Surviving to thriving: sequenced learning in a SLD/ASD classroom
24 April 2026: 9 am – 12.30 pm
Nick looks at how to sequence your teaching day and your pupil’s learning in a classroom for learners with severe learning needs and autism, or both, considering how this works from the learner’s perspective, as outlined in the Engagement Model.
He asks: how do you structure your teaching day? What does your pupils’ learning journey look like throughout this? Is their learning sequenced in a way that offers the best possible learning experience in your classroom?
Recognising your classroom’s unique challenges and opportunities, Nick shares practical strategies for effective engagement, sequenced learning and resource management, covering readiness to learn, snack time, literacy, play, creating calm environments, movement and home time routines.
9 am Admissions and virtual tea/coffee to start the session
9.05 am Welcome & a warm up!
9.15 am Session 1: Waking up – getting ready to learn!
This session focuses on getting your pupils safely and happily from bus to class and all those bits in between. A good curriculum includes all these little mini-transitions, and we will look at how to make them as smooth as possible so your pupils are ready to learn, regulated and have their expectations and realities in the right place!
9.45 am Session 2: Snack Attack!
Snack is one of my favourite sessions. For some of our pupils, it is where they are most motivated, so cash in! Want to find out if your pupils know the difference between big and small? Do you want to know if your pupils can problem-solve effectively or go on a treasure hunt? This is the time!
10.00 am Session 3: Literacy for All!
Sensory stories aren’t just for PMLD pupils! This drives me absolutely bananas! We will talk through an ASD story, how we work through difficult-to-learn concepts, use the engagement model, and create a genuine love of literacy for all! Believe it or not – ASD pupils are not all terrified of being messy! So roll up your sleeves, and let’s get stuck in!
10.30 pm Session 4: Let’s get playful!
We mix two play models, schematic play and Piaget and use them to identify how our pupils learn, grow and communicate through the magic of play. Strap in as this one goes down some play rabbit holes! If you want to be extra prepared, read this!
https://education.gov.scot/media/chjjekf0/nih058-parentzone-booklet.pdf
10.45 am COFFEE BREAK
11.00 pm Session 5: Chicken and Egg
Stressed teacher = stressed team = stressed pupils. This session discusses strategies to keep the class equilibrium steady while still challenging. No, it’s not ‘YouTube o’clock’; it’s time for some mindful activities that help you and your staff in stressful times, easy wins for tricky times. The patent-pending ‘purple boxes’ will be unleashed, as well as other off-the-shelf activities and strategies to keep your time onside and focused.
11.30 pm Session 6: Moving Afternoons
What do we do with them now? They have had lunch, you’ve done their story, now what? Maths! That’s what! Let’s get conceptual with some tagging, big and small, full and empty, you name it, we will talk about it!
12.00 pm Session 7: Calm home time routines
Stuck in a corridor with a pupil, and you have an angry bus driver yelling at you? Been there! We talk about how to utilise your home time routine to demonstrate that school is finishing calmly and effectively – we will talk about the difference between abstract and conceptual cuing, do’s and don’ts and how to give your pupils the best chance to get home happy and safe.
12.15 pm Questions and Answers
12.30 pm Thank you and goodbyes!
This course will be appropriate for classroom practitioners from special schools and colleges, mainstream settings with specialist SEN provision and early years settings, and working with pupils with severe learning needs and autism, or both.
All the resources from this event will be in your account at online.hirstwood.com. You will access these using the email address on the booking form and your password (instructions in the joining information for creating your password.)
Here you will find:
a digital recording of the event
resources shared or signposted during the session
a transcript of the Zoom chat
your certificate of attendance
These will be available for 10 days after the event.
Join our Facebook Group Sensory Support Spaghetti to connect with us and other like-minded professionals – for everything sensory!
The cost is £149 plus VAT per delegate. You can select multiple places on the booking form.
You can pay by credit card for this booking or request an invoice.
UPDATED FOR 2026!
