Communication, Children's Homes, Training

Hello all!

It has been a busy time and I have really enjoyed getting the message out that we can reduce exclusions and it does not necessarily need to cost anything, it starts with how we communicate. Communication is one of the key messages in my training and oh my is it needed in schools! I did a session at a large trust recently and there was one character who had in my view, a poor view of children they had to exclude. I found this sad. With a shrug of the shoulders, they said “well it worked out for you in the end”. Astonishing that people who totally negate others experiences and context are working in schools in the first place, but one can hope. The person arrived late and made the comments instead of engaging in the reflective practice. Perhaps I should have their CEO a message on Class Charts! By the end, I hope, they seemed to have been actively listening. However, I was encouraged by other staff in the room who challenged them. One person said if they were honest, they know there was no way they could go to bed at night knowing they had done everything possible before excluding a child. Another rightly proclaimed “there is a lot of arrogance in teaching and here we are telling them not to have a bad attitude when teachers are just the same!” I appreciated that a lot because it couldn’t have been me who said it! We all need to challenge each other to promote inclusion. I love that challenge because challenge promotes growth and learning. The cornerstone to education in my view.

I did the following post on LinkedIn recently in relation to the above images:
“It was my birthday recently and I chose to spend it visiting Vinney Green Secure Children's Home.

I gave an assembly, spent some time building a relationship with some young people looking for a mentor and spoke to staff about their education program.

It really struck me how reflective the young people were about their life and context. Many were content with life there and had little desire to return home afterwards, but rather were opting for accommodation away from their old community and family homes.

Family visits were rare and for some young people, non-existent.

Every young person I spoke to had a history of trauma or to be honest, neglectful parents. School exclusion was common as was ADHD and Autism. Many had found their way there through being groomed on social media, the community and from pupil referral units.

Despite this, the talent was palpable. Entrepreneurship, artistic works, design and technology, they were incredibly talented young people but victims of circumstance, as we all are in many ways. Lack of opportunity and positive expectation in an environment of condemnation and instability, seemed to be a recurring theme of the events that led them into substance misuse and crime, at a such a young age, often, pre-teen.

This is why we must be mindful of how we engage with young people in all settings. If we do not model to them the same system of respect we offer to colleagues at work, they will find that respect in ways that do not ultimately serve them and us.

I deliver training on EDI for young people at risk of school exclusion and this illuminates the lived-experience of many young people we are encountering in education, building compassion and igniting a connection that can foster real change and mean less young people moving into the criminal justice system, spending their birthdays locked up.

I am fully aware that this could have been me, so therefore I am keen to do all I can to help young people at risk of criminal activity.”
I am going to be continuing my relationship with Vinney Green by mentoring two pupils there and hopefully integrating them into the Abandofbrothers network once they are released.

I was very proud to be invited to speak at the online launch of the second edition of Excluded from School: Complex Discourses and Psychological Perspectives. A book that was very influential for me as I was coming to terms with the wider breadth of the problem at university. The book has some fantastic evidence based solutions to reduce exclusions and Dr Christopher Arnold is to my mind, thee thinker on this issue. It is just a half an hour and well worth the watch for his introduction and Richard's summary of research especially. You can get the book here:teachingtimes.com/bookshop/product/excluded-from-school/
The launch was online and can be viewed here, it is short and sweet but worth it for Dr Christopher’s segment especially. https://www.youtube.com/live/0d-4eLEuk5A?si=hiUUvQicCWegxMcE

I ran my own online training session in Reducing Exclusions and the above was some of the lovely feedback given by Siobhan Down, CEO of the Yellow Brick Road Project I really enjoyed doing this and it was great that the participants engaged in the reflective practice too. If you would be interested in attending an online training or would like me to run one for you personally or your organisation, please get in touch! Attendance was £60pp with discounts for organisations.

Website has had a new splash of life!www.excludedfromschool.com Thanks to Dan at Digital Arena who supports me pro-bono with my websites and marketing consultancy, greatly appreciated and highly recommended. An ex teacher himself, he is absolutely committed to our cause. Check out www.digitalarena.co.uk for your digital needs!