School leadership teams

A strong school leadership team has the potential to positively impact students’ lives by providing an education which encourages the best outcomes and supports students in becoming happy and healthy adults.

Our clinical, counselling, educational and child psychologists work with the whole school leadership team as well as individual members.

What are the benefits of using our specialist psychology service?

Using our psychology service brings the benefits of experience and specialist knowledge in a cost effective manner. There are many benefits of using our service including:

• Taking a proactive whole school approach to school needs
• The implementation of strategies and techniques to support SEND
• Providing instant access to our specialist team of psychologists
• Having a designated member of our team under a service level agreement
• Reducing SEND paperwork from our input
• Providing early identification and intervention to raise attainment
• Being flexible and adaptable to changing needs so our service will always be appropriate for needs
• Working with parents to facilitate consistent home-school approaches
• Providing statutory, non-statutory and preventative work
• Providing therapeutic interventions to improve social, emotional and mental health

Our specialist psychology service is available on individual, targeted and whole school levels to suit requirements, meaning that the benefits will vary according to how our services are used.

How can our school psychology services be commissioned?

Our comprehensive school services can be commissioned through a service level agreement. School commissioned services grants the freedom to decide how our psychological input is used.

How can we help with a whole school approach?

Our clinical, counselling, educational and child psychologists help on many levels when it comes to taking a whole school approach. The input received is dependent on the input required. Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are a whole school responsibility: a strong systemic approach increases attainment and understanding through sustainable and long lasting changes. We take a proactive approach, which allows us to support the implementation of procedures to reduce the impact of additional needs within schools.

Mental health and emotional wellbeing

Keeping up to date and implementing new government policies and guidelines can seem like a never ending task, but we are here to help. The most recent government legislation focussing on mental health and wellbeing within schools is extremely important to integrate as soon as possible. Through making approaches such as mindfulness, talking therapies and an increased awareness of mental health difficulties an integral part of a whole school approach, student and staff wellbeing increases. Now is the time to act to be the example to other schools struggling to achieve this delicate balance. The majority of behavioural problems are caused by an underlying social, emotional or mental health (SEMH) difficulty. Through addressing SEMH directly challenging behaviour, long term absences and poor results will reduce. Mental health and wellbeing affects all members of a school, which is why we take a proactive approach to our work.

Staff retention

Staff retention is at an all time low within schools and together we combat some of the underlying reasons. Our whole school approaches share the responsibility of students with SEND and empower teachers to respond to the complex needs present in classrooms. Our supportive service is there for staff and students. Raising attainment and improving data helps to ease the pressure felt by demanding targets.

How can we help with an individual approach?

We can also work on an individual, specialist level. Our team are accessible when needs arise, meaning that schools do not have to wait until crisis point before getting in touch. Instant access to our psychologists prevents the escalation of problems due to long waiting times as we can provide support strategies as soon as possible. Individual work usually includes assessments, interventions, reviews and consultancy. We have a broad range of school services available to support schools’ needs and budgets.

How can our specialist psychology service be funded?

There are many ways to fund our high quality and cost effective clinical, counselling, educational and child psychology services:

• Pupil premium can be used to fund our service as working with us on any level raises the attainment of pupils and narrows the gap
• Element 3 funding covers statutory interventions stated within education, health and care plans
• Element 1 and 2 funding can fund systemic work to benefit all students within a school
• Secondary schools could also use their pupil catch-up premium for literacy and numeracy interventions, groups or training

Using our specialist team in school is a long-term investment with sustainable results. We demonstrate the impact of our involvement, ensuring that we are constantly working towards providing an efficient and cost effective service. Read more about our school commissioned services.

Do we provide training opportunities?

We offer many opportunities for training and professional development in a way to suit needs. Our psychologists provide bespoke, in-school training for INSET days and twilight sessions, in addition to external CPD events.

Working alongside your school leadership team we will create positive steps to improve staff and student wellbeing, increase attainment and support SEND. To talk to a member of our team, to book a free initial discussion or to find out more, contact us.