have four places reserved for SBC teachers and/or senior leaders (two Primary, two Secondary), so please do take them up or they will be released to other local authorities! This means the course is free to attend (catering included) and we will offer 50% of the cost of getting classroom cover.

The Secondary course dates are:

• Wednesday 16th September 2026
• Thursday 8th October 2026
• Tuesday 3rd November 2026
• Wednesday 2nd December 2026

For details and to apply for the Secondary course visit https://dataschools.education/ai-and-data-literacy-courses-for-secondary-2026/. Teachers in all subject areas welcome!

The Primary course dates are:

• Thursday 24th September 2026
• Wednesday 18th November 2026
• Tuesday 26th January 2027
• Wednesday 17th March 2027

For details and to apply for the Primary course visit https://dataschools.education/ai-and-data-literacy-courses-for-primary-2026-2027/

All sessions will be in-person and held in the Edinburgh Futures Institute, 9am-3pm, though arrangements can be made for virtual attendance on a case by case basis, just get in touch. As we are kicking off soon, please apply as soon as possible if you’re interested! Feel free to reach out to Jasmeen (jasmeen.kanwal@ed.ac.uk) if you have any questions.

We are delighted to be able to share Education Scotland’s anticipated Professional Learning offer for 2026/27.

This year’s professional learning brochure has been designed to be more accessible and easier to navigate, helping you as practitioners and leaders of learning quickly identify professional learning opportunities that meet your needs. Please note that the professional learning offer outlined in the brochure is indicative and subject to final confirmation.

As the brochure is hosted through a live link, it will be updated regularly for the remainder of 2026. This ensures that you can bookmark this, and we will ensure the information remains current and that new professional learning opportunities can be added as they become available.

Please click here to access the brochure

Training and live lessons calendar 26/27

Please find attached the information for our next academic year’s training and live lessons.

Please remind your schools that our lessons and training are designed with LfS and Target 2030 in mind, to support them on their journey to becoming Sustainable Learning Settings.

And do keep in mind that we would be delighted to offer tailored support, both in-person when possible and/or online, like we just did with Angus Council where we were joined by practitioners in Arbroath and discussed all things LfS, Sustainable Learning Settings and how Climate Action Schools can support.

Would you like us to deliver something similar? Just drop me an email!

The following 2 courses are available as a pre-recorded video via the SNSA Website via the Help section of the Assessment portal the supporting Powerpoint and Script is also available. There is unfortunately no ability to provide a link to these due to the security on the Assessment Portal. These recorded webinars are available for all staff registered on SEEMIS who have a SNSA username and password. See Image below:

‘An Introduction to NSA’.  L.A, National Webinars and Recorded Webinar
This course is for anyone involved in the delivery of national standardised assessments to children and young people in primary or secondary schools who wish to understand the purpose of the assessments and gain familiarity with the functionality of the assessment platform. It also highlights examples of good practice in administering the assessments and provides advice and practical information for example, on the ability to stop the assessments or take a break, guidance regarding the timing of the assessments and assigning out-of-stage assessments.  

‘A Closer Look at NSA in an ASN and EAL Context’    L.A, National Webinars and Recorded Webinar
This course will include content that is relevant when working with children and young people who require additional support with their learning or for whom English is an additional language. It contains details of platform functionality that can be used to support accessibility as well as practical advice on using NSA with children and young people who require additional support with their learning or have English as an additional language (EAL).   

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)

Please read all the email details fully, information on how to book is noted below.

I have your name on our distribution list wishing to participate in ASIST training.

You need to book through a link to the national portal (which I will provide below).  All bookings are on a first come first serve basis and we are unable to influence or prioritise who gets allocated places.  Once all places have been taken the portal will tell you there are no longer spaces available on this course.

We have 2 courses planned, please be sure to click on the link to book for the dates/venue of course you wish to attend, you cannot hold places on both courses (we have such a large waiting list), if you book onto more than one course your place will be cancelled on one.

This course is offered to you free of charge if you are over the age of 16 and work or live within the Scottish Borders, as we have such a large waiting list of people wanting to participate, can we please ask if you need to cancel please do so in a timely manner to allow us to try and fill any spaces.

Dates:

18 November 2026, 9am-3pm (Inspire, Tweedbank)

or

24 March 2027, 9am-3pm (Inspire, Tweedbank)

This course will cover:

• the development of nurturing approaches
• attachment theory
• the 6 nurture principles
• the impact of trauma and adversity on brain development
• creating a nurturing environment
• setting up a targeted nurture group provision.

Aims of the course

• Develop understanding of how to take forward a whole school nurturing approach
• Gain knowledge on the theories which underpin a nurturing approach
• Learn about how the use of a nurturing approach can reduce the impact of adverse childhood experience
• Use understanding to put the nurturing principles into practice
• Reflect on their own current practice and share good practice with colleagues
• Develop strategies to use in an establishment to support children and young people using a nurturing approach
• Learn how to work within a nurture group

Target Audience:

Staff looking to set up a targeted nurture group, or with an interest in whole school nurturing approaches.

Bookings can be made via Business World.