Social Communication & Interaction Team

Training Events 2025 - 2026

A workshop specifically designed to support the families of pupils who have social communication and interaction needs. 

• 27/11/25 9:30-12pm, Library @ TheLightbox
  
• 03/03/26, 9:30-12pm, MS Teams 
• 30/06/26, 9:30-12pm Library @ The Lightbox 

To book your place visit Eventbrite here

Seven weeks of face to face sessions for parents of children and young people (5-18 years) who have received a diagnosis of autism. Two places can be allocated to a family with the second place being given to a second parent/family member or significant other person within the child or young person’s life. Group members will learn about different aspects of autism, have opportunity to relate this learning to their own situation and have opportunities to network together throughout the 7 week course.

• Course 1 – 29/09/25, 06/10/25, 13/10/25, 20/10/25, 03/11/25, 10/11/25 and 17/11/25  10-1pm, Worsbrough Common Primary School
• Course 2 – 21/04/26, 28/04/26, 05/05/26, 19/05/26, 02/06/26, 09/06/26 and 16/06/26 10-1pm, Worsbrough Common Primary School (booking opens 1/3/26)

To book your place visit Eventbrite here

• 16/03/2026, 9:30 - 12:30, Barnsley Town Hall 

To book your place visit Eventbrite here

Using Lego to help develop the child’s knowledge, understanding and application of social skills and problem solving.

• 13/10/25 ~ 1pm - 4pm, Barnsley Town Hall
  
• 27/01/26 ~ 9:30 – 12:30pm, Barnsley Town Hall
• 17/06/26 ~ 9:30 - 12:30pm, Barnsley Town Hall

Parents/carers need to book a place via Eventbrite here

The Taster Session gives you a general introduction into what Makaton is, and who uses it, with the opportunity to learn a few signs and symbols too. This Taster has a focus around signs that we use in the early stages of communication.

• 30/09/25 - 9:30-11:30, TESCO Stairfoot Community Room
  
• 27/01/26 - 9:30-11:30, TESCO Stairfoot Community Room
  
• 16/06/26 - 9:30-11:30, TESCO Stairfoot Community Room

Contact gemmawhitfield@barnsley.gov.uk for further information or to book a place

This workshop will be attended by parents and carers, schools/settings, other professionals. Join us to consider how autism and anxiety impacts on individuals. We will share good practice and supporting strategies.

• 30/06/26 ~ 9:30-1:30, Barnsley Town Hall (booking opens 1/4/26)

This workshop will be attended by parents and carers, schools/ settings, other professionals. This course introduces an understanding to autism. You will take away strategies that can be used to support and meet the needs of children and young people with autism in the setting. A webinar of this course will also be available if the below dates are not suitable.

• 06/10/25 ~ 9:30-12:30, Barnsley Town Hall (booking opens 1/9/25)
• 23/02/26 ~ 9:30-12:30, Barnsley Town Hall (booking opens 1/1/26)
• 04/06/26 ~ 9:30-12:30, Barnsley Town Hall (booking opens 1/4/26)

This workshop will be attended by parents and carers, schools/ settings, other professionals. We provide an introduction to how and why using Comic Strip Conversations and Social Stories can support children and young people with SCI needs. Learn how to write meaningful Social Stories within the session.

• 24/11/25 ~ 2 - 4pm, MS Teams (booking opens 1/9/25)
• 20/04/26 ~ 3:30 - 5:30pm, MS Teams (booking opens 1/1/26)
  

This workshop will be attended by parents and carers, schools/ settings, other professionals. The aims of the session are to be aware of how girls with autism may present. To recognise how their differences impact them in school and to be able to use strategies that will help staff to support in schools/settings.

• 09/10/25 ~ 9:30-12:00, Barnsley Town Hall 
• 02/03/26 ~ 9:30-12:00, Barnsley Town Hall
• 09/06/26 ~ 9:30-12:00, Barnsley Town Hall

If you have a question, please contact: loramoore@barnsley.gov.uk

This workshop will be attended by parents and carers, schools/ settings, other professionals. The workshop allows you to build an individual profile for a young person you are working with, so that you can recognise the possible underlying reasons for behaviour. You will learn how to analyse the behaviour you see in terms of Autism.

• 10/11/25 ~ 9:30-12, Barnsley Town Hall (booking opens 1/9/25)
  
• 09/03/26 ~ 9:30-12, Barnsley Town Hall (booking opens 1/1/26)
  
• 15/06/26 ~ 9:30-12 Barnsley Town Hall (booking opens 1/4/26)

If you have a question, please contact: christophergoodchild@barnsley.gov.uk

This workshop will be attended by parents and carers, schools/ settings, other professionals. We will offer you the opportunity to look at why visual supports are important and help you to understand how to use and embed visual supports in your setting. The workshop focuses on Objects of reference, First and Then, Choice boards, Visual Timetables and Workstations.

• 06/11/25 ~ 9:30 -2:30pm, Barnsley Town Hall (booking opens 1/9/25)
  
• 29/04/26 ~ 10 - 3pm, Library@TheLightbox (booking opens 1/1/26)
  

If you have a question, please contact: gemmawhitfield@barnsley.gov.uk

Parents/carers need to book a place via Eventbrite here