Courses
Other training opportunities including mandatory training
Visit Bolton's Learning and Development - Working with Children webpage for more information.
New time limited, fully-funded training for wraparound providers in Bolton can be found on our news webpages.
Find Your Course

New GMCA WellComm Training | 16th and 30th September 2025 | 9:30am - 12:30pm | Harvey Start Well Centre
16-09-2025
This New Gold Standard 'GMCA WellComm Training' provides participants with a deeper level of knowledge and the skills to know how to effectively use both the WellComm screen and the interventions. Join us for 2 half-day sessions as we focus on the use of the WellComm as a screening tool and undertake a deep dive into the interventions, results monitoring, and how we review progress.

SENIF - Supporting Early Communication and Language Development | 19th September 2025 | 10:00am - 12:00noon
19-09-2025
This workshop is designed to develop participant’s knowledge of early communication and language development. It will explore the importance of effective adult-child interaction strategies and how to use them to support children’s communication development.

SENIF - Early Identification and Early Intervention for Early Years SEND | 22nd September 2025 | 9:30am to 3:00pm
22-09-2025
Supporting practitioners to implement graduated approach following the cycle of action For EYFS staff supporting children in receipt of Inclusion Fund, EYFS Leaders, EYFS SENCOs, and all EYFS practitioners The session provides a forum for EYFS practitioners to support Early Intervention and Early Intervention in line with The Code of Practice

Everyday Communication: The 5 Golden Rules in Action | 26th September 2025 | 9:30am - 12:00noon
26-09-2025
Communication is everyone's responsibility! This 2.5 hour workshop is an opportunity for everyone who works with 0-5 year old’s and their families to find out more about the 5 Golden Rules for Communication. New and experienced practitioners will explore how the 5 Golden Rules for Communication can be used every day to support children’s speech, language and communication.

SENIF - A Holistic Approach for Supporting Emotional Development | 7th October 2025 | 9:30am to 3:30pm
07-10-2025
Jointly delivered by The Educational Psychology Service, Start Well and Woodbridge SEND services this full day course provides an introduction to the fundamental principles of attachment theory, factors that influence behaviour and positive intervention approaches. You’ll explore how the dynamics of early relationships influence how children interact.

SENIF - The Early Years Regulation Toolkit | 13th October 2025 | 9:30am to 3:30pm
07-10-2025
Offers practical, hands-on strategies for practitioners to support young children's sensory regulation and nervous system awareness. Grounded in approaches such as sensory circuits and Polyvagal Theory, the session explores how to build effective co-regulation practices and create personalised toolkits that help children feel safe, calm, and ready to engage. Ideal for early years settings, this training empowers practitioners to better understand and respond to the sensory and emotional needs of the children in their care

Everyday Communication: The 5 Golden Rules in Action | 8th October 2025 | 12:30pm - 3:00pm
08-10-2025
Communication is everyone's responsibility! This 2.5 hour workshop is an opportunity for everyone who works with 0-5 year old’s and their families to find out more about the 5 Golden Rules for Communication. New and experienced practitioners will explore how the 5 Golden Rules for Communication can be used every day to support children’s speech, language and communication.

Everyday Communication: The 5 Golden Rules in Action | 8th October 2025 | 6:30pm - 8:30pm
08-10-2025
Communication is everyone's responsibility! This 2.5 hour workshop is an opportunity for everyone who works with 0-5 year old’s and their families to find out more about the 5 Golden Rules for Communication. New and experienced practitioners will explore how the 5 Golden Rules for Communication can be used every day to support children’s speech, language and communication.

EYFS Briefing for Childminders | 14th October 2025 | 6:30pm - 8:30pm
14-10-2025
Keeping you up to date on all the latest developments in the Early Years Foundation Stage to support your professional development. This face to face briefing will take place at Harvey Family Hub.

Bringing Start Well Stories to Life - For Established Practitioners | 15th October 2025 | 9:30am - 11:30am
15-10-2025
Want to feel more confident at story time? On the lookout for new games and ideas to add to your early years toolbox? Looking for accessible ways to pull a Start Well story off the page? Join Alice to learn new skills and build confidence in making story time more interactive for the children you work with.

Bringing Start Well Stories to Life - For Beginners | 15th October | 12:30pm - 2:30pm
15-10-2025
Want to feel more confident at story time? On the lookout for new games and ideas to add to your early years toolbox? Looking for accessible ways to pull a Start Well story off the page? Join Alice to learn new skills and build confidence in making story time more interactive for the children you work with.

