training
Over the course of the coronavirus pandemic Reaching Families has done everything it can to adapt our services to meet the needs of families in these unusual circumstances. As we enter a new phase with more freedom and capacity to meet in person our aim is provide parents with a blended combination of live and virtual workshops.
Autumn Term Training Timetable
We are delighted to present our new training timetable for the Autumn term 2022 (1st half-term for our workshops). As well as our one off workshops will be repeating our popular training courses - MAKING SENSE OF IT ALL (FOUNDATION COURSE) designed to help parents get a grounding in all things SEND, and MAKING SENSE OF WELLBEING, which aims to help parent-carers reduce stress, relax and build resilience.
Our courses have been designed with Covid in mind, and have been adapted to suit the current environment. ALL workshops are FREE OF CHARGE.
Autumn Term Training Workshops
All workshops are via Zoom
Making Sense of Masking
This workshop will help parents and carers to understand and recognise the signs and impact of masking and explore strategies to help children and young people to 'unmask'.
Thursday 8th September - 7.30 pm via Zoom
Making Sense of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
This workshop will cover how to apply for DLA, how the process works, the various rates, understanding how decisions are made, tips for making a strong claim and appealing a decision.
Tuesday 13th September - 10.30 am via Zoom
Making Sense of Adult Life - Supporting Adolescents
This workshop looks at various aspects of adolescence in young people with SEND, what should we expect and how we can help them through this period of transition to adulthood. Covering topics including puberty, relationships, managing emotions and social skills.
Wednesday 14th September - 7.30 pm via Zoom
Understanding ADHD
This workshop will help parents and carers to understand ADHD and the impact it has on their child's relationships, behaviour and day-to-day life. Exploring strategies to support your child and sharing information on local resources that are available to you.
Thursday 15th September - 10.30 am via Zoom
Making Sense of Meetings and Paperwork
Workshop to help parents and carers prepare for and face meetings with confidence to get the best outcome for their child. Looking at managing paperwork, developing good habits and hopefully make the process less stressful and more effective for you and your family.
Thursday 22nd September - 7.30 pm via Zoom
Making Sense of Anxiety in Adolescence
This workshop is aimed at parents and carers of young people aged 11 years + who feel anxious, worried or stressed. It will introduce ‘anxiety’ and its symptoms, offer ideas for helping in the moment, suggest ways to support your young person and provide a few tips for looking after yourself along the way.
Monday 26th September - 7.30 pm via Zoom
Understanding Demand Avoidance
This session aims to help parents and carers by expanding their understanding of demand avoidance, the reasons behind the behaviour and providing relevant strategies for a child that has a demand avoidant profile.
Tuesday 27th September - 10.30 am via Zoom
An Introduction to Makaton
This introductory workshop will provide you with an overview of Makaton and who uses it, and teach you over 30 key signs and symbols.
Wednesday 28th September - 7.30 pm via Zoom
Making Sense of SEN Support at School
SENDIAS discuss what schools need to do if your child has special educational needs. This workshop explores the process that should be used and how schools should be engaging with parents and carers where there are concerns.
Thursday 6th October - 7.30 pm via Zoom
Understanding Autism
This workshop will help parents and carers to understand Autism and social communication difficulties and the impact it has on their child's relationships, behaviour and day-to-day life. Exploring strategies to support your child and sharing information on local resources that are available to you.
Friday 7th October - 10.30 am via Zoom
Handling Stress and Building your own Resilience
A workshop for parents and carers providing an introduction to stress and an understanding of resilience and why it matters. Exploring how to recognise stress in yourself, strategies to reduce it and how to promote wellbeing and build your own resilience.
Tuesday 11th October - 9.45am in Bognor Regis
Making Sense of Challenging Behaviour (Age 2-11 years)
Workshop aimed at parents and carers of children aged 2-11 years, exploring ways to respond to your child so that positive behaviour is encouraged and challenging behaviour is reduced.
Thursday 13th October - 10.30 am via Zoom
How to book
To book a place on one of our workshops please click on the individual links above or visit our Eventbrite page (click the logo).
If you have any difficulty booking a place or would like any further information, please contact us on 01903 366360 or via email.
Training Courses - Autumn term 2022
Making Sense of It All - Foundation Course
This course has been designed to provide an introduction on all the key issues parents and carers will encounter as their children grow and develop. It aims to empower parents of children undergoing or who have recently undergone diagnosis but is helpful to any parents who feel they need an overview of the following subjects and issues:
- Coming to terms with and understanding your child’s diagnosis
- Where to go for information and advice
- Handling stress and building resilience
- Gaining support from other parents and carers
- Accessing benefits and financial support
- Getting support for your child at school
- Accessing support through health & social care
- Accessing other key services and opportunities in West Sussex
Two day course – Shoreham-by-Sea
Wednesdays September 21st and 28th – 9.30 am - 2.30 pm
Online evening course - three sessions via Zoom
Wednesdays October 5th, 12th and 19th – 7.30 pm - 9.30 pm
Two day course - Burgess Hill
Wednesdays November 2nd and 9th – 9.30 am - 2.30 pm
To book a place on one of our Foundation courses, please click on the relevant dates.
If you have any queries please email us at admin@reachingfamilies.org.uk.
Making Sense of Wellbeing
This twelve part evening course is designed to help parents and carers learn practical strategies to reduce stress, relax, build resilience and enhance relationships with their SEND child and family.
The course combines a blend of wellbeing and mindfulness workshops delivered by Esther Hunt, a highly skilled and experienced parent-carer, counsellor & psychotherapist, mindfulness practitioner and lecturer on resilience.
The course can be attended in its entirety or parents can attend those sessions that most interest them. All of the workshops are free of charge and delivered via zoom.
For more information please visit our Wellbeing page, or to book now visit our eventbrite page. If you have any queries please email us at admin@reachingfamilies.org.uk.
Commission Us
Reaching Families are also available to deliver tailor made training to suit the particular needs of schools, parent support groups, other charities, etc. If your group would like training on a specific subject we can manage and deliver this for you including sourcing and commissioning trainers, marketing, administration, booking venues, organising catering and refreshments, follow up evaluation, etc. If you would like to discuss training for your school or group please contact our Operations Manager, Donna Manwill, for an informal discussion of your requirements.
