Team for Children with Cognition and Learning / Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties

This team works with children and young people with cognition and learning, social, emotional and mental health difficulties

The Team consists of:

• Advisory Teachers for children with Cognition & Learning / Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties

For Children with Cognition and Learning / Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties

The Team supports the inclusion of children and young people from pre-school year onwards who have a range of significant and additional learning difficulties in mainstream schools; including specific learning difficulties (including dyslexia), moderate or complex learning difficulties, in mainstream schools. Typical support includes strategies and activities to access an appropriate mainstream curriculum across all ages and stages of compulsory education. The team arrange regular Teaching and Learning Groups, to support school staff and students with complex needs including Down's Syndrome.

Returning to school after lockdown

A useful resource for schools to support pupils and students to manage change during periods of disruption is the Anna Freud Schools in Mind booklet, Managing unexpected endings and transitions . It looks at what the evidence tells us about unplanned endings and transitions and it includes a list of approaches to help children and young people who may be feeling a sense of loss as they face up to changes that they may not have been able to process.

The Advisory Teachers are pleased to have been busy creating some social narratives that can be used by schools, for use with children with additional needs, to support transition back into school.

Please see some examples of these stories.

• Returning to School
• Social Distancing
• Washing Hands
• Rapid c-19 testing
• Covid rapid testing in schools

Please contact  your Advisory Teacher to discuss how these can be edited to suit individual needs.

Resources linked to YouTube Channel clip:

• Time to go Back to School Story
• Story Questions
• Anxiety Scale
• Feelings Body Map
• Goodbye Plan
• This is How I Feel When

C&L/SEMH advice line 

Due to the success of this advice line, we will continue to operate this service during term-time afternoons, between the following times:

12.45pm-3.45pm daily – starting Monday 7^th September'20.

This advice line is  available to parents and settings, to seek support to meet needs for children and young people working in schools,  settings and at home.

For children and young people are known to ATS (on caseload) then it may be recommended that further support is sought from the allocated Advisory Teacher. If children are not known to ATS, a  “no names” conversation may be conducted. This may include a recommendation, if appropriate, to make a referral to ATS.

How to access the team and make a referral

The setting refers to the C&L/SEMH Team using the Advisory Teaching Service Referral Form.

Request for Advisory Teacher Involvement form 

Please be aware of changes to ATS criteria for C&L and SEMH, which will apply to both new referrals and current case load from 1 April 2019.

All staff working for Gloucestershire Advisory Teaching Service who have contact with children have had the appropriate Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS formerly known as CRB) check.

• C&L Criteria for involvement
• SEMH criteria for involvement

When you submit your paperwork please ensure:

• You have identified the type of support you are seeking.
• The parent has signed the form.
• You have completed all the relevant sections of the form including attainment data.
• You have included reference to the Gloucestershire Guidance Booklet for Professionals Working with Children and Young People (0-25 yrs) Gloucestershire Guidance Booklet for Education and SEND Professionals
• You have undertaken reviews of plans and/or provision mapping and attached them.
• You have attached relevant reports from professionals.

Please note incomplete paperwork will result in a delay in our response to your referral. 

Training

All training is booked through GCC Plus

If you need any help with booking a course please call 01594 823102.