SENIF - Early Connections: Supporting Social Communication, Attention, and Learning | 20th October 2025 | 9:30am to 3:30pm
20-10-2025
A practical training session designed to help practitioners create rich opportunities for interaction, joint attention, and early communication. With a focus on supporting children with social communication needs, including those on the ASC – BSCIP pathway, the session explores total communication approaches by integrating Signalong, visual supports, and communication symbols.

New GMCA WellComm Training | 26th November and 10th December 2025 | 1:30pm - 4:30pm | Harvey Start Well Centre
26-11-2025
This New Gold Standard 'GMCA WellComm Training' provides participants with a deeper level of knowledge and the skills to know how to effectively use both the WellComm screen and the interventions. Join us for 2 half-day sessions as we focus on the use of the WellComm as a screening tool and undertake a deep dive into the interventions, results monitoring, and how we review progress.

SENIF - Effective Parent Carer Partnerships for Children with SEND needs | 28th November 2025 | 9:30am to 3:30pm
28-11-2025
Supporting good practice for working collaboratively with parents and carers of children with SEND needs For EYFS staff supporting children in receipt of Inclusion Fund, ETFS Leaders, EYFS SENCOs, and all EYFS practitioners

Attention Autism CPD Training Offer: Express your Interest for a January 2026 Start
08-01-2026
MUST BE BOOKED BY COMPLETION OF EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FORM. Attention Autism programmes are suitable for all Early Years children, both those with and without social communication difficulties. Early Years learning can be delivered inclusively through this model to great effect with a strong emphasis on speech, language, and attention skills as well as the promotion of Personal Social and Emotional skills. If this course is oversubscribed, priority will be given to schools and settings with high numbers of inclusion fund children, areas of deprivation and settings which have not accessed the training before.

Everyday Communication: The 5 Golden Rules in Action | 15th January 2026 | 9:30am - 12:00noon
15-01-2026
Communication is everyone's responsibility! This 2.5 hour workshop is an opportunity for everyone who works with 0-5 year old’s and their families to find out more about the 5 Golden Rules for Communication. New and experienced practitioners will explore how the 5 Golden Rules for Communication can be used every day to support children’s speech, language and communication.

Everyday Communication: The 5 Golden Rules in Action | 15th January 2026 | 1:30pm - 4:00pm
15-01-2026
Communication is everyone's responsibility! This 2.5 hour workshop is an opportunity for everyone who works with 0-5 year old’s and their families to find out more about the 5 Golden Rules for Communication. New and experienced practitioners will explore how the 5 Golden Rules for Communication can be used every day to support children’s speech, language and communication.

Everyday Communication: The 5 Golden Rules in Action | 15th January 2026 | 6:30pm - 8:30pm
15-01-2026
Communication is everyone's responsibility! This 2.5 hour workshop is an opportunity for everyone who works with 0-5 year old’s and their families to find out more about the 5 Golden Rules for Communication. New and experienced practitioners will explore how the 5 Golden Rules for Communication can be used every day to support children’s speech, language and communication.

Online EYFS Briefing for Bolton Schools, Daycare, Out of School Clubs and Childminders | 27th January 2026 | 9:30am - 11:30pm
27-01-2026
This live online briefing will include national and local news and updates from Quality and Outcomes, SEND, Communication and Language and partner services. We aim to record the briefing for practitioners to access later for personal development or team reflections and discussion.

Physical Literacy in the Early Years Conference | Wednesday 11th February 2026 | 9:30am - 4:00pm
11-02-2026
Moving Minds, Moving Bodies: Building Confidence, Capable Learners Through Physical Literacy. This year’s conference aims to inspire early years practitioners to recognise the vital role of physical literacy in every child’s development. Physical literacy is more than movement—it’s about nurturing confidence, motivation, and competence in physical activity to support lifelong wellbeing. Throughout the day, we will explore how high-quality physical development opportunities can positively impact children’s physical, social, emotional, and cognitive growth. Practitioners will be encouraged to reflect on how to create inclusive, engaging environments that promote movement, play, and exploration for all children.

SENIF - Accessibility for Children with Additional Physical Needs | 26th February 2026 | 9:30am - 3:30pm
26-02-2026
The session provides a forum for EYFS practitioners to gain an understanding of how they can support children’s physical and sensory needs For EYFS staff supporting children in receipt of Inclusion Fund, ETFS Leaders, EYFS SENCOs, and all EYFS practitioners

New GMCA WellComm Training | 12th and 26th March 2026 | 9:30am - 12:30pm | Harvey Start Well Centre
12-03-2026
This New Gold Standard 'GMCA WellComm Training' provides participants with a deeper level of knowledge and the skills to know how to effectively use both the WellComm screen and the interventions. Join us for 2 half-day sessions as we focus on the use of the WellComm as a screening tool and undertake a deep dive into the interventions, results monitoring, and how we review progress.

