Category: Resources

  • Episode 24: Well Being – Plans and Possibilities

    LearningShared Episode 24 Well Being Conference Plans and Possibilities (Conference 29th June 2021)

    This episode is a recording of the online conference and webinar on the topic Well Being that was held on 29th June 2021. The event and this recording contains presentations and talks from national leaders in the field of mental health, well being, trauma informed practice and psychology including Professor Barry Carpenter CBE OBE FCCT, Dr Tina Rae, Sharon Gray OBE and Laura Purser, as well as 5 school based practitioners and leaders from a wide range of settings and contexts.

    Presenters and panellists:

    • Prof Barry Carpenter CBE OBE FCCT (Prof. Mental Health in Education, Oxford Brookes University)
    • Dr Tina Rae (Child Psychologist. Prolific & award winning author)
    • Sharon Gray OBE (Former-Headteacher. Former-Ofsted Inspector. Member of the Youth Justice Board, Wholehearted Learning)
    • Laura Purser (Head of Primary, Prep & EYFS at University of Buckingham. Designs/leads master’s level NASENCO course.)
    • Alison Wheeler (Headteacher, Palmerston School)
    • Alex Tomkins (Deputy Headteacher, Greenside School)
    • Jeanette Scull (Deputy Headteacher, John F Kennedy School)
    • Jonah Stancombe (Assistant Principal, Bridge College)
    • Tom Thatcher (PSHE Lead, St Hugh’s Special School)

    Professor Carpenter writes…

    The pandemic period has witnessed a rapid erosion in the mental health of children. National figures are worrying, but as ever, as Teachers, we must ask ‘how does this affect children’s learning, and how can we remove barriers to achievement generated by issues such as anxiety, trauma and loss?” 

    Two major Curriculum initiatives from this September will enhance the foundations created, pre pandemic, of Mental Health Leads in school, Mental Heath First Aid Training, etc:
     

    Firstly, for all children, the new DfE Relationships, Health and Sex Education (RHSE) Curriculum becomes statutory. With its clear focus on Mental Well Being and Relationships, these are perfect platforms for rebuilding each school’s curriculum on meaningful human values, with RSHE at its heart, … for teaching is a relationship based profession.

    Secondly, for children with SEND, the implementation of the Rochford Review recommendations, not only brings the Engagement Model into play as statutory summative assessment, but sees a renewed emphasis on the 4 domains of SEND in the Code of Practice (2015) as the curriculum framework for children with an EHCP. As such Social, Emotional and Mental Health, (SEMH), is a vital platform for designing learning opportunities for children with EHCPs.

    Evidence for Learning has a strong history of facilitating curriculum development, pedagogy, assessment and practice in the area of Mental Well Being (MWB) through a variety of strategies.”

    Alongside Prof. Barry Carpenter, presenters included national leaders and experts in the field – Dr Tina Rae, Sharon Gray OBE, and Laura Purser – together with school based practitioners – Alison Wheeler, Alex Tomkins, Jeanette Scull, Jonah Stancombe and Tom Thatcher – for a rich and comprehensive collection of presentations and sharing of knowledge, ideas and practice that you are invited to take back to your own schools for your own discussions, planning and CPLD.

    This episode is packed full of valuable ideas and insights, with colleagues sharing knowledge, ideas and practice that you are invited to take back to your own schools for your own discussions, planning and CPLD.

  • Episode 21: Family Centred Practice – Talking to families. Listening to families Working with families

    This podcast exalts Schools to shift the focus from partnership with parents to partnership with families; to embrace a more holistic and inclusive approach which values the contributions of all family members involved in a Childs life.
    At its loftiest this is a paradigm shift to more Family centred practice; in its practical reality it is about adjusting your school newsletter to read ‘dear families’, instead of ‘dear parents’.

    In 21st-century Society, when so much childcare is delivered by family members other than parents, do we truly value their contribution ? Does it matter if the home – school liaison diary is completed by a grandparent ? Where is the ‘SibShop’ workshop event in the school calendar to enable siblings to come together for fun activities whilst bonding with other siblings whose life journey is also as a brother/ sister to a child with special educational needs/ disabilities ?
    Such approaches will enrich the practice of our schools, and the lives of our families, as the speakers in this podcast powerfully illustrate.

    LearningShared Episode 21 about Family Centred Practice
  • Sports and Sensory Sanctuaries

    The implementation of this concept , developed by Victoria Wells, National Manager at the Youth Sports Trust , is having dramatic impact on all types of schools.
    This booklet is a useful guide on how to develop them in your school.

  • Children with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) .. cont

    Children with Acquired Brain Injury ( ABI ) are often an overlooked group, particularly in Mainstream schools.

    Attached is an article just published by Cath Bate and Colleagues. Cath was part of a group of Teachers in Surrey , that I led through school focused, inquiry based projects a few years ago . She has gone on from that experience to study for an MSc, and deepen her knowledge and insight in this field.

    This is a rare gem of an article, offering some rich insights.

    It was recently published in JORSEN. https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-3802.12517

  • ADHD in Girls – Fintan O’Regan

    There is growing interest in how ADHD may present itself in girls. As with Autism , there are gender related issues and profiles linked to the social biology of the brain.


    This short overview article by Fintan O’Regan, offers some valuable insights and useful  observational starting points for the classroom teacher. 


    https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/special-educational-needs/types-of-sen/adhd-in-girls/amp

  • Parent Perspective and Advice on Preparing Your Kids to Lead Happy, Healthy, and Successful Lives, by Kristen Louis

    As you navigate the ups and downs of parenting, these useful tips and insights will prove invaluable. “Every parent wants their kids to grow up to be happy, healthy, and successful individuals”, says parent Kristen Louis.
    Download her advice and tips for free below. – Downloads in docx file format.
    Preparing Your Kids to Lead Happy, Healthy, and Successful Lives by Kristen Louis - Article

     

    Website Link: parentingwithkris.com
  • ACTIVE RECOVERY | Launched Today!

    A new Active Recovery Hub is launching to provide schools, local authorities, and families with easy access to free resources to get children moving before, during and after the school day , co-ordinated by the Youth Sport Trust and Sport England.

    The hub has hundreds of free resources available on it to help all children of all ages and abilities achieve the Chief Medical Officer’s recommendation of an average of 60 active minutes a day.

    Supporting the launch Professor Barry Carpenter CBE, said: “The pandemic has had such a devastating impact on the social and emotional wellbeing of our children, causing high levels of mental distress. Active Recovery offers a positive and proactive route to recovery which builds physical fitness, stamina and social skills.”

    The Active Recovery Hub is available by visiting www.yourschoolgames.com/active-recovery

    Read the full press release below:

    ms-word-logo-download-link

  • Recovery Curriculum – Interview Reflections

    In this article Michael Surr, Editor of NASEN Connect interviews Barry and Matthew Carpenter about their reflections on the implementation of the Recovery Curriculum during the last 12 months.

    Click here, or the cover image below to open and view.