Support for Wellbeing at St Mary's
Lego Therapy
We use this play-based approach to facilitate children toward ''communicative competence'' (Ralph and Rochester, 2016), depending on their individualised targets.
The aim of a session is to build a Lego model. The roles that we use within a group are:
Builder: constructs the model, listens to the architect
Supplier: selects the bricks at each stage, listens to the architect
Architect: holds the instructions, describes the bricks to the supplier, instructs the builder where to put them
Facilitator: identifies problems and supports the group with solution
In addition to the jobs, we establish a set of lego-rules to encourage 'model' behaviour. The three golden rules are to be patient, use your words and do your job.
Children will develop their communication skills and build positive relationships within their team. Each week, every child will have the opportunity to try a different role, thereby providing a new experience and skills set.
Rainbows
We are pleased to announce an addition to our school programme. We will be running weekly support groups or one to one sessions for our children who have experienced any painful loss.
When something significant happens in a family, the entire family is affected. Even though death, divorce or other loss issues appear to be only grown-up problems, they have a profound effect on the children who are touched by such experiences. A painful loss can occur and not only do the parents grieve, the children do also. Children may find it extremely difficult to verbalise their feelings of grief because of their age and inexperience. Our Rainbows sessions give children the time they need to explore how they are feeling through a range of supportive activities. This is over 12 weeks.
If you feel there is a need for this support, please email or speak to Miss Davis.
Zones of Regulation
The Zones of Regulation has been a supportive way for children to start the day; giving them time to reflect on how they feel and share it with staff who can then help. It enables every child to understand their own emotions and develop strategies to manage them.
We highly recommend following this at home. Families could have the zones up on the fridge, on a door or a wall space and everyone in the household sticks their name or a photograph on a zone so the family can see how one another are feeling. It is important for children to understand that emotions are normal and to discuss what strategies they can use to help themselves become more green. It is also great for children to learn how to understand themselves and identify with how their body shows their emotions
Restorative Behaviour
Through our whole school Restorative Behaviour approach, children are given time to reflect on their actions and realise the impact on others. They talk through strategies of how to manage difficult situations and develop an empathetic nature.
