Educational Psychology Support for Schools and MATs
Are you a school or multi-academy trust who wants to:
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improve attendance by helping children feel happier and less anxious about going to school?
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empower your staff to better meet the needs of children with SEND?
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access ELSA training and supervision?
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support the wellbeing of your staff?
Empower your staff to meet the needs of students with SEND
Schools and MATS can buy days or half days of EP time in advance and decide how they wish to use the time on the activities below throughout the year.
Consultation
60 minute online or face-to-face discussion to gain a shared understanding of a child's issues and plan for next steps.
In-Depth Assessment
Full assessment of a child's strengths and needs with recommendations for outcomes and provision.
Supervision for SENCOs
Peer supervision to provide emotional support, learning and opportunities for reflection.
Solution circles
Group problem solving facilitated by an educational psychologist.
PATH
Planning Alternative Futures with Hope. Person centered planning.
Training
Training to meet the priorities of your school.
ELSA Training & Supervision
Train up your support staff to help children experiencing difficulties with emotional literacy, emotional regulation, motivation, self-esteem, social relationships, bereavement and loss. ELSA training is offered through a blended method of video and face to face learning.
Support for Schools to Reduce Barriers to Attendance
Absence levels are at an all time high and school are working hard to identify barriers to attendance and to provide appropriate support. Much of the absence is driven by children feeling too anxious or overwhelmed to attend.
A small number of children can have a large impact on school attendance data and providing alternative education for a child not attending school can be costly.
Early intervention is crucial to stop barriers to attendance becoming embedded and non-attendance entrenched.
With our support and training, your staff can have a better understanding of:
- whole school approaches to encourage prevention and early identification of EBSA.
- what causes and maintains EBSA.
- how SEND can contribute to EBSA.
- accommodations that schools could put in place to support children experiencing EBSA.
- how schools can support students with anxiety.
- how to create an effective plan of support.
- how to work with well with parents.
Training for Schools and MATs to break down barriers to attendance
Some options are described below, but please get in touch to discuss your school's needs.
Introduction to EBSA for all staff
The training lasts approximately 60 minutes and can be delivered either face to face or in a webinar.
Whole school planning for EBSA for school leaders
Training for school leaders so they understand government expectations, the importance of early identification, smooth transitions, clarifying roles and responsibilities and planning pre-emptively.
EBSA training for those giving direct support to children and families.
This whole day face to face training is for the smaller number of staff (e.g. SENCOS, pastoral leads, TAs) who will be offering direct support to students with EBSA. It covers:
- how to find out what are the barriers to attendance.
- what accommodations may be helpful, both in general and when supporting with specific issues such as separation anxiety, general anxiety, social anxiety, sensory overload etc;
- how to help young people to face their fears, including how to introduce a small steps programme;
- what a realistic support plan looks like, how often to review it;
- how to work effectively with parents and families.
Use The School Attendance Clarity Cards to clarify why pupils are finding it hard to attend school
The School Attendance Clarity Cards are a tool to help children and young people aged between about 7 and 16 to easily communicate why they find it so hard to attend school.
Find out more about The School Attendance Clarity Cards
Support for parents
EBSA can only be tackled effectively if both school and parents play their part. Parents have the crucial role of getting their children into school in the morning, often in the face of huge distress.
Parents often feel unsure how best to help their child with their worries. They may need their own support to help their child manage their anxiety at home and get them into school in the morning.
You may wish to signpost parents towards the Parent webpage in this website as it offers parents of children who are finding it hard to attend school a range of support - a facebook group, blogs, practical resources, and new in Autumn 2024, an online support community.
Support for ParentsCheck out my blogs about school anxiety.
I've written a number of blogs about how to support children and young people if they are finding it hard to attend school. You can download free resources from some of the posts.
