Talking Mats Foundation Training
About this course
Foundation Training is for anyone who would like to learn how to use this innovative and award-winning approach to support people with communication difficulties.
This training leads to registration as a Registered Talking Mats user. People attending this course receive a downloadable manual and example resources to support their learning on the course. There are options to purchase card resource packs and bundles, mats, and the digital Talking Mat.
There are a total of 3, morning sessions to attend.
The first 2 sessions have the full course group in attendance (maximum number of participants = 12)
The third session (1 hour duration) will be with a maximum of 3 other delegates, and requires that you have pre-prepared a video of yourself demonstrating your use of a Talking Mat, either with a friend or relative volunteer, or a client if you have the required permissions.
All 3 sessions must be attended in order for you to be registered with Talking Mats as a Registered Talking Mats User. Although the final session is reflective/ advisory as opposed to formally assessed, the full process cannot be signed off as complete if you have been unable to submit a video demonstration covering the requested components.
If for any reason you are unable to attend your reflection session, or unable to produce the required video for the session, every effort will be made to arrange an alternative session for you. There is a charge of £35 for arranging alternative reflection session slots.
Course Times
For a list of course dates and times please go to the Booking page
Course pricing
Book and pay online | Organisational payment | Student / Returner | |
---|---|---|---|
Course Booking | £196 | £220 | £100 |
Please book your place here or alternatively, you can contact us if you are you would like to:
- Book four or more courses (we can offer you a discount)
- Make a block booking for a group
- Book a closed course
Course presenters
Jessica Lane
Specialist Speech and Language Therapist and Talking Mats Associate
Jessica Lane is a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist with a clinical background in Learning Disabilities and Paediatric Mental Health.
Formerly, Jessica worked for an Intensive Support Service in Gloucestershire, supporting children and adults with learning disabilities. She relocated to Scotland in 2022, where she worked across Specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CCAMHS) Services in and around Glasgow. Latterly, Jessica worked at the National Psychiatric Child Inpatient Unit, supporting children with severe and enduring mental illnesses.
Jessica Lane also works as a Research and Outcomes Officer for the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and is currently studying towards a Clinical Doctorate, focusing on the use of Talking Mats to facilitate the direct and meaningful involvement of children in care planning.
Laura Holmes
Speech and Language Therapist and Talking Mats Lead Associate for Children and Young People
Laura Holmes is a Talking Mats Senior Associate and has worked for Talking Mats since 2016. She has worked as a Speech and Language Therapist for over 20 years in NHS as well as independent practice.
Laura has experience working with both children and adults, across a diverse range of settings including mainstream schools, specialist schools and resource bases (primary and secondary), and community clinics. Laura Holmes also worked for NHS Stockport Foundation Trust as a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist with the Stockport Virtual Schools Team. She has a particular interest in using Talking Mats with children and young people who have experienced adverse childhood experiences. Laura supports them to have their voices heard and responded to by those around them.
Course topics
Session 1 (2.5 hours)
- What is a Talking Mat?
- The Talking Mats Process
- Research Evidence
- Who Can Use Talking Mats?
- Impact of Talking Mats
- Preparation for Session 2 Assignment
Session 2 (2.5 hours)
- Session 2 Assignment – Reflection
- Thinking about Top Scales
- Digital Talking Mats
- Planning your own Mats
- Preparation for Video Assignment
Session 3 (1 hour)
- Video presentations
- Supportive reflection with your tutor and peers
- Next steps: Registration, Licensing, and Network opportunities
Course resources
Talking Mats – Health and Wellbeing Set
This resource may be of interest
This Resource uses specifically designed communication symbols to help people organise their thoughts when discussing their health and well-being. It consists of 13 topics broken down into 4 areas and it supports the individual to become more involved in making decisions about interventions and support required. The four topic areas are:
Communication:
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- Understanding – receiving verbal, non-verbal and contextual communication
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- Expression – producing verbal, non-verbal and contextual communication.
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- Learning and Thinking – learning and applying knowledge.
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- Relationships – interacting with people.
Looking After Yourself:
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- Self Care – looking after your body
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- Domestic Life – carrying out everyday actions and tasks where you live
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- Work and Education – carrying out actions and tasks relating to paid and unpaid work and education
Health:
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- General Health – senses and body functions
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- Mobility – moving, transferring and using transport
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- Coping – carrying out general tasks and demands
Leisure and environment:
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- Environment – surroundings and support where you live
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- Leisure away – leisure activities away from home
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- Leisure home – leisure activities where you live
Packaged in a clear plastic wallet with quick reference postcards and guidance booklet included. This comes in a Fair Trade Talking Mats bag with mat.
Please note: This resource can be purchased directly from the supplier here.
Talking Mats Health and Wellbeing Set - £208
The price of £208.00 is inclusive of UK delivery.
For overseas delivery, please email info@coursebeetle.co.uk for a quote.
Talking Mats – Consulting Children and Young People Set
This resource may be of interest
These resources cannot be sold to non-course delegates, but can be included in a Talking Mats Foundation Training course booking
This Talking Mats resource gives a holistic picture of how a child or young person feels about their lives at home, school and in the community and is widely used across a range of settings. 3 stages of development are covered
Early Years – preschool
Primary – ages 5-11
Secondary – ages 12-17
Each stage covers 3 areas;
My Body and Skills – how the child is growing and developing
What I do and my support – the child’s experience of activities and the support they receive
My Wider World – the child’s experience fo the communities where they grow up
Packaged in a clear plastic wallet with quick reference postcards and guidance booklet included. This comes in a Talking Mats Fair Trade bag with mat.
Please note: This resource can be purchased directly from the supplier here, or through Course Beetle when booking on to this training.
Consulting Children and Young People set - Price £208
The price of £208 is inclusive of UK delivery. For overseas shipping please email info@coursebeetle.co.uk for a quote
Talking Mats – Best Value Bundle
This resource may be of interest
These resources cannot be sold to non-course delegates, but can be included in a Talking Mats Foundation Training course booking
- Health and wellbeing set – 4 main topics (communication, looking after yourself, health, leisure and environment.) with 13 sub-topics in total
- Consulting children and young people set – 3 age groups (Early years, primary, secondary)
- Social care set – 3 topics (Activities, where you live, personal wellbeing)
Please note: This resource can be purchased directly from the supplier here, or through Course Beetle when booking on to this training.
Talking Mats Best Value Bundle £330
The price of £330 is inclusive of UK delivery. For overseas shipping please email info@coursebeetle.co.uk for a quote.
If purchased individually, the total cost would be £454 – so a great value bundle!
Who this course is suitable for
This course is suitable for: Careers Advisors, Children's Care Workers, Clinical Psychologists, Dieticians, Educational Psychologists, Nurses, Occupational Therapist Assistants, Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapy Students, Primary Caregivers, Returners to Speech and Language Therapy, Social Workers, Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCo), Specialist and Advisory Teachers, Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs), Speech and Language Therapy Students
This course is suitable for a wide range of participants such as Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Teachers, Care workers and Advocacy workers, Social Workers, Nurses, Dieticians, Psychologists, Career Advisors and Rehabilitation professionals.
Booking information
This course is presented Virtual Live – Online over Zoom
This course is available on various dates throughout the year. To view available course dates and book your place click here.
During the booking process, you can select to reserve a place instead (while you confirm you can attend or to organise payment through your employer for example). We can hold your place for up to four weeks, if we have not heard from you after this time, we may need to cancel your reservation so other people can attend the training.
Course Beetle is an approved supplier for NHS Trusts, Local Authorities and Schools.
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