Training and events by the Virtual School

Summer 2025

For: School Staff

Why doesn’t a behaviour policy based on rewards and sanctions work with children who have experienced trauma and unmet attachment needs? Emotion coaching is about developing the best possible responses to the behaviour of children and young people ‘in the moment’, intervening with the child as the behaviour is happening. Emotion Coaching helps everyone; it helps all children and young people, including those who are struggling that we don’t know about and those more resilient children and young people who experience a challenging event. It can also help those who are struggling with particular challenges like bullying, exam pressure or life events such as death, divorce or poor health. It allows us to develop good relationships that build resilience and an understanding that poor attachment behaviour does not have to be a barrier to relationships. This session will cover:

  • What is emotion coaching
  • Using emotion coaching
  • Connecting with yourself

Date and time

05/06/2025

 3.30pm to 5.30pm 

Online via Microsoft teams

How to book

Emotion Coaching

Autumn 2025

For: Designated Teachers in schools

The Youth Mental Health First Aid course trains individuals to recognize and support young people (aged 8-18) experiencing poor mental health. It equips them with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to spot signs of mental distress, initiate conversations, and guide young people towards appropriate support. The course aims to foster a supportive environment where mental health is treated with the same importance as physical health.

Dates and times

Friday 3 October 2025 9am – 4pm In-person (Ribble Suite, The Exchange, Preston)

Thursday 9 October 2025 1.30pm-4pm online

Thursday 16 October 1.30pm-4pm online

You have to attend all sessions to accredit on the course.

How to book

Youth Mental Health First Aid - Autumn

Spring 2026

For: Designated Teachers in schools

The Youth Mental Health First Aid course trains individuals to recognize and support young people (aged 8-18) experiencing poor mental health. It equips them with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to spot signs of mental distress, initiate conversations, and guide young people towards appropriate support. The course aims to foster a supportive environment where mental health is treated with the same importance as physical health.

Dates and times

Thursday 29 January 2026 9am-4pm In-person (Ribble Suite, The Exchange, Preston)

Thursday 5 February 2026 1.30pm-4pm online

Thursday 12 February 2025 1.30pm-4pm online

You have to attend all sessions to accredit on the course.

How to book

Youth Mental Health First Aid - Spring

Summer 2026

For: Designated Teachers in schools

The Youth Mental Health First Aid course trains individuals to recognize and support young people (aged 8-18) experiencing poor mental health. It equips them with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to spot signs of mental distress, initiate conversations, and guide young people towards appropriate support. The course aims to foster a supportive environment where mental health is treated with the same importance as physical health.

Dates and times

Thursday 30 April 2026 9am-4pm In-person (Ribble Suite, The Exchange, Preston)

Thursday 7 May 2026 1.30pm-4pm online

Thursday 14 May 2025 1.30pm-4pm online

You have to attend all sessions to accredit on the course.

How to book

Youth Mental Health First Aid - Summer

Ongoing training

Early help training for practitioners

Free multi-agency training for all professionals working with children, and families in Lancashire.

Attachment and trauma training - Whole school staff training for Lancashire secondary schools

This is an ongoing training offer which will be booked at a convenient date and time.

This in-person or virtual training is for the whole setting on working with children to become attachment and trauma informed and to look through an attachment and trauma lens. There is also an SLT session to look at school/setting policies.

For more information or for a consultation about this training offer, please e-mail: virtualschooltraining@lancashire.gov.uk

Virtual reality - attachment and trauma training

This powerful new training is available to all schools and settings in Lancashire.

The immersive nature of Antser’s Virtual Reality (VR) programme allows the user to experience the impact of trauma, abuse and neglect through the eyes of the child.

It is designed to enhance the adults understanding of a child’s emotions, trauma and potential triggers to improve the care, support and guidance they provide.

Please e-mail virtualreality-traumatraining@lancashire.gov.uk for more information.