The programme specifically tackles ways to increase the capacity of staff to be empathic and optimistic to alleviate the daily stress and tension within schools. By finding ways to build trusting, positive relationships, staff are able to form professionally powerful bonds with students. This has the potential to significantly increase the learning capacity of these young people.
In order for these relationships to be powerful and have impact, however, the staff require to feel and demonstrate key characteristics which have been identified by research conducted by SEL.
The key characteristics which have most impact on relationships, and which are often not strongly represented in schools, are those of empathy and optimism. The Transforming Relationships programme is designed to enhance the levels of these characteristics in school staff.
To date, eleven schools have been involved in the Transforming Relationships programme. The group also includes a teacher from the Intensive Support and Monitoring Service. Group composition ensures a spread of staff representative of the different sectors of education within the authority area.
There is an ongoing process of evaluation of the programme and feedback from staff has been consistently very favourable. The format of the 6 training days provided has ensured a balance between staff exploring their own personal
development, and learning new skills and techniques to assist others acquire the social competencies needed to become creative teachers. When fully trained, the staff involved will assist schools in undertaking an emotional audit. This will involve volunteer staff being offered an ‘emotional profile’ and being given sensitive feedback on areas for development and those areas which will enhance their practice. There will also be the opportunity for the school to pursue whole school training in several key areas including Self-Esteem, Learnt Optimism, The Motivated School and The Developing Brain.
