Family SEAL Catherine Mellor TAMHS Development Worker Iseult Hull-flower TAMHS Family Support Worker TAMHS Pathfinder Brighton and Hove County Council

Plan for the day – Icebreaker A quick guide to SEAL Introduction to Family SEAL Introduction session New beginnings – Break – Getting on and falling out Going for goals – 1.20 Lunch 1.20 – 2.50 Good to be me Relationships Changes 2.50 – 3.00 Break 3.00 – 4.00 Farewell party Questions Evaluations 4.00 Home time!

Icebreaker Just three words Tell us your name and three words that best describe you. For example: ‘My name is Mandy and I am loud, adventurous and unpredictable.’

A quick guide to SEAL (social and emotional aspects of learning) What are the Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning? The underpinning qualities and skills that help us manage life and learning effectively. There are five social and emotional aspects of learning:

A quick guide to SEAL - cont Why is it important to develop these aspects of learning in the primary curriculum? They underlie almost every aspect of our lives. They enable us to be effective learners. They enable us to get on with other people. They enable us to be responsible citizens.

A quick guide to SEAL - cont What are the principles of effective SEAL programmes? They have a whole-school approach. They build on the good work the school is already doing and adapt to fit in with the school’s own unique character. The skills and attitudes are demonstrated by all staff through the way they relate to children and through the teaching styles they use.

A quick guide to SEAL - cont What is the SEAL resource? An explicit, structured, whole-curriculum framework and resource for teaching social, emotional and behavioural skills to all pupils. What is in it? Assembly materials on a clear SEAL theme. A spiral curriculum which revisits each theme (and the skills associated with that theme) offering new ideas yearly. Flexible lesson ideas at each developmental level. Explicit links and ideas for the theme to be developed across the curriculum.

The full SEAL pack Assemblies and teaching ideas for six whole-school ‘themes’, each theme providing up to six weeks’ work: – New beginnings (September/October) – Getting on and falling out (November/December) – Going for Goals! (January/February) – Good to be me (February/March) – Relationships (March/April) – Changes (June/July) Ideas for follow-up work with small groups of children who need additional support (Silver set) A set of ideas to develop staff knowledge and confidence (Purple set) A pack of ideas for involving parents and carers (Gold set)

Introduction to Family SEAL (Gold Set) Family SEAL is designed to make explicit links between the support parents and carers provide their children when they are developing the social, emotional and behavioural skills and school based work. It’s about working together and sharing ideas to help children gain the social and emotional skills they need to equip them for their future.

The 8 week programme of Family SEAL Introduction workshop – parents/carers come along for an hour to find out more about the group. 6 workshops – covering the 6 themes of SEAL. Farewell Party – celebration time for the parents/carers, children and group leaders to have fun (party games) and food, followed by the presentation of certificates. Each of the 6 workshops run for around 2 hours and are split into 2 parts: Part 1 Parents/Carers (50 mins) Information from the Family SEAL programme, activities, group discussion and sharing of ideas from school. Break (10-15 mins) Part 2 Parents/Carers & their child (50 mins) Spend time completing an activity together.

Running a Family SEAL group: things to consider Two facilitators: preferably 1 school based professional (SENCO, Learning Mentor etc) and 1 external professional (family support worker, school nurse, voluntary agencies etc). Space: room to accommodate up to 10 parents and their children. Time: workshops are 2 hours but considerable planning time is also needed (realistically 5 hours p.w) Resources: details of all the materials needed are specified in the pack. DON’T forget the refreshments though! Families: it’s important to consider which parents you would like to attend before you start. Possibly decided on an age group and consider how you would like to invite them to attend: leaflet, newsletter, personal invitation.

Introduction Session Informal session for parents who are interested in joining the group to come along and find out more. Lasts for 1 hour. Key ideas from the session: What is Family SEAL? Every Child Matters (2005) What happens in the group sessions? Example of an activity. Important considerations before signing up. Time to ask questions and meet the facilitators.

Session 1 - New beginnings Aim: How to help my child feel good about him or herself. Group introduction and group agreement. What makes ME feel good about myself? How do we help children feel good about themselves? Every Child Matters (2005) What are the benefits of feeling good about yourself? Parents own experience of school and their hopes for their children’s experience. Schools hopes and interventions. 5 ways to help children feel safe, valued and welcome. Consider things to try at home. Break Activity with children: board game Evaluation Sheets

10 minute comfort break Please be back and ready to start by 11.40am

Session 2 – Getting on and falling out Aim: To understand the importance of empathy in my child’s development; listening skills and the peaceful problem solving process. Feedback from last week. How to recognise and understand another person point of view. How to recognise and understand another persons feelings. Use photo cards to generate discussion. Role play Listening activity Peaceful problem solving process Things to try at home Break Activity with children: creative visualisation Evaluation sheets

Session 3 – Going for Goals Aim: To help my child feel successful, pay attention and concentrate. To encourage and motivate my child. Feedback from last week. Activity on child’s strengths. Group discussion on motivational skills. External and internal motivators. Concentration activity. Break. Activity with children: game of I spy goal sheet plasticine animal Evaluation sheets.

Lunch time! Please be back and ready to start by 1.20pm

Session 4 – Good to be me Aim: All feelings are ok but not all behaviour is ok, I can set boundaries for my child. Feedback from last week. Imagine your child in 20 years time activity. Compare parents wishes to the 5 outcomes of Every Child Matters. Magazine and celebrities activity. What are the causes of poor physical and emotional health? Impact of poor emotional health and wellbeing on health, relationships and behaviour. Scenario activity: learnt process of behaviour. Functions of the brain. Consequences. Things to try out at home. Break. Activity with children: I’m special and you’re special too worksheet Knowing your feelings card game Feelings fridge magnet Hand massage Evaluation sheets.

Session 5 – Relationships Aim: I can help my child to work in a team and be friendly. Feedback from last week. Activity, what makes a good friend? What games help us make friends? Good and bad things about working as a team activity. The skills we learn when working as a team. Consider peaceful problem solving process. Things to try out at home. Break. Activity with children: games (including team games). Relaxation. Evaluation sheets.

Session 6 – Changes Aim: I understand some of the changes my child will go through. I can use the language of choice. Feedback from last week. Child development: Babies Toddlers Pre-school School 8-12yrs Adolescence Adulthood Time to share experiences and stories with the group. Language of choice – matching the stages of child development. Positive and negative consequences. Language of choice activity. Break. Activity with children: Kite making My changes worksheet If I ruled the world worksheet Evaluation sheets.

10 minute comfort break Please be back and ready to start by 3.00pm

Farewell Party Discuss with families what they would like to do in the previous session. Evaluation sheets for both parents and children. Party games – ask children for ideas. Food – decide the week before and check for allergies etc. Presentation ceremony – certificates, stickers and thank you cards. Find somewhere you can be comfortable for 5 minutes

Useful website From here you can access: the full SEAL curriculum check out the Family SEAL programme access other resources and ideas for the workshops

Any questions? Evaluation sheets