Overview
Hello and welcome to The Certificate in Supporting Children with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities in the Outdoors.
This course is brought to you by The Therapeutic Forest CIC. We are a team of Therapists and Specialist Forest School Leaders, with a background in supporting children with Complex Needs.
The outdoors provides a rich, ever-changing sensory experience that is different from season to season and from one second to the next.
In this course you will learn how to harness the power of the outdoors, to support children with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities.
Twinkleboost Explorers is an Outdoor Storytelling and Sensory Play based programme, designed by a Speech and Language Therapy Team.
By the end of this programme you will not only earn ‘The Certificate in Supporting Children with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities but also become a licensed Twinkleboost Explorers Leader, able to offer Specialist Outdoor sessions for children with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities in your own setting.
We feel incredibly lucky to do the work we do, watching children light up and engage in the magic of our sessions. We are so pleased to be able to share this with you and the students at your school.
Our Twinkleboost Explorers programmes use Outdoor Sensory Stories and Nature based play to support the communication and emotional wellbeing of children with Severe and Profound and Multiple Learning disabilities.
The programme has been created by a Multidisciplinary Therapy team and Therapeutic Forest School Leaders who specialise in supporting children with complex needs. We are now training school staff as licensed Twinkleboost Explorers leaders within UK Special Schools.
Twinkleboost Explorers Licensed Leader Training is delivered via blended learning, consisting of two online modules and one in person training day. The training programme is delivered by a Speech and Language Therapist and Forest School Leader, Clinical Psychologist and Speech Therapy Assistant.
Course participants will receive training in applying specialist approaches to develop communication skills and support emotional wellbeing in the outdoors, focusing on supporting learners with PMLD.
On completion students will receive ‘the Certificate in Supporting Children with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities’ and a license to deliver the Twinkleboost Explorers programme in your own school.
specifically tailored to meet the needs of children with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities
Although Twinkleboost Explorers sessions use the Forest School Ethos and have been created by a team that include Forest School Leaders, the programme offers much more than a regular Forest School session.
The sessions are targeted specifically at children with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities. Sessions incorporate activities designed by Speech and Language Therapists to support communication development and use strategies such as Sensory Stories, Objects of Reference, Intensive Interaction and Sign to engage learners with complex needs.
Although there is plenty of room for child led play, the programme works specifically on key communication targets such as communicating consistent preferences, participating in shared exploration with support, requesting events or activities and remembering learnt responses over extended periods.
at your school
Twinkleboost Explorers leaders have received training from Therapeutic Forest School Leaders, a Speech Therapist and Clinical Psychologist to deliver an outdoor communication programme, designed to engage and support the development of children with Severe and Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities.
These sessions can take place weekly, daily or even multiple times each day, providing children with PMLD with a programme to support their emotional wellbeing, communication development and independence, using internal staff.
Delivered Online
In Module 1 of our Twinkleboost Explorers Certificate in Supporting Children with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities, we discover how the outdoors can be used as a therapeutic tool for children with complex needs. The module is delivered by a Speech and Language Therapist and Forest School Leader and a Clinical Psychologist.
We explore:
How we can use the outdoor space to support communication development of children with SLD and PMLD
How being outside can benefit the emotional wellbeing of children with additional needs
What is the Forest School Ethos and how can we implement it when delivering our sessions
What are sensory stories and how we can effectively take them outdoors
Delivered Online
In Module 2 of our Twinkleboost Explorers Certificate in Supporting Children with Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties, we discover key strategies to support communication and engagement in the outdoors:
We explore:
Using the means, reasons and opportunities model and Total Communication Approach in the outdoors
Adapting your communication to promote engagement and learning
Creating space for Contingent Learning
Objects of Reference and Sensory References in the outdoors
Deconstructing outdoor and nature-based activities
Games to engage every learner
Utilising Intensive Interaction in the outdoors
Language promoting strategies for verbal children
Delivered Online or In-Person (Manchester)
In Module 3 of our Twinkleboost Explorers ‘Certificate in Supporting Children with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities’ join us online or in Manchester for a day of outdoor learning.
In this practical module you will learn how to deliver the Twinkleboost Explorers programme, receive your manual and equipment packs and undertake training in key outdoor signs, health and safety and risk assessments.
This module is delivered by Forest School Leader and Speech and Language Therapist Caspian, and aSpeech and Language Therapy Assistant.
The programme costs £595.
This includes:
A comprehensive training programme delivered by a Speech and Language Therapy Team, Forest School Leader and Clinical Psychologist.
Consisting of an outdoor programme day in Manchester and two online modules, including an online workbook.
‘The Certificate in Supporting Children with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities’ on completion
A 3-year license for the course participant to deliver the programme in your own school and license badge to use on your materials.
A starter pack of equipment to support session delivery
A printed manual of session scripts and tips
Complete Modules 1 and 2 online via our self-paced learning platform, made up of short videos and a series of tasks on our online platform so that you can access them in your own time.
Then join us in-person for Module 3 in Manchester. Receive your equipment pack and certificate and walk away ready to deliver Twinkleboost Explorers.
Complete all 3 modules online via our self-paced learning platform, made up of short videos and a series of tasks on our online platform so that you can access them in your own time.
You'll receive your equipment pack in the post and once completed we'll post your certificate out to you!