A specialist SEN school for secondary aged boys with Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs

Therapeutic Support at LWS

We recognise the importance of not only curriculum and learning progress but also the need for our students to be supported as a whole child, including their special educational needs – specifically their mental health. At LWS we offer a range of supportive interventions that students can either request directly or be referred to via our pastoral tutor teams.

Whilst the need for specifically trained staff in these areas, each of these specialist deliver whole staff awareness sessions in order to ensure that students receive a consistent level of emotional awareness from all staff via a whole service approach.

 

Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSA)

The ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) intervention was originally developed within Southampton, then Hampshire, by Sheila Burton, Educational Psychologist. It was designed to build the capacity of schools to support the emotional needs of their pupils from within their own resources. This is achieved by training teaching assistants to develop and deliver individualised support programmes to meet the emotional needs of children and young people in their care. It recognises that children learn better and are happier in school if their emotional needs are also addressed.

 

Therapeutic Active Listening Assistant (TALA)

TALA offers an emotionally safe and supportive space in which pupils can explore their feelings and experiences.  Practitioners listen to a child’s views, experiences and feelings without judgement in an atmosphere of respect and empathy based on a secure and trusting working relationship.

How it works is that the child has a regular slot during the week for a targeted period of time (around 30 mins). It usually runs for around six weeks but can be longer. Sessions are confidential, offering the child an opportunity to talk about things that concern them.

The sessions are one to one and are very pupil led involving play based activities where required.

Not only does TALA offer a child a safe place to talk it supports them in many other areas:

  • Cope better with issues, concerns and situations
  • Achieve some level of understanding with regard to thoughts, emotions and behaviours
  • Accept their limitations and strengths and to feel ok about them
  • Change behaviours which have negative consequences
  • Look at things differently
  • Maximise the opportunity to reach their full potential
  • Empowers pupils to find their own resolutions and build resilience for the future.

TALA and ELSA do have differences. ELSA involves the identification of specific emotional literacy targets towards which the child works, guided by the ELSA through a carefully planned programme of support. Whilst ELSA’s deliver skills based programmes, TALA’s sessions are more pupil led with the TALA practitioner facilitating a helping conversation using counseling practices.

Simply put, ELSA teaches skills and TALA offers a time to talk.

 

Mental Health First-Aid
It is becoming ever more important and recognised that school settings need to have trained staff to support and help young people with emotional and social issues, and mental health problems as these can be a barrier to educational learning. Therefore we feel it is essential to have trained staff within the team to be available to the students at all times.

In the same way, as we learn physical first aid, Mental Health First Aid teaches us how to recognise those crucial warning signs of mental ill health in order to access appropriate help as soon as possible.

We have a qualified Mental Health First Aider who able to identify, understand and support a person who may be developing a mental health issue. 

 

Trauma Informed Practitioner (TIP)

Trauma infomre dpractice is essential for those students who have experienced trauma in their lives. Early identification is essential and this is often identified in a students EHCP or case notes. LWS also complete an ACEs questionnaire for those student who we feel may have experienced trauma in their lives.

These sessions are often longer than ELSA and TALA sessions and are also student led in nature. There is an assessment and framework that practitioners follow.

 

Speech & Language Therapy


For those students who have been identified as having speech & language difficulties on their EHCPs, the speech & language therapist is available 1 day per week. The S&L therapist also supports our social skills groups.

Our Speak and Language therapist also works with the staff team as a whole in developing a communication and interaction focused school community.

 

Educational Psychologist – Kerry Jackson

LWS Academy works closely with Kerry Jackson, an independent educational psychologist. Kerry provides training for staff, assessments of students’ needs and recommendations, and strategies to support students. Kerry attends EHCP reviews as appropriate and liaises with parents and carers to enable a holistic perception of a student’s needs.

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Contact Info
  • LWS Academy, Montefiore Drive, Sarisbury Green, Southampton, SO31 7NL
  • 01489 582684
  • enquiries@lws.gfmat.org

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