Every year we work to bring you FREE informative sessions from our Partners to start your CPD training for the year in the right way.
We hope you are able to make use of these opportunities.
As part of the induction week for UAE schools (or any educators!) we have coordinated a series of informal sessions presented by industry experts on a range of topics. This year we are offering sesions from our partners that deliver literacy and communication services, and wellbeing expertise.
Book as many one-hour CPD sessions as you like, then come along to our “Ask The Expert” sessions to ask your questions directly.
The sessions below are for our Literacy track – we will be adding details of a Wellbeing track shortly, including sessions from:
We hope you find these sessions useful – if you have any feedback or suggestions for future sessions please contact us
Monday 24 August
12:00pm GST/UAE
CPD Workshop: Speak Clearly
Tuesday 25 August
10:00am GST/UAE
Getting started with symbols – Practical tips on your journey to being a Symbol-Friendly School
Tuesday 25 August
12:00pm GST/UAE
Inclusive by Design – How Purposeful Technology Removes Barriers to Learning.
Wednesday 26 August
10:00am GST/UAE
Wednesday 26 August
12:00pm GST/UAE
Visual Literacy in Action: How Widgit & Mighty Writer Work Together to Transform Early Language and Writing
Wednesday 26 August
1:00pm GST/UAE
Running Effective Communication Groups in Primary Schools
A series of informal sessions that allow you to pose your questions directly to industry experts.
Book as many sessions as you like.
10:00-10:30am GST/UAE
Ask the Expert – Feliciea Jibson and Josianne Pisani
11:00-11:30am GST/UAE
Ask the Expert – Everway Inclusion & Technology Team/Carrie-Ann Gibson
12:00 – 12:30pm GST/UAE
Ask the Expert – Stuart Plumridge of Nessy Learning
1:00-1:30pm GST/UAE
Ask the Expert – Rebecca Lynch, Global Education Specialist at Widgit
2:00-2:30pm GST/UAE
Ask The Expert – Emma Ralph, Literacy Improvement Director at Mighty Writer
3:00-3:30pm GST/UAE
Ask The Expert – Gill Clarke, Elklan SaLT Professional Advisor and Charlie McLachlan, Elklan Director
Delivered by: Gill Clarke – Elklan SaLT Professional Advisor
Learn more about speech sound development and explore strategies to support children with unclear speech in this introductory workshop.
Elklan Training is a renowned organisation with expertise in the field of speech, language and communication training.
Elklan delivers courses to teachers, teaching assistants, early years practitioners and parents to give them knowledge and practical strategies to develop children’s speech, language and communication skills.
Elklan has trained over 85,000 educational practitioners through a network of over 4,000 tutors.
Hosted by: Rebecca Lynch, Global Education Specialist
Rebecca will explore Widgit’s new Dual Language Resource Pack and share practical tips for getting started with symbols in your school.
The session will focus on creating whole-school consistency to support understanding and help all children thrive.
For over 40 years, Widgit Symbols have helped people who find language, reading, or communication difficult. Our symbol-based software supports understanding across many contexts.
Hosted by: Carrie-Ann Gibson, International Education Manager
Every mind is unique, and so are the ways we learn, work and live. We create tools to help everyone understand and be understood.
Delivered by: Rory File, Head of Education and Partnerships
During this session, Rory File, Head of Education and Partnerships explores identifying students who are quietly falling behind in reading and spelling can be a complex challenge.
Often, by the time literacy gaps become obvious, the intervention required is much more intensive.
How can educators proactively spot these hidden difficulties without adding hours of manual assessment to their workload?
At Nessy we are best known as advocates for children with dyslexia and other special education needs around the globe, but the Nessy programs are not only for dyslexia. Nessy is widely used for whole class, phonics, math, typing and early reading instruction.
Hosted by: Lisa Pinkerton from Widgit and Emma from Mighty Writer
Join Lisa from Widgit and Emma from Mighty Writer for a practical, engaging session on how visual literacy transforms learning.
Discover how combining symbols, structured talk and hands‑on sentence building helps pupils develop vocabulary, speak in full sentences and write with confidence.
With a strong focus on inclusion and high expectations, this webinar will share simple strategies you can implement immediately across your classrooms.
For over 40 years, Widgit Symbols have helped people who find language, reading, or communication difficult. Our symbol-based software supports understanding across many contexts.
Mighty Writer is a unique physical resource that transforms children’s literacy almost overnight, guaranteed! It is designed for every class of EYFS, KS1 and for intervention in KS2.
Hosted by: Feliciea Jibson
A practical session for primary school staff on structuring and running communication groups to develop language, communication, and social interaction skills. We’ll share a ready-to-use lesson plan structure, then look at how ongoing literacy assessment can be used to group children appropriately and monitor progress over time.
