Julie Keating June 2014

What is PACS Early intervention programme years 5, 6, 7 and 8 Delivered over 6 weeks Small groups young people Collaboration between PACS trainers and learning mentor Staff trained All materials provided No cost to the school 2

The Essex journey to PACS Relationship with Kidscape Agreeing delivery terms and conditions Recruiting staff Promoting with schools Starting delivery Understanding the wider picture 3

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Being part of Realising Ambition What does this mean for Essex? Opportunity to participate in a significant research programme Fidelity Delivery closely monitored All resources provided Contract to deliver Opportunity to look at sustainability of the programme 6

Programme objectives 1. Provide a creative and interactive programme for vulnerable and challenging young people using positive assertiveness strategies for dealing with situations of conflict. 2. Enable young people to understand how to use assertive behaviour in response to challenging situations. 3. Encourage young people to use mediation as a tool when faced with challenging situations. 4. Develop young people's social skills and social interaction. 5. Raise confidence and boost young people's self-esteem, thereby enabling them to create and sustain a stronger sense of their own identity. 7

Who is the programme for? 8 PACS Year 6 Students Selection Criteria (please mark where appropriate) School: Year group: Student Name Disengaged from school Behavioural issues / low self esteem Class exclusions Involved in bullying Benefit from small group work Learning Mentor Support

How the programme works Week 1 – PACS trainer and learning mentor: 2 hours Weeks 2 and 3 - learning mentor: 1 hour Week 4 - PACS trainer and learning mentor: 2 hours Week 5 - learning mentor: 1 hour Week 6 - PACS trainer and learning mentor: 1 hour Four month review - learning mentor 9

Week 1 – delivered by PACS trainer with learning mentor support Principles of PACS Learn the difference between aggressive and assertive behaviour Recognise and respond to your own emotions – exercise Video – choosing and being responsible for your behaviour Role play – recognising emotions in yourself and others Developing strategies to deal with challenging situations Week 6 - PACS trainer and learning mentor Four month review - learning mentor 10

Strategies 11 Surround yourself with people who make you feel good about yourself Be more in control of behaviourNegotiate with each other through the problem Remove yourself from the situationExpect positive reactionsTry to calm down Avoid using physical or verbal aggression Listen to each otherExplain how the situation makes you feel Make time to talk to the personDon’t be biasedIgnore it and just let it go Explain how you feelReact calmly and not aggressivelyTalk it out Write down the things you want to chat about Talk to someone else about your situation to get advice Ask someone "nicely" to stop doing something Putting yourself in someone else's shoes Focus on the positive pointsMake them laugh and keep them calm Walk away from the situation Count to 10 and breath deeply to calm down Find a friend or someone you trust to talk to

Weeks 2 and 3 – learning mentor Incredibly important Journal work / reinforcing messages / SDQ 12

Week 4 – delivered by PACS trainer with learning mentor support Review – what's been working well The last time I felt - Sharing examples of using assertive strategies What’s up carousel and what could you do - exploring further ways of coping with difficult situations Alphabet argument – exploring mediation Sort it out – applying what you have learnt I might, I could, I will… – further exploration of the days learning 13

Weeks 5 – learning mentor Journal work / reinforcing messages 14

Week 6 – celebration and evaluation PACS trainer and learning mentor Review of PACS principles What they have learnt Evaluation questionnaires Certificate 15

Evaluating the programme 16 Trialled in London Replication in Essex, Wolverhampton and Oxford Questionnaires pre and post delivery 4 month follow up Opportunity to explore wider replication across the country post August 2015

Meet the trainers Emma Frost Alternative education Circles Farm Sarah Hudson Behaviour support Connexions 17

Meet the new trainers Fran Trotter Dawn Lowen 18 Kim Mitchell Dawn Lowen Anne-Marie Pinkney

Outcomes from the London pilot 60% of participants would no longer use violence to solve issues 50% would try and negotiate if they find themselves in a difficult situation 45% of students have learnt to talk calmly 41% “count to 10” before responding 36% will let an argument go 29% will ask a friend for advice 19

What school’s say: I have had some good feedback from some of the last group in terms of them helping others by using mediation and also some have had a great improvement in their relationships with others. (Paula: Thurstable) Thank you for your support in running the PACS groups in school we have found them to be beneficial to the children. We are already looking forward to working with you again in June! (Hannah: Cherry Tree Primary) 20

What student's say 21 PACS has taught me I can be who I want, I don’t have to be a low life. I learnt to control my anger and to be a bit more positive in life I’ve learnt from PACS that deep inside, I’m a nice person not an aggressive person. So I’m going to change my ways from now on. PACS has told me that whenever I am about to hurt other people’s feelings to take a breath and turn away from them. PACS learnt me that people do think that I’m nice and not annoying and stupid

Recap: What is PACS? Early intervention programme years 5, 6, 7 and 8 Delivered over 6 weeks Small groups young people Collaboration between PACS trainers and learning mentor Staff trained All materials provided No cost to the school 22

Getting involved Think about how delivery could work in your school Correct selection of students Investing in LSA time Supporting the research element of the programme Complete the expression of interest form on the table We’ll be in touch! 23

Any questions? 24 Julie Keating Tel: