Arising out of my Senco experience I trained as a Caspari Educational Psychotherapist when I became aware of children who were not learning because they had 'too much on their minds'. As an Educational Psychotherapist, as well as offering clinical work to children in schools, I also offered clinical supervision to counsellors and school staff working 'at the sharp end'; and together with Educational Psychologist Dr. Tina Axup, I facilitated support groups for counsellors, Nurture group Staff and Special needs staff. .
I worked for 7 years in a project offering psychotherapy to children affected by domestic abuse, alongside their mothers receiving their own counselling and support from Women's Aid, with links into both Education and Women's aid. As part of this project I offered both staff support and training.
Subsequently I worked as a psychotherapist, consultant, trainer and staff supervisor at a PRU for 3 years, working where I saw first-hand the difference an understanding, nurturing relationship-based approach could make to both children and staff.
For many years I offered Inset training to school staff including an 8 session powerpoint course funded by Southend Borough Council for their school staff.
When I retired I put all my learning and training experience into a book: "Understanding, nurturing and working effectively with vulnerable children in schools". Routledge 2020, a handbook for school staff working with puzzling and challenging children.
It offers a comprehensive and accessible exploration of the difficulties faced by teachers and schools from at-risk and disaffected children, including repeated trauma and insecure attachment patterns. It describes how a thoughtful ‘relationship based’ approach (which sees problematic repeated behaviours as unconscious communications that can be thought about and responded to from a position of understanding, rather than purely managed or drugged away) can both alleviate such difficulties, and offer a ‘second chance attachment’ experience. This experience of being thought and ‘wondered’ about by a trusted adult can slowly enable the even most vulnerable pupils to discover it might be safe to let down their all-consuming defenses a little; thus freeing them to feel secure enough to begin to learn.
it includes teacher friendly theory, for example understanding the effects of trauma on the brain, on the inner world and on behaviour; and of dysfunctional attachment patterns and unconscious processes which happen all the time in school.
It also includes:
Practical suggestions in note form – making them easy to use, refer to and assimilate
Many case examples, and helpful ways to think together about puzzling children and situations
A wealth of ideas for ways forward, including differentiated responses to children in the light of their particular patterns, developmental stages and unmet needs.
Over the last year I have completed a series of posters for school staff and trainers around these themes, which I hope will become useful resources for teacher and Senco trainers, and reminders for school staff struggling with challenging children. They are available to download and print out for free on my website: www.angelagreenwood.net
Cheryl Warren
Trainer | Consultant | Specialising in Neurodiversity in early years , Aperion Training
Hi, My name is Cheryl and I am an award winning trainer and consultant working across the UK as well as being an international speaker, supporting early years settings and schools to deliver quality neuroinclusive practice. I have 30 years experience within the sector and am passionate about ensuring ALL of our children are supported to thrive through understnading and connection. I am a parent to two amazing boys who are neurodivergent and ensure my lived experiences are shared to support others.
Nursery World is the UK's leading magazine and website for practitioners and decision-makers across the early years education and childcare sectors.
Local authority advisory teachers, private nursery managers, pre-school leaders and childminders are among more than 100,000 Nursery World readers who span private, voluntary, independent and maintained provision.
A monthly title serving the early education and childcare workforce, Nursery World combines unrivalled news coverage with in-depth reports and practical features, so enabling readers to keep pace with and respond to the frequent changes in government policy.
I have spent over 30 years in education working in many different roles from teaching assistant to mainstream class teacher, senior leader within several special needs schools, Headteacher of an all-age special needs school and finally an independent consultant.
Alongside the practitioner roles in my spare time, I spent nearly 20 years as a researcher. I completed a master's degree, a PhD in Special Education, presented nationally/internationally at conferences and became a published author of my research. I have just written a book on the teaching of reading to all learners, due in March!
I am passionate about making a positive difference to the lives, attitudes and outcomes of those who may struggle to learn. I have learnt that it is only through a change in the culture of the adults that we can really make a difference to the opportunities for all children and young adults.
Hello, I'm Lynn.
I'm an educational consultant supporting all things SEND (but especially SENCos). I have 20 years of primary teaching and SLT experience. I have been an Assistant Head, Lead Mentor for ITT and SENCo.
I love to write and also have my own SEMH and staff mental health blog: www.positiveyoungmind.com I hold an MA in Education, NASENCO and NPQH.
My particular areas of interest are wellbeing (staff and pupil), SEND, SLCN, children’s mental health, leadership, mentoring and coaching. Recently I started an Educational Consultancy business for SEND (SEND support) and Teacher Wellbeing (The Wellbeing Lady). All my SENCO freebies can be found here: https://positiveyoungmind.com/senco-resources/
I have a teacher coaching group on Facebook; a group for those wishing to improve their work-life balance in school or who need support in moving out of teaching: https://www.facebook.com/groups/coachingforteacherwellbeing
Looking forward to connecting!
Children and Young People Now is the magazine and website for all professionals who work to improve the life chances of children, young people and families. It is the essential resource on the learning, development, wellbeing and safeguarding of children and young people, from birth to the age of 19.
Children and Young People Now will enable you to:
Stay up-to-date with the latest news and policies
Meet your information and professional development needs
Improve the life chances of the children in your care
Early Years Educator (EYE) provides expert guidance for early years professionals committed to enhancing their provision, developing their skill base and advancing their own continuing professional development. In addition to its new, fresh look and feel, EYE is designed to encourage the reader to engage with its content, to explore topics and to pursue the ideas it presents. EYE is a must-read for early years professionals committed to advancing their skills.
As the UK's largest show in the sector, the Tes SEND Show brings together expertise from across the sector to help you bring learning alive for pupils with SEND.
Through a rich mix of content spread across two days, you will:
gain the latest policy updates and what recommendations mean for you in practice
take home tools and strategies at the cutting-edge of SEND provision
put your questions to policy influencers
share your successes and challenges with your peers
test the latest products and receive exclusive offers from exhibitors
The 2023 show saw a brilliant turn-out, with a packed floor of exhibitors, delegates and speakers. All seminars will be uploaded to the SEND Network video library.
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I hope that everyone finds the community space to be supportive and useful.