Proposal For Supporting Young People Back to School
This proposal outlines an opportunity for Solutions Together UK to work in partnership with schools or local authorities to offer coaching support to young people who are refusing to go to school. The aim of the support would be to intensively work with the young person and their family to examine issues that prevent the young person going to school and to closely support them to change their lifestyle and to begin to regularly attend school.
Whilst this is the role of the Education Welfare Officer the reality is that the due to the demands on statuary agencies it is often not possible for EWO’s to concentrate their focus on one or a few pupils. Also prosecution can sometimes not be enough for the young person to sustain a regular attendance. Some young people need intensive intervention to enable them to return to fulltime education.
The NFER conducted a research into ‘Provisions for pupils who are regarded as school refusers’:
‘Owing to the difficulties in definition, it was not possible to quantify the numbers of pupils with school refusal or phobia in the schools surveyed. The main causes of the problem at school appeared to be social anxiety, change of pupil groupings and fear of the school environment. The respondents generally felt, however, that, while school factors such as these could trigger school refusal or phobia, the origins of the problem usually lay in the home.
(NFER2003)
Solutions Together UK
Solutions Together UK is a team of independent Associates. The Associates come from a varied background in Children Services. All have extensive experience in working with children, young people and their families, both in mainstream and special schools.
For many years the Associates have worked in local secondary schools. Their work has been valued and respected by teachers, young people and parents.
Associates
Annie Thompson
Sue Wardle
Allison Bradshaw
Sarah Turner
All Associates:
- Have behaviour management skills drawn from a variety of disciplines
- Are trained in Solution Focussed Brief Therapy
- Are trained in the Webster Stratton Parenting programme
Individual Associates are:
- Qualified Further Education Trainers
- Trained in Team Teach
- Mediation Trainers
- Bereavement Counsellors
- Trained in various aspects of counselling
- Family Group Conference Co-ordinators
How Solutions Together can Support Young People
To Return to School?
Our experience and research shows that it is often not just about the young person as to why they no longer attend school. In most cases the reasons can be complex and require exploration into underlying causes, practical action and the need to engage with the family to enable an intensive programme of work to take place.
This requires working closely with the young person; their family, the school and other connected agencies in a holistic way to move the situation forward.
The Associates of Solutions Together have many years experience of effecting positive change with children, young people and families. We have successfully integrated pupils back into schools and the attached testimonies demonstrate that investment into this style of approach can be what works to effect better outcomes for young people who are refusing to go to school.
If you are interested in discussing this proposal further we would be delighted to meet with you for a free consultation and to explore how we can work in partnership with you to support young people back into school.
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Real Life Testimonies
‘ My name is Joshua. Working with Allison (Solutions Together Associate) has changed my life dramatically. I have gone from being unhappy and having a very low school attendance to being happy and having an improved attendance.
She has taught me to face my fears head on. Also she has helped change my family life because everyone is now happier.
Joshua (13 years old) – had a long history of poor school attendance currently attends regularly attends school four day a week
‘Meeting Sarah (Solutions Together Associate) was probably the most significant thing to happen to my daughter as well as for the family. She helped my daughter regain her self-confidence and put her back on the road to going back to school after not going for over two years. She always understood and knew exactly what to do at the right time and place. Overall I know that we could always rely on Sarah
Mother of young person (now 14 years old) – didn’t attend for 2 years but is now back in fulltime education
‘Allison (Solutions Together Associate) has been working with our family for a year. Initially we were desperate. I thought I was going to prison because my son refused to go to school. We were begging for help. I fought with my son every day in a bid to get him into school.
After working with Allison and the school he now goes most days without a word. Allison has taught him to face his problems by himself.
The difference is amazing – we now have a happy home life. Allison has also pushed the Doctors to get me some support – I now have a part-time job and have started college which I wouldn’t of dreamt of a year ago.’
Mother of young person – didn’t attend school for 3 years but is now attending school regularly
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