Bolton Early Years Community of Practice Network | 23rd April 2026 | 6:30pm - 8:00pm
23-04-2026
This 'Community of Practice' will have a communication, language and literacy focus. Find out more about the Family Hub Network, supporting parents to improve outcomes for children in communication, language and literacy. Family Hub Practitioners and EYCLDS will share their planning for stay and play and parent child interaction groups. Practitioners will share the key messages they share with parents at Let’s Get Talking and Chat, Play, Read.

New GMCA WellComm Training | 8th and 22nd May 2026 | 9:30am - 12:30pm | Harvey Start Well Centre
08-05-2026
This New Gold Standard 'GMCA WellComm Training' provides participants with a deeper level of knowledge and the skills to know how to effectively use both the WellComm screen and the interventions. Join us for 2 half-day sessions as we focus on the use of the WellComm as a screening tool and undertake a deep dive into the interventions, results monitoring, and how we review progress.

Everyday Communication: The 5 Golden Rules in Action | 17th June 2026 | 9:30am - 12:00noon
17-06-2026
Communication is everyone's responsibility! This 2.5 hour workshop is an opportunity for everyone who works with 0-5 year old’s and their families to find out more about the 5 Golden Rules for Communication. New and experienced practitioners will explore how the 5 Golden Rules for Communication can be used every day to support children’s speech, language and communication.

Everyday Communication: The 5 Golden Rules in Action | 17th June 2026 | 1:30pm - 4:00pm
17-06-2026
Communication is everyone's responsibility! This 2.5 hour workshop is an opportunity for everyone who works with 0-5 year old’s and their families to find out more about the 5 Golden Rules for Communication. New and experienced practitioners will explore how the 5 Golden Rules for Communication can be used every day to support children’s speech, language and communication.

Everyday Communication: The 5 Golden Rules in Action | 17th June 2026 | 6:30pm - 8:30pm
17-06-2026
Communication is everyone's responsibility! This 2.5 hour workshop is an opportunity for everyone who works with 0-5 year old’s and their families to find out more about the 5 Golden Rules for Communication. New and experienced practitioners will explore how the 5 Golden Rules for Communication can be used every day to support children’s speech, language and communication.

Annual Communication Champion Workshop | 1st July 2026 | 10:30am - 12:00noon
01-07-2026
Communication is everyone's responsibility! The workshop is an opportunity for new and experienced Communication Champions to come together, reflect on communication and language in your setting, school or service and share experiences, news and updates. This annual workshop is in addition to the termly Communication and Language updates at the Early Years and Childcare Briefing.

Annual Communication Champion Workshop | 1st July 2026 | 4:15pm - 5:45pm
01-07-2026
Communication is everyone's responsibility! The workshop is an opportunity for new and experienced Communication Champions to come together, reflect on communication and language in your setting, school or service and share experiences, news and updates. This annual workshop is in addition to the termly Communication and Language updates at the Early Years and Childcare Briefing.

Annual Communication Champion Workshop | 1st July 2026 | 6:30pm - 8:00pm
01-07-2026
Communication is everyone's responsibility! The workshop is an opportunity for new and experienced Communication Champions to come together, reflect on communication and language in your setting, school or service and share experiences, news and updates. This annual workshop is in addition to the termly Communication and Language updates at the Early Years and Childcare Briefing.

E-learning | Childminders: What to expect from your inspection
27-07-2026
This hour long webinar is available to watch in your own time on the Bolton Start Well E-learning platform. Hear from Rachel Flesher HMI, Early Years Senior Officer and Jenny Burgeen, Early Years Regulatory Inspector, about how inspectors conduct inspections. Gain an understanding of how to prepare for your inspection and what to expect! For registered Childminders in Bolton.

E-learning | Get Bolton Reading Golden Nuggets 0-3s
28-07-2026
This E-Learning package is available upon request to access any time. This course creatively explores how every child communication resources and the Start Well Stories can be used to develop two crucial aspects of early reading development: Word recognition and language comprehension for children under 3 years old.

E-learning | Get Bolton Reading Golden Nuggets 3-4s
28-07-2026
This E-Learning package is available upon request to access any time. This course creatively explores how every child communication resources and the Start Well Stories can be used to develop two crucial aspects of early reading development: Word recognition and language comprehension for children aged 3-4 years.

Department for Education Early Years Child Development Training | Complete Online Anytime
31-07-2026
Free DfE online training covering child and brain development, PSED and Communication and Language. Training accessed via https://child-development-training.education.gov.uk/