In this session you will learn:
PAGS empowers schools with an all-in-one Profile, Assessment, and Goal-Setting solution designed to support learners, educators, and Heads of Inclusion.
Do you have questions about PAGS Profile or setting up and running a communications group?
Bring your questions, classroom challenges, or learner scenarios and we’ll explore practical strategies together.
PAGS empowers schools with an all-in-one Profile, Assessment, and Goal-Setting solution designed to support learners, educators, and Heads of Inclusion.
Do you have questions about:
Bring your questions, classroom challenges, or learner scenarios and we’ll explore practical strategies together.
Every mind is unique, and so are the ways we learn, work and live. We create tools to help everyone understand and be understood.
Hosted by: Stuart Plumridge – International Development Manager
This 30-minute interactive session is designed to tackle the real-world literacy challenges you face every day.
Whether you need advice on a specific student profile, want to know how to maximise Nessy’s reporting features, or need strategies for managing neurodivergent learners, our literacy specialists are here to help.
Nessy is an award winning, global educational company that specialises in early literacy, both in school and at home.
Hosted by: Rebecca Lynch, Global Education Specialist
Use this time to ask company experts any questions that you have! Suitable for existing and new customers.
See if you can find a question about Widgit symbols that Rebecca can’t answer!
For over 40 years, Widgit Symbols have helped people who find language, reading, or communication difficult. Our symbol-based software supports understanding across many contexts.
Hosted by: Emma Ralph, Literacy Improvement Director
Join the Founder and Literacy Improvement Director from Mighty Writer to understand how the Mighty Writer tools can help your students in your classrooms.
Unsure how Mighty Writer can be used to bring its proven success to your setting? Come along and ask the expert!
Mighty Writer is a unique physical resource that transforms children’s literacy almost overnight, guaranteed!
Mighty Writer is designed for every class of EYFS, KS1 and for intervention in KS2.
Delivered by: Gill Clarke, Elklan SaLT Professional Advisor and Charlie McLachlan, Elklan Director
A chance to ask the Elklan team any questions relating to our training courses and speech and language in education.
Elklan Training is a renowned organisation with expertise in the field of speech, language and communication training.
Elklan delivers courses to teachers, teaching assistants, early years practitioners and parents to give them knowledge and practical strategies to develop children’s speech, language and communication skills.
Elklan has trained over 85,000 educational practitioners through a network of over 4,000 tutors.
Some CPD workshop: details to follow soon…
Monday 24 August
12:30pm GST/UAE
From Measurement to Meaning -Making wellbeing evidence count in schools
Wednesday 26 August
10:30 am GST/UAE
Wellbeing Under Inspection: Getting KHDA-Ready for 2026–27, the Wellio view
Wednesday 26 August
12:30 pm GST/UAE
Wellbeing Ready: Practical Strategies for the Term Ahead
Wednesday 26 August
1:30 pm GST/UAE
Hidden Transitions: Supporting Children Through Change and Uncertainty
Wednesday 26 August
13:30pm GST/UAE
Building Psychological Safety in the Classroom
A series of informal sessions that allow you to pose your questions directly to industry experts.
Book as many sessions as you like.
10:30-11:00am GST/UAE
Ask the Expert – Jez Belas, Engagement Director and Co-Founder of youHQ.
11:30-11:00am GST/UAE
Ask the Expert – Trauma-Informed Education with Dr David Cashman
12:30pm to 1:00pm GST/UAE
Elanie Ademokun, Programmes Director and Lewis Still, Partnerships Director, Jigsaw Education Group
1:30pm – 2:00pm GST/UAE
A dive into The Happy Confident Schools Program with Kate Taylor
2:30pm -3:00pm GST/UAE
Delivered by: Jon Ford- Chief Executive Officer
KHDA inspections are returning, but inspection readiness should not mean creating an evidence pack at the last minute. The strongest evidence is created through everyday practice: listening carefully, identifying what different learners need, setting meaningful goals, taking action and reviewing the impact.
The session should help leaders answer the question inspectors are likely to ask: “You have collected this wellbeing information—but what did you do next, and what changed for the students?”
Put Lasting Wellbeing, First.
Designed by educators and psychologists, youHQ is your whole-school wellbeing and personal development partner, built to help schools create a culture where every student can thrive – and where every adult feels supported to make that happen.
Hosted by: Holly Mann
This CPD session equips school leaders and PSHE/wellbeing leads with the knowledge and practical tools to demonstrate genuine, evidenced wellbeing impact ahead of KHDA’s resumed inspections.
It aims to build capability in three areas: understanding exactly how KHDA’s evaluation lens has shifted for 2026–27 (from checking provision exists to demanding proof it’s embedded and working); recognising an overlooked inclusion blind spot – Gifted & Talented learners – whose wellbeing is often assumed rather than actively tracked; and building simple practices for segmenting and evidencing wellbeing data by student group, so schools walk into inspection more confident and prepared
Wellio helps schools build, deliver and measure a high-quality whole-school wellbeing programme with confidence.
