CENMAC’s Thursday Thirty
Online training & information sessions
CENMAC’s Thursday Thirty online training & information sessions run throughout the school term.
Join us at 15.30 to 16.00 (BST) on Thursday afternoons to find out how a wide range of assistive technologies are used to support learning and communication in mainstream and special educational settings.
Who should attend? Our training sessions are suitable for teachers, SENCOs, school SEND teams, TAs, Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, parents and carers supporting children and young people using assistive technology to access the curriculum and/or to communicate.
Please scroll down the page to see upcoming sessions for the 2026 Autumn term and to sign up for them.
Training joining details
Thursday Thirty online sessions are held via Microsoft Teams. You will receive a Microsoft Teams meeting invite via email to join the meeting. You will also receive reminders and joining details via EventBrite. Please check your spam or junk mail folder and contact CENMAC at newsandevents@cenmac.com if you do not have the joining details one day before the session.
AAC – A Parent’s Perspective
Date: Thursday 17th September 2026
Time: 15.30 – 16.00 (BST)
Description: Join Laura to hear her lived experience perspective on introducing an AAC device to her autistic, non speaking son – Ethan. Laura discusses their AAC magical moments & life changing highlights, whilst also reflecting on the challenges along the way. Laura will also briefly discuss the story behind her parliamentary campaign, “Speak Up for Autism”. Join for top tips, video footage of Ethan in action on his AAC device & a boost of AAC advocacy.
Presenter: Laura Brown, AAC, Autism & Inclusion Advocate, Spinning World of Autism
Training joining details
Thursday Thirty online sessions are held via Microsoft Teams. You will receive a Microsoft Teams meeting invite via email to join the meeting. You will also receive reminders and joining details via EventBrite. Please check your spam or junk mail folder and contact CENMAC at newsandevents@cenmac.com if you do not have the joining details one day before the session.
Making therapy toys switch accessible
Date: Thursday 24th September 2026
Time: 15.30 – 16.00 (BST)
Description: Join Dan Cooper, a speech and language therapist working at Richard Cloudesley School, as he shares DIY examples that you can use to make your therapy toys switch accessible. He’ll be showing the tools you’ll need and videos of successful adaptations he’s made.
Presenter: Dan Cooper, Speech and Language Therapist, Richard Cloudesley School
Training joining details
Thursday Thirty online sessions are held via Microsoft Teams. You will receive a Microsoft Teams meeting invite via email to join the meeting. You will also receive reminders and joining details via EventBrite. Please check your spam or junk mail folder and contact CENMAC at newsandevents@cenmac.com if you do not have the joining details one day before the session.
Inspiration 12 for Exam Arrangements
Date: 1 October 2026
Time: 15.30 to 16.00 (BST)
Description: In this 30 minute online session, discover how students who use Inspiration 12 for their normal way of working, planning and writing, can seamlessly transition this familiar workflow into JCQ-regulated exams.
Through visual thinking techniques, Inspiration 12 transforms ideas into organized plans and structured documents. Learn how the software helps students brainstorm, outline, and write with confidence, ensuring their exam experience mirrors their daily learning habits to bridge the gap between classroom success and exam-day achievement.
Presenter: Donald Macfie III, Customer Relationship Associate, TechEdology
Training joining details
Thursday Thirty online sessions are held via Microsoft Teams. You will receive a Microsoft Teams meeting invite via email to join the meeting. You will also receive reminders and joining details via EventBrite. Please check your spam or junk mail folder and contact CENMAC at newsandevents@cenmac.com if you do not have the joining details one day before the session.
Supporting Communication for Children with SEND: An introduction to My IssieSign, IssieSays, and IssieAlbum
Date: 8 October 2026
Time: 15.30 to 16.00 (BST)
Description: In this 30 minutes session, discover how IssieApps support communication, language development, and self-expression. Using real life examples and practical applications, we will introduce you to My IssieSign, an open platform to easily create a customized sign language library, IssieSays, a customizable recordable button app, IssieAlbum, a simple app to create personalized stories with options for symbol support, and IssieVoice, a customizable keyboard-based communication app with text-to-speech support. Through demonstrations and real-life examples, participants will learn how these affordable tools can support AAC, visual communication, sign language learning, and personalized communication experiences.
To download the apps in advance visit: https://www.issieapps.com/
Presenters: Rachel Blum, Speech and Language Pathologist and Dana Cappel, Occupational Therapist, at Beit Issie Shapiro
Training joining details
Thursday Thirty online sessions are held via Microsoft Teams. You will receive a Microsoft Teams meeting invite via email to join the meeting. You will also receive reminders and joining details via EventBrite. Please check your spam or junk mail folder and contact CENMAC at newsandevents@cenmac.com if you do not have the joining details one day before the session.
