Overview
Having a robust traded service means that schools and settings can purchase support from the team via a Service Level Agreement on an annual subscription basis.
Currently over 85% of schools in Solihull, subscribe to this service.
What do we do?
We offer a range of support to pupils, education staff, and parents/carers, including direct work with pupils—individually or in small groups—training and consultation for staff, as well as advice and support for parents/carers. Our work forms part of the Graduated approach to meeting pupils needs in school.
At the centre of our work is the aim of improving children and young people’s access to the curriculum, their engagement with the social aspects of school, family and community life, and enhancing their emotional well-being, resilience and mental health.
All our work is firmly embedded in relational approaches to achieving best outcomes for children and young people. We support schools to enrich their communities through the Nurturing Schools Programme and work within the 6 principles of nurture:
- Children's learning is understood developmentally
- The importance of transitions in children’s lives
- The classroom offers a safe base
- The importance of nurture for the development of well-being
- Language is a vital means of communication
- All behaviour is communication
How do we do it?
With parental permission, schools can refer individual pupils to the SEMH team.
This is followed by an assessment process where the teacher will gather information from the parent/carer, the school and the pupil. The depth and detail of this is decided in collaboration with the school and will result in a clear identification of the child/young person’s needs and making recommendations including advice on strategies which schools can implement.
It may result in a programme of direct work undertaken with the school’s SEMH team teacher either on a 1:1 basis – teaching emotional literacy using creative and bespoke activities, using cognitive behavioural approaches, drawing and talking, emotional regulation, coping with anxiety - or in small groups in which social interaction, relaxation or mindfulness skills are taught and practised.
A wide range of training and consultation is available from the SEMH team including sessions on effective classroom management, using non-demand declarative language, nurture groups in school, anxiety in school, whole school approach to using zones of regulation, supporting children with ADHD and much more.
Training packages can be delivered to whole staff groups or specific staff such as lunch time supervisors, Teaching and Learning Support Assistants, ECT’s (early career teachers) or parents and carers, as required by the school.
Schools can make a referral or find further information on the services provided by SISS on the education extranet.