Training and Consultancy for ABA Professionals
Peach offers a wide range of training for ABA professionals at all levels.
Training for Tutors
We try to keep the cost of training we offer to tutors as low as possible as we know how difficult it is for tutors and families to finance training. The following is a descriptive list of the key courses that we offer. All are one or two day courses.
Behaviour Management
The Behaviour Management course is designed to provide parents, tutors and teacher’s with an overview of behaviour management. It covers the following areas:
· Defining behaviour
· How challenging behaviours are identified
· How possible functions of behaviour are identified
· How to collate data
· Different behavioural interventions and the pros and cons of each.
Once the course is complete it is envisaged that the attendee will understand the process of assessing and identifying the function of a behaviour, understand how interventions are chosen and how effectiveness is assessed. This course is suitable for individuals who work with children at all levels of the programme.
Initial Tutor Training
This is a general introduction to ABA that covers the general principles and methodology of ABA programmes. It is a great introduction to ABA for tutors who have joined a team, after the initial workshop and a useful refresher for more established team members. This two day course covers that following areas:
· How to take data and analyse it.
· It outlines specific teaching procedures used in ABA programmes such as discrete trial teaching and natural environment teaching.
· It describes teaching techniques such as prompting, shaping, chaining, errorless learning, fluency and mixing tasks
· Includes information on generalisation.
· Defines reinforcement and how to use it effectively.
· Identifies the verbal operants used in teaching language and communication skills.
· Finally this course covers the principles of behaviour management
Playdates
This is aimed at both parents and tutors who are keen to learn more about playdates. This course is suitable for teams who work with children at all levels of the programme. The course focuses on making playdates successful and it covers the following areas:
· General aims of the playdate
· Defining the targets and activities
· The role of tutor/guest child
· Prompting techniques
· Reinforcement strategies
· Setting the agenda and preparing the space.
· Provides information on data collection
· It includes practical tips and useful examples.
Social Skills
This course includes descriptions and illustrations of programmes and techniques for promoting social skills in a variety of environments. It focuses on children working at an intermediate level and above and assumes that the child has some descriptive language abilities, some basic play skills and already makes use of community trips. This course would be useful for both parents and tutors and includes the following:
- Teaching techniques (Chaining and Task Analysis)
- Support Systems such as visual support and written support.
- Relationship training through video teaching, role play and social stories.
- Play skills
- Life skills
Shadowing
This presentation includes information regarding shadowing techniques including prompting, reinforcement, task analysis, promoting communication and interaction. It includes a variety of ways in which the national curriculum can be differentiated within schools. In addition to this, professionalism in schools is addressed including working as part of the class team. The course also provides the following;
- The definition of the shadow
- Role of the shadow
- How to teach classroom routines
- Common complications encountered in the school environment
This course is useful for tutors who are (or are training to be) shadows in school and parents/teachers who wish to better understand the role of the shadow.
Advanced (Curriculum) Learners
For those working with children at the end of the curriculum, who have good vocabularies and play skills already in place. The course covers:
· Theory of Mind – the ability to take another person’s perspective, advanced emotions, inferring other people’s mental states.
· Social skills – advanced play skills, cooperation and school games.
· National curriculum – The key stage 2 level and how to differentiate the school curriculum for children with ASD
· Advanced conversation skills – listening to conversations and joining in and staying on topic.
Advanced Tutor Training
The course is aimed at both experienced Tutors and Senior/Lead Tutors. It is highly recommended that all applicants have previously attended the Initial Tutor Training and have at least 6 months experience. The aim of the course is to expand their knowledge and emphasise the need to use the skills they already have to create an optimal teaching environment.
The course includes the following topics:
· Defining reinforcement and the importance of reinforcement.
· Motivation
· Types of reinforcement and reinforcers.
· How to identify reinforcers.
· Reinforcement effectiveness.
· Reinforcement schedules.
· Token economy.
· Differential reinforcement.
· Stimulus control.
· Understanding problem behaviour during the teaching environment.
· Defining behaviour.
· Possible functions of the behaviour.
· Recording methods.
Promoting Communication
This course will be useful for parents, tutors, teachers and carers. It identifies the importance of communication and outlines different ways in which children communicate. This course will provide an overview of different communication system’s including how to teach them.
· Teaching the child to use vocals
· Teaching the use of PECS
· Teaching Sign Language
· Technological Aids
Early (Curriculum) Learners
This course includes the fundamental skills that are essential for the Early Learner. This will typically include children who are at the beginning stages of the curriculum for example, pre-vocal or single word mands and limited receptive labels.
The areas include:
· Communication skills, how to teach your child to request
· Choosing a communication system
· Early social skills
· Early play skills
· Language skills
· Self help skills
· Motor skills
Lead Tutor Training
The course is aimed at both experienced Tutors and Senior/Lead Tutors. It is highly recommended that all applicants have previously attended the Initial Tutor Training and have at least 1-2 years experience with a range of children. The aim of the course is to prepare tutors for taking on lead tutor responsibilities.
The course includes the following topics:
· Overlapping effectively with newer tutors
· Organising and interpreting data
· Running Team Meetings
· Preparing data sheets and stimuli
· Preparing effectively for workshops
· Liaising with parents, team and Case Manager effectively
Disclaimer: Please note that the Peach Case Manager(s) running the courses will provide general advice rather than give advice on any specific situation or child. All tools techniques described in this course should only be implemented under the guidance of an experienced ABA professional.
Signalong Course
Peach are offering a unique two-day Foundation Course provided by a registered Signalong tutor.
Signalong is a system of signs based on British Sign Language, which is designed to help people with communication difficulties to understand and express their needs, choices and desires. The Signalong Group has researched and published the widest range of signs in Britain. These are drawn and described following a consistent method that enables users to access vocabulary according to need. Signalong has published over 16000 signs.
Unlike BSL training or that provided by some other organisations, Signalong training focuses on developing communication skills rather than teaching blocks of signs, many of which will be quickly forgotten through lack of use. The precise Signalong method of presentation enables users to remind themselves of signs which have been forgotten and to learn new signs from the manuals. Training programmes are thus able to stress aspects of the application of sign-supported communication. These include; aspects of total communication, such as facial expression, body language and voice tone; plus simplification of language and keyword selection; reading signs performed by others.
The Foundation Course develops skills to a level where practitioners can apply signing in their own environment and includes some elements of communication theory
Disclaimer: Please note that the Peach Case Manager(s) running the courses will provide general advice rather than give advice on any specific situation or child. All tools techniques described in this course should only be implemented under the guidance of an experienced ABA professional.
All these courses are delivered by Peach case managers with significant practical experience. The courses are a mixture of theory and practical exercises with lots of chances to ask questions and discuss issues that arise. Dates and times and locations of current courses are included in the News section of the website.
If the course you want is not scheduled, or you would like a course that is not on the list, or at a different location, please contact the Peach office and we will do our best to meet your needs.
BCABA and BCBA Continued Education Points
Peach works with leading universities to ensure that there are sufficient courses in the UK to ensure those with BCABA and BCBA qualifications can meet their annual requirement. If you wish to receive details of these courses automatically then become a member of Peach and details will be sent to you.
Record of Experience for Tutors
Peach maintains individual records of experience for tutors. Each tutor that registers receives a pack and an ongoing record that records their practical experience, courses, supervision etc. This information is useful evidence for tutors of the work they have done, but is also useful to parents when they recruit tutors as it clearly indicates the areas they have experience of.
If you are a tutor working on a Peach programme you should contact your Peach case manager for more information.
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