Mary Hughes is a training officer for Wrexham Borough Council who facilitates CPD for childcarers in the area. She rates very highly courses run by Concept Training and says that its Play and Leisure for Disabled Children is one of its best.
Concept Training specialises in special educational needs and offers a consultancy on setting up multi-sensory rooms. In recent years Wrexham Council has tapped into its expertise, running its courses on autism, sensory play and dealing with children who have social, emotional and behavioural problems. These have proved invaluable to a wide range of local childcarers.
Ms Hughes says, 'We've been running Play and Leisure for Disabled Children since 2011 and the feedback just gets better and better. Childminders, playgroups and after-school clubs have all found that the one-day session has been a springboard to developing sensory play in a way that does not involve investment in expensive equipment.'
She says the course begins by exploring the difference between play and leisure and goes on to focus on the latest examples of good practice in working with disabled children in these contexts. Participants are encouraged to share experiences of the challenges they face when providing play opportunities, and look at areas such as choice, motivation, risk and age appropriateness.
Ms Hughes adds, 'The trainer, Judy Denziloe, has a wealth of experience in special educational needs, and creates a relaxed atmosphere in which delegates can get to know one another and feel comfortable asking questions.
'The course is very much about creating sensory play through everyday objects and being creative about it. The room is full of things that can be adapted in a sensory way.
'One childminder who looks after more than one child with a disability was so inspired by the course she stopped off on the way home to purchase all the items that had featured,' says Ms Hughes.
FURTHER INFORMATION
