The Sensory Room
The sensory room is a calm space and is open to all children to access throughout the day. We support the children using co-regulation. The aim of The Sensory Room is for the children to recognise when they need some calming time which then enables them to get back in to a positive frame of mind so they can access their learning, successfully. Children can also access this area when they come into school in the morning and before they leave at the end of the day. This room helps some children to transition from home to school and school to home.
Calm Start
This time enables all children to regulate their emotions before they begin their learning. During calm start we use relaxing activities such as art, colouring, yoga and mindfulness to prepare the children for the day ahead.
Pastoral Time
Children can access pastoral time with Miss Ireland, our Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA). This may be a timetabled group focusing on themes such as friendships, emotional regulation, social skills or confidence, it may be a bespoke activity for a child, a snack and chat group, a sensory/movement break or simply some time out of the class if a child needs it.
Counselling
Mrs Johnston is our school based counsellor.
Counselling offers a safe, confidential place for children to talk about experiences that may be confusing, painful or uncomfortable.
These experiences may exist within their own home, community or at school. Typically they will be impacting upon the child, their relationships and their readiness to learn.
Mrs Johnston uses a combination of therapeutic play, art therapy and talking therapy. She establishes a therapeutic relationship with the child through acceptance, trust and empathy which provides children with an opportunity to express and process feelings at their own level and pace.
Evidence indicates that counselling in schools can underpin academic achievement, improve behaviour and concentration as well as improving the general well-being of children and young people.
Children can be referred for a variety of reasons including:
The counselling sessions are around 45 minutes, once a week and progress will be reviewed after 6 sessions