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 (GMT) 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.
Take a look below and reserve your complimentary spots for Spring/Summer 2026.
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.
Training joining details
We will email you the Microsoft Teams joining details a couple of days before the training session so keep an eye out in your email inbox. 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 event.
An Introduction to Learning Village and how it supports EAL learners with a SEND need
Date: Thursday 21st May 2026
Time: 15.30 to 16.00 (GMT)
Learners may have EAL needs, SEND needs, low-level literacy needs or a combination of some or all. This introduction shows how Learning Village uses images and other assistive features to support language learning for learners with different literacy levels and language backgrounds.
Learning Village (6-11 and 12-16) and Community Village (post 16) are blended vocabulary, language structure and reading programmes for EAL/ESOL, low-level literacy and SEND learners.
Presenter: Caroline Scott, Author & Director
Training joining details
We will email you a Microsoft Teams meeting invite a few days before the training session so keep an eye out in your email inbox. Please contact CENMAC at newsandevents@cenmac.com if you do not have the joining details one day before the event.
Switch Heroes: The Seven Stages of Switch Development
Date: Thursday 4th June 2026
Time: 15.30 to 16.00 (GMT)
This virtual session introduces Switch Heroes, a child‑centred framework designed to support the development of switch skills in a clear, practical and engaging way. Using the Seven Stages of Switch Development as its foundation, Switch Heroes brings switch learning to life through simple language, visual characters and real‑world examples that are easy for families, educators and professionals to understand and use together.
Luke will explain the framework, talk through how switch skills develop over time, and demonstrate the tools and resources associated with Switch Heroes, including posters, information sheets, assessment tools and practical activity ideas. The session will focus on building confidence, reducing anxiety around “doing it right”, and supporting consistent, meaningful switch use across everyday environments.
Who should attend? This session is suitable for anyone supporting switch users and aims to provide clear take‑aways that can be applied immediately.
Presenter: Luke Thompson, Assistive Technology Specialist
Training joining details
We will email you a Microsoft Teams meeting invite a few days before the training session so keep an eye out in your email inbox. Please contact CENMAC at newsandevents@cenmac.com if you do not have the joining details one day before the event.
FUNctional Switching
Date: Thursday 11th June 2026
Time: 15.30 to 16.00 (GMT)
A brief introduction into the five gears and free book packed with activities to help your students get the most out their switches.
Presenter: Charlie Danger, Advanced Practitioner in AAC and Assistive Technology
Training joining details
We will email you a Microsoft Teams meeting invite a few days before the training session so keep an eye out in your email inbox. Please contact CENMAC at newsandevents@cenmac.com if you do not have the joining details one day before the event.
Creating communication-access ramps in mainstream lessons
Date: Thursday 9th July 2026
Time: 15.30 to 16.00 (GMT)
Over recent years schools have become more physically accessible with adaptations such as the provision of ramps and lifts. Many can now provide full access to those with mobility needs.
Have schools and speech and language therapists been giving the same attention to communication access that physical access has received?
In this session Neil will share the work Commtap carried out in two east London primary schools to create “communication-access ramps” in lessons using symbols.
Neil will talk about what they did, how teachers took on the approach, immediate changes in engagement observed with pupils and benefits for pupils and teachers.
Whether you are a speech and language therapist, a teacher, a SENCo or a member of a school leadership team, we will show you the simple steps you can take to make lessons communication-inclusive: how to build your own communication-access ramps!
Presenter: Neil Thompson, Commtap CIC
https://symbolgo.com
Training joining details
We will email you a Microsoft Teams meeting invite a few days before the training session so keep an eye out in your email inbox. Please contact CENMAC at newsandevents@cenmac.com if you do not have the joining details one day before the event.
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.
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