Emotionally Based School Avoidance project
Mentor Link has over 20 years’ experience of providing a dedicated mentoring service to children and we are now working in partnership Dr Helen Chaplin who is delivering our training and supervision.
Our aim with this new project is to provide support to a child at the earliest opportunity where there are issues with school avoidance based on social and emotional needs. Working in partnership with schools and parents to provide support and assistance with the long-term aim of re engaging the child back into school learning.
- Using our skills as a mentoring charity to understand from the child what are their barriers to learning.
- Liaising with school and parents about these barriers and attending co production meetings with a view to providing reports on overcoming these difficulties.
- Capturing the child’s voice so that adults understand the perspective of each individual situation.
- To maintain the child’s and parent’s connection to the school during periods of absence.
- Harness and build on protective strategies using mentoring and therapeutic techniques during mentoring sessions.
- Our mentors and staff will be trained in evidence-based strategies such as systematic desensitisation and elements of cognitive behaviour therapy.
- Our mentors can accompany young people on visits to school and liaise with parents where needed. Mentoring will be 1-2 times per week depending on need.
Please contact 01299 822336 or Andrea.Maddocks@mentorlink.org.uk for further information.