About Stride
Stride was formed and began training in September 2000 in response to the lack of training opportunities available to staff working with pupils with special educational needs.
It is a partnership of two professionals, Susan Baxter and Sue Jones, who have been working in the field of disability for more than twenty years in a range of services including Health and Social Services, Youth and Community Services, Further, Mainstream and Special Education.
Sue Jones and Susan Baxter
Both are professional trainers, qualified teachers and managers in Special Education have extensive experience and professional development in a range of special needs. These include needs associated with Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Profound, Multiple and Complex Learning Difficulties, Severe and Moderate Learning Difficulties, and Challenging Behaviours associated with any of these needs.
With the inclusion initiative well on its way into practice, mainstream schools are facing the struggle of having to deliver the curriculum to diverse groups of pupils without the required knowledge and experience. At the same time special school staff are also suffering from the lack of specialist teacher training and the increasing reduction in experienced staff within schools. In addition, staff are frustrated by the lack of good practical training and support in dealing with pupils with such needs as Autistic Spectrum Disorder ASD, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties PMLD, and other severe and complex needs.
Stride is aware of the lack of training opportunities that are available and that planning for the progress of pupils with often complex needs, and including them in meaningful classroom activities, is a challenge.
It has always been a priority to offer training that is very practical and will improve the day-to-day lives of both the pupils and those who are working with them. The broad knowledge-base of Stride trainers is highly valued by participants.
I wanted to come on a course to 'sound you out' as it were, and I was very impressed with the depth of background and experience that you both bought to the training. Between you, you seemed to have knowledge of all the different approaches and methods that are around now and have been around over the years. You were able to recommend books to cover any interest in the field. You truly had an answer for everything...
Graci Dale, then senior teacher at Elmbrook School, Essex.
The aim of Stride is to improve the education and life of children and young people with learning difficulties by supporting professionals in order to help them develop their own skills and knowledge. This is done by providing quality training planned in response to specific need or through centrally planned courses. It also provides guidance for teachers new to special schools, learning support assistants and nursery nurses working with pupils with special needs. Stride also offers consultation on the implementation of service improvement plans and new government initiatives helping managers put policy into practice.
