Supporting Learners with SEND and SEMH in FE & Adult Provision

6 Hours Verifiable CPD | Online | Self-Paced

Supporting learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs is no longer a specialist responsibility in Further Education — it is a whole-college expectation.

FE and adult provision classrooms include learners with diagnosed, undiagnosed, emerging, and hidden needs. Many carry previous educational trauma, disrupted schooling, health challenges, or complex life circumstances. Inclusive practice cannot be reactive or paperwork-driven.

It must be intentional. It must be consistent. And it must evidence impact.

This course is designed specifically for professionals working in Further Education and adult provision who want to strengthen inclusive practice while maintaining high expectations and learner dignity.

Why This Course Matters

Inspection frameworks emphasise:

• Adaptive teaching

• Early identification of need

• High expectations for all learners

• Clear evidence of impact

Legal duties under the Equality Act 2010 require providers to make reasonable adjustments and eliminate discrimination — including for adult learners.

Yet many practitioners report:

• Uncertainty around trauma-informed approaches

• Inconsistent SEMH responses across teams

• Over-reliance on 1:1 support

• Confusion between flexibility and lowered standards

This programme bridges the gap between compliance and confident practice.

What You Will Learn

Throughout this 6-hour verifiable CPD, you will:

• Understand SEND and SEMH within FE and adult contexts

• Apply trauma-informed, psychologically safe teaching approaches

• Design inclusive learning using Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

• Respond confidently to anxiety, dysregulation, and SEMH-related behaviour

• Use reasonable adjustments ethically and proportionately

• Evidence inclusive practice for inspection and appraisal

Every module focuses on removing barriers while promoting independence — not dependency.

Designed for FE & Adult Education Professionals

This course is suitable for:

• FE College Lecturers (16–19 and Adult)

• Independent Training Provider staff

• Learning Support Assistants and Learning Mentors

• SENCOs and ALS Leads

• Pastoral and Safeguarding Teams

• Curriculum Managers and Quality Leads

It is particularly relevant for staff teaching mixed-age cohorts, high-needs groups, adult returners, and learners with emerging or hidden needs.

Course Format

• Duration: 6 Hours

• Delivery: Online | Self-Paced

• Assessment: Scenario-based reflection, applied tasks, MCQs

• Certification: 6 Hours Verifiable CPD upon successful completion

Participants also receive practical toolkits, inclusive planning guidance, and inspection-aligned reflection templates.

The Outcome

By completing this CPD, you will strengthen your ability to:

• Remove barriers without lowering standards

• Respond to SEMH confidently and calmly

• Embed inclusive design from the outset

• Evidence impact clearly and professionally

Inclusive practice in FE is not about doing more.

It is about doing it deliberately.