The Human Givens Institute
| The HGI Education Section | ||
Minutes of the meeting held on 18th May 2007 at Westhaven School, Weston-super-Mare Attendees: Paul Aldridge (Social Worker, Wigan ACE) Apologies: Chris Bate (Executive Director) 1. Introductions Trevor Bailey introduced himself as Chair of the group and welcomed everyone. Thanks were given to Jenny Moss for hosting the meeting at Westhaven School. The purpose of the meeting was outlined. Those attending then introduced themselves. 2. Minutes of the Previous Meeting/Matters Arising These were read and agreed as an accurate record. There were no matters arising 3. Declaration of Any Other Business Trevor Bailey Ð Centre for Supporting Comprehensive Schooling broadsheet Human givens and Westhaven School (Jenny Moss) Jenny Moss described some of the work of Westhaven School, in the context of meeting childrenÕs emotional needs. Meeting emotional needs is a fundamental aim of the school, with the broader view being to help children to be able to cope socially and find fulfilment in life; consistent with the Every Child Matters agenda. ACTION Ð Jenny to send electronic copy of diagram to MB for circulation Money was gained through DfES for a HG therapist/social worker. There are moves now towards engaging parents more (e.g. through family learning activities such as tile making Ð used to build rapport). 5. Human givens and School Travel Plans (Alison McGregor) InSTEP Ð Inclusive School Travel Education Project. Ali McGregor gave a presentation on this project, which uses the human givens approach in schools. The project involves working with groups of vulnerable children over a period of 5 weeks. The topic of the project is Be Safe, Be Healthy, and focuses on the journey to and from school. 6. Trust School status Ð update (Trevor Bailey & Jenny Moss) Trevor and Jenny described work developing through the Pathfinder Project; www.westontrustschools.org.uk is the consultation website, which gives more information on the development of this initiative. 7. Individual updates Ali McGregor: Ali described her main areas of human givens-based interest as being through the InSTEP Project, and in team building and skills base enhancement with colleagues. Richard Shepperd: Richard described how his role as a school-based counsellor had developed from initially acting only in response to referrals, to a broader-based and more ÔproactiveÕ service which seeks to identify needs in advance of difficulties arising. Transition from Primary to Secondary school has been identified as an important area of development for the school with work in partner primary schools, in order to identify vulnerable children early and work with parents to prevent later problems. Richard has trained others to work with him to offer a broader service, including student teachers and Trevor! A biofeedback game can be used as part of work with students, and is proving very successful. There are moves to involve training in this approach within newly qualified teacher (NQT) training and within CAMHS training locally. Sean Flynn: Sean described his work as a therapist in Tavistock, and his work with Mike in schools. Sean described his passion for creativity and enjoying the opportunities that the human givens approach offers to develop this in schools. Sean talked about his recognition of the importance of the REM state for learning. Mike Beard: Mike described developments using the human givens approach in multi-agency working within Learning Communities, and the way the approach was being used within training in mainstream schools for teachers, TAs and children. TA training through the University of Plymouth has developed, with a mandatory half-day training now being supported by a full day follow-option option. A module within the ÔChildren Under StressÕ section of the University of the South West TA Foundation Degree now comprises a 5 day Ôemotional literacyÕ course based on the human givens approach. Ian Thomson: Ian described his roles as a Quality Manager for the South Wales careers service, and as a therapist. Ian uses the human givens approach with young people and advisors, and described the inclusion of rapport building and positive pre-suppositional language in this work. Dave Strudwick: Dave described how the human givens approach provides a framework for developing rapport and a Ôcommon languageÕ for understanding childrenÕs emotional needs within school. He described how an INSET session for Dartmouth Learning Community & the InSTEP project had been the springboard for development of a Charter for Emotional Health and Well-being within his school, led by the children. Jenny Moss: Jenny talked about how teaching skills now have a new foundation through the human givens approach, and how she tells children they have not failed but they have been failed. Work with parents and families was detailed as next focus for work within the school. Paul Aldridge: Paul described how teaching staff now have more positive outlook and solution-focussed attitude to work through this approach. Paul described his work with young people at risk of exclusion, and the links of this work to PRUÕs and families. He described how other staff been to human givens workshops, and that the next step to firm up the approach and move beyond the view that it is to be used with individuals only. Steve Osmond: Steve made the point that children understand the approach! He also described how Ôeveryone needs someone they can be themselves withÕ, and how work within the secure unit recognises and attempts to provide this. Lindy Murphy: Lindy described the use of an emotional needs audit within her work. Joanne Harrison: Jo described how lots of agencies were involved in work with young people within the secure unit where she worked, although there was at present no common approach, and work was complicated by a high staff turnover. Jo described the helpfulness of quick interventions with young people, and how a process of lesson observation sessions within the classroom for different staff helps them to look at the way communication can work more effectively within the classroom. Carol Harper: Carol described her general interest in the approach, and her enthusiasm to put what she has leant into practice. Paul Catchpool: Paul described his work with Pamela Woodford, and his belief that human givens needs to be a general approach within the role of the training centre. Paul described his own recognition of the importance of rapport building and listening skills, and the way that staff within the training centre were still struggling to integrate the approach across their work. Murrough McHugh: Murrough described an interest in the human givens approach across the staff within the school where he teaches, and the nature of the children and the work done within Florence Brown school. He spoke of the recognition of the importance of raising in practical ways the self-esteem of children, and the skills base of staff. Alex McGlaughlin: Alex works with social workers and health visitors, and has an interest around use of the human givens approach in the workplace. Alex described his interest in developing the approach coaching, and recognised the importance of Ônoticing nothingÕ (i.e. noticing the day-to-day ÔpositivesÕ that might otherwise be taken for granted) Trevor Bailey: Trevor described his experience of working therapeutically with children within the school on an individual basis, and how his different roles within the school were readily accepted by children. He stated his intention to undertake Part III shortly. Any other Business Trevor circulated copies of a Centre for Supporting Comprehensive Schooling broadsheet that was being produced. The article had been written by Ivan Tyrrell, and edited by Trevor. Trevor asked that anyone with articles relating to education send them to him for inclusion in future broadsheets. ACTION Ð Articles to be forwarded to Trevor Trevor also described how a colleague Pip McGirl (CAMHS background) had asked to join the Education Section. Dates for Next Meetings 13th September 2007 — Pinhoe School, Exeter Contact us For further details about the HGI Education Section please contact: Mike Beard at: REM State Limited, 86 Bonhay Road, St. DavidÕs, Exeter, Devon EX4 4BL.
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Articles of interest: > Teaching that works: > Good choices: autism > PDF of School Travel > "It's what's right with
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