Assistive Technologies in Schools

Be ThAT Teacher! A new opportunity to join the programme

Developing the use of Assistive Technologies in mainstream classrooms is becoming government policy, with all new recruits into the profession receiving mandatory training from September 2025.

We are offering all education settings (5-19) more opportunities to join the highly successful “Be ThAT Teacher” professional development programme, with new cohorts able to join in March and May 2025. 

The programme is a natural evolution from two DfE-funded pilot programmes in 2022 and 2023, aimed at developing awareness and understanding of the power of assistive technologies to transform mainstream and targeted teaching and learning, in both primary and secondary settings.

The programmes were an unqualified success, with impact seen in terms of pupil engagement, motivation and access to learning (see https://www.microlinkpc.com/blog/microlinks-assistive-technology-rollout-endorsed-by-dfe-report/). We have developed pathways for Leaders as well as classroom teachers.

We look forward to partnering with ASCL, SSAT and Call Scotland to further expand the programme in 2025. Through the generous support of HSBC Bank, we were able to enable all training and resources completely free of charge. We are seeking sponsorship to repeat this offer.

Download the guide at the bottom of this page, and click on the Expression of Interest button if you would like to know more.

Be ThAT TA (Teaching Assistant)- New professional development programme for 2025!

Teaching Assistants (TAs) are often in the front line of inclusive practice in primary and secondary schools and academies.

Assistive Technologies are often used to support “Wave 2” and “Wave 3” interventions for children on SEN Support or with EHCPs. This is different!

Microlink is offering a programme specifically designed to help TAs develop the use of Assistive Technologies to support their work with Neurodivergent Children in mainstream classrooms.

The training is built around three 90-minute online group coaching sessions, starting in May 2025, and is based on the high-impact programme for teaching staff and leaders.

Indicative price point to access the full programme, additional AT support sessions and CPD accreditation on submission of a case study will be just £95 per participant.

If you would like further details, please click on the Expression of Interest button below.

AT Test and Learn Impact Report

In the fall of 2022, Microlink, together with its delivery partners nasen and Natspec, won a DfE contract to deliver an Assistive Technologies training programme to 150 primary and secondary schools. This was delivered through the first part of 2023.

An independent evaluation of the programme will be released by the DfE soon. This report goes deeper, featuring the unedited input from every teaching professional who completed the Needs Analysis process, and went on to claim an Explorer, Innovator or Transformer badge in acknowledgement of their progress.

The report is informative and inspirational. It confirmed that the Needs Analysis/Audit process did exactly what it was supposed to do: help school communities identify strengths, spotlight areas for development, and through shared learning, identify clearly the next steps in their AT journey.

(If you need an accessible version of the document, please email azadeh.sotoudeh@microlinkpc.com)

Download this guide to the “Be ThAT Teacher” training and professional development programme.

Not only do we introduce ideas, solutions and applications that support the use of AT in your classrooms, we also aim to build your personal capacity to manage change effectively.

We sincerely hope you want to Be ThAT Teacher!
If you have any questions or queries, please contact: education@microlinkpc.com