Context, we are a partnership of 3 Special School who want to improve our students communication skills, to do this we must also train our staff in the wide range of skills and competencies required. They will then ensure the students in each individual school reap the benefit. These communication skills need much work in Special Schools and there is a danger our students can become socially isolated. Our efforts aim to ensure we raise skill levels of these vulnerable students and have a direct and life long impact on the connectivity with society in general. Objectives, central objectives are to up skill students competencies (through staff training) enabling them to communicate more effectively within school, across schools and with society in general. These skills will lessen their social isolation and enable them to connect better with everyday life. We have devised a varied and interesting range of training and activities to raise skill levels and challenge all. Securing these objectives will improve the life opportunities of our students and offered staff a professional development program demonstrating the benefits of life long learning and the real benefits of sharing skills and expertise. Numbers & profile, the numbers of students in our 3 Special Schools vary from 100+ in the largest to approximately 60 in one other, all of the profiles show similarities in that their learning is significantly delayed, our students are in need to much higher levels of support than their mainstream counterparts. Description of activities, the activities selected for training are directly related to improving student skills and competencies in the areas of communication eg social skill training and e-safety. The activities and training sessions are designed to be varied and responsive to changing times and the speed and dangers of modern communication systems. Methodology, our range of methodology is tried and trusted in our schools and has a high success rate with our students, At time it is multi sensory, at other times it may be interactive or direct teaching. The methodology depends on the area of focus. It is also varied and engaging, the drama and dance is an innovative and enjoyable means for students to increase their expressive skills, whilst the e-safety training is at the level staff and students will find enlightening and interesting. All programs will be tailored and modified to meet the needs of individual classes and pupils. Likely results & impact, impact will be gauged through evaluations and surveys of both staff and students, we aim to raise the levels of student communication in a number of areas, within their own classrooms, across their own school and between the partner schools, results will be posted on our website and agreements will be established in regard to the gathering of evaluations and surveys. Potential long term benefits, the longer term benefits will be students who have improved communication skills and who are able to better connect lessening their social isolation., we hope to share our project and its findings at a local and regional level and also across wider educational gateways. Life long learning is an important aspect for both student and staff and our project aims to have a longer term impact as we realise the benefits of sharing skills and expertise throughout our life journey.