An introduction to the BSL 1+2 pack and its contents. Staff will be given the opportunity to explore resources and plan how it can be used in their setting.
Aims – to become familiar with BSL 1+2 pack. To feel more confident in the delivery of BSL. Opportunity for professional dialogue and questions around BSL. To become more deaf aware in your practice.
Target Audience – all interested staff
Online, 16 September 2025, 3:45pm until 5pm
Bookings can be made through Business World
Leadership & Mentoring | SAMEE
SAMEE’s Leadership and Mentoring programme is underpinned by current research on the experiences of BME teachers in Scotland (Scottish Government, 2019; Mohammed, 2020). Minority ethnic teachers continue to be under represented in promoted posts and leadership.
This programme is designed to provide the tools, resources and support network to enable BME professionals to:
Enhance personal and professional wellness
Define their professional identity
Be cognisant of their leadership potential
Undertake impactful mentoring and coaching
Navigate critical conversations
Develop a sense of self-efficacy
The programme will begin in September 2025 and will be delivered over a six-month period.
To apply for the programme, fill in the application form below and email it to: administration@samee.org.uk
Please follow the link below to explore Education Scotland Professional Learning service for 2025/26.
Education Scotland professional learning service 2025 2026 v1 June 2025.pptx
Important information for School Leadership Teams
We welcome enquiries for bespoke face to face input from schools or clusters as we continue to strengthen our cluster working model and partnerships.
Inset day offer: Tuesday 19th August 2025
All other cluster-based offers for Tuesday 19th August are being agreed and organised directly with IWS teaching staff.
| Tuesday 19th August 2025
11.00 – 12.30 |
SBC Includes: Introduction to Nurturing approaches
This session will be based on the Introduction to Nurturing Approaches SBC Video, facilitated as a live online session. |
Target audience:
Induction opportunity for individual staff new to SBC |
Delivered via TEAMS – Link below |
| Session name | Outcomes | Additional info | BW Dates | To Book |
|
Conflict Resolution Skills (running over 4 sessions) |
Exploring
1) What is conflict and how does it escalate? 2) Active listening skills 3) Working with pupils on conflict resolution 4) Supporting pupils to develop conflict resolution skills |
· Mainstream ANA training offer, running over 4 sessions.
· Attendance at all sessions is required. |
5 September 2025
12 September 2025 26 September 2025 3 October 2025 All sessions 9.15am – 10.00am |
Booking through Business World
For more info:
|
| CIRCLE toolkit
|
Themes can include:
· To understand the context of CIRCLE. · To become familiar with CIRCLE Inclusive Classroom Scale (CICS). · To reflect on how to use this in your context. · Introduce Circle Participation Scale (CPS). · Explore how to use the CPS to support inclusive practice. · Identify next steps in integrating the CIRCLE tools (CICS & CPS) into your practice. |
· Whole school approach
· CAT sessions
Access to a paper or digital copy (downloadable from https://www.thirdspace.scot/circle/education-resources/ ) of the document will be required to fully participate in the session. |
· Leadership team consultations available.
· Self-serve options available. · Further support options on request. |
For more info or for bespoke group bookings:
Email Emma Auty eauty@scotborders.gov.uk or Doug Crabbe Douglas.Crabbe@scotborders.gov.uk |
| Restore and Repair | Themes will include:
· effective communication · relationships or friendships · empathy and understanding for another person’s perspective · respect (this could mean a sense of security, self-confidence, self-respect, or dignity) · understanding the impact of our own behaviour on others · repairing harm |
· Available for Whole school / Cluster CAT sessions
· Available on BW for individuals |
26th Nov 2025 (Wed)
4 – 5.30pm |
Booking through Business World
For more info or for bespoke group bookings: Email Doug Crabbe |
| Expectations and Consequences | Themes will include:
· Expectations, structures and boundaries · The importance of values and language · Consequences – positive, natural and logical · The principles and learning behind logical consequences |
· Available for Whole school /Cluster CAT sessions
· Available on BW for individuals
|
30th Sept 2025 (Tue)
4 – 5.30pm |
Booking through Business World
For more info or for bespoke bookings: Email Doug Crabbe |
| Scripting: Confident and Positive Responses | Using simple, consistent clear and positive language to promote regulation and de-escalation | · Available for Whole school /Cluster CAT sessions
· Available on BW for individuals |
5th March 2026 (Thurs)
4.00 – 5.30pm |
Booking through Business World
For more info or for bespoke bookings: Email Paddy Burke pburke@scotborders.gov.uk |
| Understanding and responding to behaviours including de-escalation skills | 1. Understand where behaviour comes from
2. Identifying signs of dysregulation 3. How to support the children we work with and each other |
· Available for Whole school / Cluster CAT sessions
· Available on BW for individuals
|
16th Sept 2025 (Tues)
4.00 – 5.30 |
Booking through Business World
For more info or for bespoke bookings: Email Doug Crabbe |
| Supporting Beginner Bilingual learners in the Mainstream Setting
(Primary and Secondary) |
To raise awareness of the specific learning needs of Beginner bilingual learners in the primary and secondary setting.