Thinking Ahead Around Exam Access
Date: 15th October 2026
Time: 15.30 to 16.00 (BST)
CENMAC Advisory Teacher Maureen De Longhi provides useful information about organising access arrangements for the 2027 SATs, Key Stage 2 tests and the GCSE exams.
During exams, organising access arrangements can be difficult. Throw Assistive Technology into the mix and there is the potential for some students to miss out on arrangements that may better support their needs, because their teachers are either unaware of what assistive technologies are available or unsure of whether they would contravene the rules.
Schools may wish to consider the use of technology to a much greater extent than they do currently. Assistive Technology not only allows candidates to work more independently and is a far better preparation for further and higher education and the world of employment but is also a far more cost-effective way of supporting their SEND students through the exam period.
Aims of this session:
- Outline the role of AT to improve the ability of students to communicate, learn and achieve as a usual way of working and explore some of the technology available
- Look at JCQ guidance to schools and colleges with regard to the use of assistive technology for access arrangements and identify the key points
- Consider how to make the necessary applications to enable students to use AT in exams.
Training joining details
Thursday Thirty online sessions are held via Microsoft Teams. You will receive a Microsoft Teams meeting invite via email to join the meeting. You will also receive reminders and joining details via EventBrite. Please check your spam or junk mail folder and contact CENMAC at newsandevents@cenmac.com if you do not have the joining details one day before the session.
Empowering Complex Learners: Leveraging AI and Personalised Assistive Technology for Inclusive Education
Date: 12th November 2026
Time: 15.30 to 16.00 (GMT)
If you missed Clare Thorn’s seminar session at our annual event Communication Works earlier this year this is a chance to hear from Clare again.
In this online session Clare explores the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in supporting learners with complex needs. By moving beyond traditional printed symbols, Clare will demonstrate how AI-generated imagery, personalised music, and bespoke video content can foster deep engagement through positive representation.
Featuring practical examples from her classroom, ranging from custom resources to songs featuring students’ own names. This presentation highlights how personalised, AI-driven tools can create meaningful connections for students who struggle to engage with standard resources.
Training joining details
Thursday Thirty online sessions are held via Microsoft Teams. You will receive a Microsoft Teams meeting invite via email to join the meeting. You will also receive reminders and joining details via EventBrite. Please check your spam or junk mail folder and contact CENMAC at newsandevents@cenmac.com if you do not have the joining details one day before the session.
Supporting children and young people with our Top Ten Free Apps!
Date: 19th November 2026
Time: 15.30 to 16.00 (GMT)
Join CENMAC Advisory Teacher Carys for this online session. Carys will demonstrate the top 10 free apps she uses to support our CENMAC students with English, maths and the wider curriculum and show how they can help keep your students motivated and engaged.
Aims of this session:
- Outline the role of AT to improve the ability of students to communicate, learn and achieve as a usual way of working and explore some of the technology available
- Look at JCQ guidance to schools and colleges with regard to the use of assistive technology for access arrangements and identify the key points
- Consider how to make the necessary applications to enable students to use AT in exams.
Training joining details
Thursday Thirty online sessions are held via Microsoft Teams. You will receive a Microsoft Teams meeting invite via email to join the meeting. You will also receive reminders and joining details via EventBrite. Please check your spam or junk mail folder and contact CENMAC at newsandevents@cenmac.com if you do not have the joining details one day before the session.
Supporting Participation in the Classroom for students with SEND: An Introduction to IssieBoard, IssieDocs, IssieCalc, and IssieDice
Date: 26th November 2026
Time: 15.30 to 16.00 (GMT)
In this 30 minute online session, explore IssieApps designed to increase access to learning and classroom participation.
Apps include:
- IssieBoard, a fully customisable keyboard
- IssieDocs, a worksheet editor and digital binder
- IssieCalc, a fully customisable calculator with text to speech support
- IssieDice, a customisable dice app to support play and engagement in classroom activities.
Learn how educators and therapists use these tools to support reading, writing, mathematics, classroom engagement, and independent participation.
Presenters: Dana Cappel, Occupational Therapist and Rachel Blum, Speech and Language Pathologist at Beit Issie Shapiro
Training joining details
Thursday Thirty online sessions are held via Microsoft Teams. You will receive a Microsoft Teams meeting invite via email to join the meeting. You will also receive reminders and joining details via EventBrite. Please check your spam or junk mail folder and contact CENMAC at newsandevents@cenmac.com if you do not have the joining details one day before the session.
Missed a Thursday Thirty Session?
Thursday Thirty sessions are recorded > View recorded sessions
If you have any changes in school and need training to implement the students’ assistive technology please do get in contact with your advisory teacher or mail@cenmac.com.
Sign-up to our monthly enewsletter to stay informed about upcoming training events.