CPD, ITT and Support for Schools and PRUs
As a Pupil Referral Unit with a long-standing reputation for excellence, The Pendlebury Centre offers a range of support and training opportunities for schools. Our goal is to provide valuable resources and support to enhance the abilities of the children’s workforce to promote mental health and emotional well-being.
The Pendlebury Centre has developed a diverse range of training programs that are facilitated on-site but can also be tailored to the specific needs of schools and local authorities. Our courses are designed to equip people with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively address the mental health and emotional well-being needs of children and young people.
If you are interested in enrolling in any of our training programs or would like to discuss this opportunity further, please do not hesitate to contact us.
ASIST Training
What happens at ASIST?
ASIST trains participants to reduce the immediate risk of suicide and increase support for a person at risk or in crisis. The workshop helps participants recognise what a person at risk may need from others in order to keep safe and get help.
Who should attend ASIST?
ASIST is suitable for a wide range of professionals and community members including; natural helpers and advisers, emergency service workers, counsellors, teachers, ministers, mental health staff, workers in health, welfare and justice and community volunteers.
How does ASIST help prevent suicide?
As an ASIST-trained first aid intervention caregiver, you will be better able to:
• Identify people who have thoughts of suicide
• Seek a shared understanding of the reasons for thoughts of suicide and the reasons for living
• Review current risk and develop a plan to increase safety from suicidal behaviour
• Follow up on all safety commitments, accessing further help as needed
• Recognise invitations for help
• Reach out and offer support
• Apply a suicide intervention model
• Link people with community resources.
The course is recommended by our Department of Health and is delivered not just in the UK but worldwide.
Logistics
The course takes place over two consecutive days and participants must attend all 15 hours in order to pass. Please contact The Pendlebury Centre for more information on cost and availability.
Seasons for Growth
Seasons for Growth is an innovative grief and loss education programme using the imagery of the seasons to illustrate the experience of grief.
This training aims to strengthen the social and emotional well-being of children and young people who are dealing with significant life changes such as death, divorce, separation, family breakdown and other changes. It does this by exploring the impact and loss on everyday life, and by teaching new ways to respond to these changes.
Young people learn that they are not alone in dealing with the effects of change, loss and grief, and build their communication, decision-making and problem-solving skills within a peer support group. These sessions allow students to:
• Learn about how different people respond to change, loss and grief
• Understand that it is normal to experience a range of grief reactions
• Explore new approaches to dealing with change and loss in their lives
• Build communication, decision-making and problem-solving skills
• Participate in a support network of peers and adults
• Integrate their new learning into relationships with family, friends and others
• Helps restore self-confidence and self-esteem
• Draws on extensive research in developing a sound educative response to loss and grief.
Who is involved in Seasons for Growth?
A trained adult ‘Companion’ facilitates the small group programme where participants support and learn from each other in age-appropriate and engaging activities.
Companions can be teachers, psychologists, nurses, counsellors, social workers or others working with young people in the statutory or voluntary sectors.
Companions are trained and supported by our national and regional Trainers.
How is the Seasons programme structured?
The programme consists of five levels:
• Level 1 (ages 6-8 years) (40 minute sessions)
• Level 2 (ages 9-10 years) (40 minute sessions)
• Level 3 (ages 11-12 years) (45 minute sessions)
• Level 4 (ages 13-15 years) (50 minute sessions)
• Level 5 (ages 16-18 years) (50 minute sessions)
Seasons for Growth is implemented over:
• 8 sessions
• 1 Celebration session
• 2 Re-connector sessions
What does this programme achieve?
• Seasons for Growth has a strong, positive effect on young people.
• Parents, Companions, School Principals and Agency Managers believe without exception that the programme is beneficial to children and young people.
• The participants said that the programme has removed their sense of isolation, allowed them to express their feelings without being ashamed of them and helped them to develop trust in others.
• Seasons for Growth contributes broadly to intervention against youth suicide in that it provides an early system of safety, opportunities for identification and referral, and lessening of vulnerability.
As a result, many said, they had been able to:
• Seek support, when necessary, from the Companion outside the formal process of the programme.
• Form friendships and support networks with others in the programme.
• Communicate better with their parents or siblings.
• Understand that life moves on and that changes do happen.
• Cope better with their emotions.
Logistics
The course takes place over two consecutive days and there will be a ‘Reconnector’ session for approximately six weeks after the training for each companion. Participants must attend all the sessions in order to pass. Once trained Companions will need supervision and this will be provided through a Stockport Lead. Please contact denise.lyons@pendlebury.stockport.sch.uk for more information on cost and availability.
Behavioural Therapy for Tics
Non-clinician workshop for teachers and parents. For people interested in tics and tic disorders, such as Tourette Syndrome, there is an online webinar and Q&A, about behavioural therapy, the facts, myths, and strategies to use at home or school.
https://edpsy.org.uk/event/btti-non-clinician-workshops-for-teachers-and-parents-11-22/
Supporting Children and Young People around neurodiversity, mental health and wellbeing in educational settings
This is a new and improved course which has been highly valued by the participants who have attended over the past 15 years. A Stockport Deputy Headteacher said it had a ‘massive impact in terms of my understanding of the behaviours students present with and has given me the toolkit to respond more appropriately.’ Another participant wrote, ‘This has been a fantastic course and underpinned the basis of my role as a school nurse. I have gained much confidence in communicating with parents and professionals. I have developed my assessment skills.
