{"id":9830,"date":"2020-12-01T12:58:48","date_gmt":"2020-12-01T12:58:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.arturs.talkingmats.mtcdevserver4.com\/?page_id=9830"},"modified":"2026-02-25T13:56:46","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T13:56:46","slug":"foundation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.talkingmats.com\/training\/foundation\/","title":{"rendered":"Foundation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Foundation training is for anyone who would like to learn how to effectively use our innovative and&nbsp;award-winning&nbsp;approach&nbsp;to support people with communication difficulties.&nbsp;Foundation training can be undertaken face to face or online. See below for more details.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>This training will help you to:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use&nbsp;Talking Mats&nbsp;to support&nbsp;the children&nbsp;and&nbsp;adults you work&nbsp;with to share their feelings, thoughts and views.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reflect on your own communication.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Learn how issues that arise can be explored further through careful planning.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Discover&nbsp;our&nbsp;Talking Mats&nbsp;research and evidence base.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Connect with practitioners around the world.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You can see training and resource options in our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.talkingmats.com\/shop\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>shop.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-background\" id=\"online\" style=\"background-color:#52d6bf\">Online<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This course is ideal for anyone who prefers a flexible learning experience at a self-guided pace.&nbsp; There are 4 modules consisting of;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Module 1: What is a Talking Mat<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Module 2: The evidence supporting Talking Mats and who can use it<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Module 3: The benefits of using a Talking Mat for the listener and the thinker<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Module 4: Using Talking Mats creatively<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Each module has a teaching section and an activity which may be watching a short film clip, a quiz, reading or contributing your ideas, questions and comments to the group forum.&nbsp; The final module requires a short film of you carrying out a mat and your thoughts on how this went.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The course is completed over a period of 6 weeks and we estimate it involves 12 hours of learning.&nbsp; There are no live sessions.&nbsp; Your learning is supported by personalised feedback from Talking Mats tutors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Our online Foundation Training dates for 2025 \/ 2026 are available to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.talkingmats.com\/shop\/#tab-Training\">book now<\/a> in our<\/strong> <strong>shop<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If your preferred course date is sold out, please do keep an eye on our website shop, as we reopen bookings in the event of cancellations. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>31st March 2026<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>28th April 2026<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>26th May 2026<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>23rd June 2026<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>21st July 2026 <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>25th August 2026 <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>22nd September 2026<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>20th October 2026<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-white-color has-text-color has-background\" id=\"face-to-face\" style=\"background-color:#584974\">Face to Face (In Person)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Face to face training is delivered by specialist Talking Mats tutors,  in one day and hands-on experience of Talking Mats is combined with role-play, discussion and reflection of the use of the tool in a variety of real-life situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Our 2026 face to face training dates <strong>across the UK<\/strong><\/strong> <strong>are now available for booking<\/strong>. <strong>Click below to find out more<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-black-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.talkingmats.com\/face-to-face-training-manchester\/\" style=\"background-color:#52d6bf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Find out more here<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to book<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Please book your place through our shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-black-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.talkingmats.com\/shop\/\" style=\"background-color:#52d6bf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Book here<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you have booked your place, one of our team will be in touch to get more details including any accessibility or dietary requirements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-white-color has-text-color has-background\" style=\"background-color:#584974\">Course Beetle <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-text-color\" style=\"color:#584974;font-size:28px\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This course, in partnership with Course Beetle, is perfect for anyone who wants to take part in live sessions with a Talking Mats tutor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These courses are very popular and dates fill up quickly. Booking is via Course Beetle website<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To find out more about the structure of the course and dates for 2025 \/ 2026:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-black-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/coursebeetle.co.uk\/courses\/talking-mats\/#information\" style=\"background-color:#52d6bf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Find out more here<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">To book directly with Course Beetle:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-black-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/coursebeetle.co.uk\/courses\/talking-mats\/#booking\" style=\"background-color:#52d6bf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Book here<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Foundation training is for anyone who would like to learn how to effectively use our innovative and&nbsp;award-winning&nbsp;approach&nbsp;to support people with&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":418,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/content_page.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-9830","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Foundation - Improving Communication, Improving Lives<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Talking Mats is a social enterprise whose vision is to improve the lives of people with communication difficulties. 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