Student wellbeing is no longer just about delivering lessons. Schools are expected to demonstrate impact, respond to emerging needs and implement a structured, preventative approach across the whole school.
All your wellbeing tools in one place with insights, lesson design, delivery and dashboards.
Hosted by: Elanie Ademokun, Programmes Director at Jigsaw Education Group
This session gives UAE school leaders a practical framework for embedding and demonstrating wellbeing from day one of the new term, drawing on Jigsaw PSHE and the KHDA Wellbeing Matters framework.
In this session we will explore:
Jigsaw Education Group is a UK-based provider of PSHE and wellbeing curriculum programmes, partnering with more than 6,500 schools across the UK and internationally, including a growing school network throughout the Middle East.
Hosted by: Alicia Drummond, CEO and Founder of Teen Tips and The Wellbeing Hub
Before a child can learn, their brain must first answer one question: am I safe here? When that answer is uncertain, attention narrows and even well-designed teaching fails to land. Psychological safety is not a peripheral concern, it is the foundation upon which school engagement, effective learning, and high academic expectation are built.
This session examines what psychological safety is, how it shapes learning, and how adverse childhood experiences can undermine a child’s sense of safety and belonging. Staff will leave with an understanding of the window of tolerance, enabling them to recognise and respond to a child’s state with greater precision, and with practical, low-key approaches for building psychologically safe classrooms.
In this session we will cover:
The Wellbeing Hub is a multi‑award‑winning, live and interactive online platform that takes a holistic, proactive approach to young people’s mental health and wellbeing.
Saving staff time and promoting home-school collaboration.
Hosted by: Kate Taylor, Head of Schools at The Happy Confident Company
This session explores how teachers can recognise hidden transitions and create emotionally safe classrooms where children feel connected, understood and able to thrive.
The session will focus on creating whole-school consistency to support understanding and help all children thrive.
Our company vision is to create a world where every child has a deep sense of self and belonging, enabling them to reach their full potential.
Our preventative, life-transforming resources are proven to foster self-awareness, confidence, resilience, and emotional intelligence for children aged 3-14.
Hosted by: Holly Mann
Student wellbeing is no longer just about delivering lessons. Schools are expected to demonstrate impact, respond to emerging needs and implement a structured, preventative approach across the whole school.
Wellio helps schools build, deliver and measure a high-quality whole-school wellbeing programme with confidence.
Student wellbeing is no longer just about delivering lessons. Schools are expected to demonstrate impact, respond to emerging needs and implement a structured, preventative approach across the whole school.
All your wellbeing tools in one place with insights, lesson design, delivery and dashboards.
Hosted by: Jez Belas
This 30-minute interactive session is designed to tackle the real-world wellbeing challenges you face every day.
Put Lasting Wellbeing, First.
Designed by educators and psychologists, youHQ is your whole-school wellbeing and personal development partner, built to help schools create a culture where every student can thrive – and where every adult feels supported to make that happen.
Hosted by: Dr David Cashman
This is an interactive session where you can bring your questions about:
Work through real school scenarios with Dr David and get practical strategies that staff can take back into their settings.
Professional learning for Wellbeing, Inclusion & Special Education.
New Wave is a whole-school professional learning platform for wellbeing, inclusion and special education. Flexible, practical learning delivered through short, expert-led modules that fit into the school day.
Hosted by: Elanie Ademokun, Programmes Director and Lewis Still, Partnerships Director, Jigsaw Education Group
A chance to ask the Jigsaw team any questions relating to our PSHE and wellbeing programmes, and how they can be applied in your school context.
Jigsaw Education Group is a UK-based provider of PSHE and wellbeing curriculum programmes, partnering with more than 6,500 schools across the UK and internationally, including a growing school network throughout the Middle East.
Hosted by: Kate Taylor, Head of Schools at The Happy Confident Company
Deliver a truly transformative program to your pupils with The Happy Confident Schools Program.
With little to no training you can be up and running almost immediately.
Join Kate to find out more about The Happy Confident Schools Program and how it can help your school and your students.
Our company vision is to create a world where every child has a deep sense of self and belonging, enabling them to reach their full potential.
Our preventative, life-transforming resources are proven to foster self-awareness, confidence, resilience, and emotional intelligence for children aged 3-14.
Hosted by: Alicia Drummond, CEO and Founder of Teen Tips and The Wellbeing Hub
Please join us for your chance to ask Alicia direct questions.
The Wellbeing Hub is a multi‑award‑winning, live and interactive online platform that takes a holistic, proactive approach to young people’s mental health and wellbeing.
Saving staff time and promoting home-school collaboration.