Sessions focus on: Therapeutic Relationships, Working with parents, Anxiety, Depression, Autistic Spectrum Conditions, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Loss and Bereavement, Self-Harm and Suicidal Ideation, The Challenges faced by Trans* and Non Binary young people, Addressing the Culture of Sexual Harassment and Online Sexual Abuse, Interventions- supporting young people with emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness and relationship coaching.
The Secondary Jigsaw Team, a multi-disciplinary school-based Mental Health Team facilitate this 10-session course supporting you to support young people with early help for their mental health. They will be supported by a range of professionals from across Stockport who have experience and enhanced knowledge of the subjects addressed throughout the course.
The aim is to help build your critical skillset and expand your knowledge toolkit empowering you to support the complex needs of young people and families within an ever-changing, fluid society. This knowledge should enhance your ability to identify issues involving young people early on, increase your confidence in communicating with staff, students and families about these issues and provide greater peace of mind in challenging situations.
Course Booking
For the first time, our team can also offer you the opportunity to sign up for single sessions giving you the flexibility to attend sessions that target your special needs.
Pricing: £400 (full course) or £50 to attend individual sessions of your choice.
Please register your interest with jane.moss@pendlebury.stockport.sch.uk to secure a place.
Emotional-Social Tracking for Schools, APs and PRUs
Over several years we have developed an Emotional-Social Tracking Tool which sits alongside all our academic tracking. This helps to support progress for all students but particularly for those who are deemed to be more vulnerable and whose progress is being impeded by their emotional well-being and mental health status.
We have been awarded the ‘Excellence in Schools Award’ by the Chartered Institute of Educational Assessors which acknowledged this tool within our data collection and assessment framework. The tracking tool has been implemented into all Stockport secondary schools to support the transition, and we are currently piloting this tool in six of our Primary schools with their Year 6 group to support and enable a positive transition. It has also been adopted in several APs supported through the NLE/NSS programme.
Cost
As we are aware that each school has its own discreet data collection we believe the best way to support his implementation is on a school-by-school basis. If you would like any further information, please contact the Pendlebury Centre.
SENCO Consultancy
The Pendlebury Centre is proud to offer a comprehensive training opportunity, led by our highly experienced SENCO and Cedars Lead, Mrs. K Holland. This programme will provide valuable support and guidance to school staff in areas related to children with complex SEMH needs.
Participants will benefit from practical knowledge and support to enhance their school development, assistance with timely and appropriate referrals, and training presentations on the work of The Pendlebury Centre and Cedars, all designed to deepen their understanding and support of children with complex SEMH needs. Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to attend a confidential clinic to discuss individual cases and receive personalised guidance.
This training programme is an excellent opportunity for school staff to enhance their knowledge and skills in supporting children with complex SEMH needs, as well as benefit from the expertise and experience of Mrs. K Holland. By participating in this training, school staff will be equipped with the tools and resources needed to provide effective support and create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students.
If you are interested in accessing this free training opportunity, please contact Mrs. K Holland at kate.holland@pendlebury.stockport.sch.uk
Inclusion & Diversity
Diversity and Inclusion Mission Statement
The Pendlebury Centre we firmly believes in promoting diversity and fostering a welcoming atmosphere for all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, race, religion, disability, or age. To further this objective, two Diversity and Inclusion leads have been appointed, Miss. De Fraja and Mr. Evans, who have instigated several initiatives to promote diversity and inclusivity. These initiatives are now utilised by staff both within the Centre and the wider community.
Miss. De Fraja and Mr. Evans have made significant contributions to the Centre, including the development of an LGBTQ+ wellbeing session and the creation of an annual Diversity and Inclusion Calendar that highlights the vibrant diversity of our community. Additionally, they have provided in-house training to our staff and are now offering this training to our feeder schools in the Stockport area, free of charge.
If you are interested in accessing this training opportunity, please feel free to contact Miss. De Fraja at elena.de-fraja@pendlebury.stockport.sch.uk or Mr. Evans at billy.evans@pendlebury.stockport.sch.uk. Should you be from an institution that is not one of our feeder schools but still interested in this offer, we invite you to reach out to us and discuss the possibilities further.
Other Training:
Over the past few years, The Pendlebury Centre has provided teacher training for the Teach First programme, University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University and the Bright Futures Educational Trust. The formal feedback from these events is overwhelmingly positive.
We can provide a range of bespoke training to support your school’s development. We have provided:
• Effective use of Teaching Assistants
• Working constructively with lower-attaining sets
• Working constructively with challenging behaviours
• Autism traits – implementing change within the classroom environment
• Multi-agency working for those with social, emotional and mental health difficulties.