To provide an insight into second language acquisition and how this impacts on English language acquisition. To look at strategies to help Beginner bilingual learners access the curriculum. |
· Available for Whole school / Cluster CAT sessions
· Available on BW for individuals
|
Thursday 2nd October 2025
4 – 5.30pm |
Booking through Business World
For more info or for bespoke bookings: Liz Scarpa gw09scarpaliz@glowmail.org.uk or Jane Bryant |
| Supporting Established Bilingual Learners in the Mainstream Setting
(Primary and Secondary) |
To raise awareness of the specific learning needs of Established bilingual learners in the primary and secondary setting. To provide an insight into second language acquisition and how this impacts on English language acquisition. To look at strategies to help Established bilingual learners access the curriculum | · Available for Whole school / Cluster CAT sessions
· Available on BW for individuals |
Thurs 9th October 2025
4 – 5.30pm
|
Booking through Business World
For more info or for bespoke bookings: Liz Scarpa gw09scarpaliz@glowmail.org.uk or Jane Bryant |
| Supporting Bilingual pupils in the Early Years Setting
(Early Years) |
To raise awareness of the specific learning needs of Established bilingual learners in the Early Years setting. To provide an insight into second language acquisition and how this impacts on English language acquisition. To look at strategies to help bilingual learners access the Early Years curriculum | Early Years staff | Tues 28th October 2025
4 – 5.30pm |
Booking through Business World
For more info or for bespoke bookings: Liz Scarpa gw09scarpaliz@glowmail.org.uk or Jane Bryant |
| Supporting New Scots in schools | Themes will include:
To build staff knowledge and understanding of the rights of these learners and consider how to support them to integrate into our schools. This session will address the journeys made by these young people to reach the Scottish Borders, the legal framework under which UASC have arrived in our authority, their experiences including trauma and strategies for how they can best be supported in schools. |
· Available for Whole school / Cluster CAT sessions
· Available on BW for individuals |
Wed 5th November 2025
4 – 5.30pm |
Booking through Business World
For more info or for bespoke bookings: Liz Scarpa gw09scarpaliz@glowmail.org.uk or Jane Bryant |
| Reframing Pupils Positively | Using a simple person-centred planning tool to reframe pupils positively. This session also explores the impact of shame on self-esteem. | · Available for Whole school / Cluster CAT sessions
· Available on BW for individuals |
On Request or self delivery
1.5 hour session |
For more info or for bespoke bookings: Email Emma Auty |
| Nurture Principle 2 Principles into practice: Developing and understanding ‘The Environment as a safe base’ | To develop a deeper understanding of the Nurture Principle ‘The environment offers a safe base’.
To understand how the physical environment, social environment and structures and routines support an environment being a safe base.
Explore practical ideas to develop good practice in this Nurture principle. |
· Available for Whole school / Cluster CAT sessions
· Available on BW for individuals
Attendees should have engaged with the video session prior to this session. Nurture principle 2: The environment offers a safe base |
Tues 10th March 2026
4.00 – 5.30pm |
Email
Caroline Robinson |
| Nurture Principle 5 Principles into practice: Developing and understanding ‘All behaviour is communication’ |
Extend understanding of the Nurture Principle ‘All behaviour is communication’
Learn practical strategies to support this Nurture Principle and understand how and why they work. |
· Available for Whole school / Cluster CAT sessions
· Available on BW for individuals Attendees should have engaged with the video session prior to this session: Nurture Principle 5: All behaviour is communication |
Wed 21st Jan 2026
4.00 – 5.30pm |
Email Doug Crabbe |
| Establishing a ‘Circle time’ approach | Understand the benefits and opportunities offered through a ‘Circle time’ approach
‘Circle time’ promotes: · Emotional Literacy · Sense of Belonging · Stress Reduction · Confidence Building · Communication Skills · Empathy and Understanding · Conflict Resolution · Teamwork and Cooperation · Respect for Diversity |
· This is a modelled offer delivered over three class-based sessions and coaching support to implement this post-delivery.
Find out more about Circle time https://research.edgehill.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/36940775/58914_227363_1_PB.pdf
|
TBA with Caroline | Email
Caroline Robinson |
| ***COMING SOON***
Building Racial Literacy |
TBC | · TBC | TBC | TBC |
| Nurture and Nurturing Approaches – SBC Video links | SBC Launch Pad > Core Business > SBC Includes > IWS > Relational Approaches > Nurturing Approaches > PL > Watch | · Whole school approach
· Catch up for staff induction |
Flexible | Self-delivery
7 x 1.5 hour sessions available |
| Recommended Professional reading list
Inclusion, inclusive practice, nurture and nurturing approaches |
The Trauma and Attachment-Aware Classroom: A Practical Guide to Supporting Children Who Have Encountered Trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences by Rebecca Brooks
The School Mental Health Response Handbook: Practical Strategies for Educators and Support Staff by Tina Rae and Ali D’Amario
Implementing Restorative Practice in Schools: A Practical Guide to Transforming School Communities by Margaret Thorsborne and Peta Blood
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IWS contacts
| Name | Cluster/s | |
| Bilingual Support Teachers | ||
| Jane Bryant | Hawick and Peebles | jane.bryant@scotborders.gov.uk |
| Jane Clancey | Galashiels and Selkirk | jane.clancey@scotborders.gov.uk |
| Liz Scarpa | Berwickshire, Earlston, Eyemouth,
Kelso and Jedburgh |
lscarpa@scotborders.gov.uk |
| Outreach Teachers | ||
| Laura Anderson
Kate Riddell |
Galashiels and Selkirk | gw08andersonlaura@glow.sch.uk
kate.riddell@scotborders.gov.uk |
| Nicola Brown | Eyemouth and Berwickshire | Nicola.Brown@scotborders.gov.uk |
| Paddy Burke | Hawick | pburke@scotborders.gov.uk |
| TBC | Peebles | eauty@scotborders.gov.uk |
| Peter Wood | Kelso and Jedburgh | peter.wood@scotborders.gov.uk |
| Sally Veitch | Earlston | sally.veitch@scotborders.gov.uk |
Evolve Excursions training – teacher webinar
Edufocus, the company that run the Evolve system, are hosting an Intro to Evolve webinar for teaching staff on Tuesday 17th June at 0930, which will be repeated on 17th September. This 30-minute session will help with basics such as logging in, where to find things, using the Help Centre, etc., saving time and building confidence in using the Evolve system. The booking link is: https://tinyurl.com/2ubn8utd
PLEASE NOTE – this is an Edufocus delivered webinar, not an SBC delivered webinar. For any specific SBC enquiries, please contact Outdoor Education Officer Gordon Smith Gordon.Smith@scotborders.gov.uk
Participants will learn what Oracy is and why it is important, explore resources which can be used to support Oracy development, learn about different strategies which are effective in teaching vocabulary development, focus on which vocabulary should be prioritised, which skills are important when learning new vocabulary and learn about resources which support vocabulary development.
The Language and Communication service will share resources, strategies and theory around the development of Oracy skills and vocabulary.
4 June, 4-5pm
Bookings can be made through Business World
Susan Jordan, Child Protection Education Officer will be hosting a Child Protection Annual Update session for all staff who have been unable to attend a session this year. The session will take place on 4 June at 4:15pm.
It is mandatory for all education staff to complete the Child Protection Update on an annual basis so we would ask that any staff who have not already attended one of these sessions try to ensure they can attend this opportunity.
The link to join the session is below:
This Scotland wide Playfest is an exciting opportunity to hear about effective Play Pedagogy practice from authorities across Scotland, including Scottish Borders. The Playfest is running from the 9th – 12th June and includes presentations from teachers across Early, First and Second level. Further information on the content of each session and sign-up instructions can be found on the poster.
To book your place click here
Early Years
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07853 836 229 | |
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kirsteen@cnag.org | |
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www.parant.org.uk |
Further information regarding the Froebel in Childhood Practice course is available on our website: Froebel Courses
Places available on the Summer or Academic Year courses but please note that these courses would have to be self funded.
The Summer course is delivered in Edinburgh over 5 consecutive days in July. This course will run between Friday 18th and Wednesday 23 July, with no teaching session on Sunday 20 July.
The Academic Year course is delivered online on Saturday mornings from 0930-1230. The course commences on Saturday 25 October 2025 and the final session is on Saturday 7 March 2026.
