School Interventions

The Daily Mile

All pupils are encouraged to access the Daily Mile Scheme during the school morning to support their social, emotional, and physical well-being. It is a great way to support regulation and fitness to start the school day.

Click the link below to find out more:

Daily Mile Information Sheet

Touch Typing

All pupils access a structured touch-typing programme called “Typesy” which introduces keyboard skills and touch typing to aid and improve typing accuracy and speed. It is recommended pupils access the programme 2-3 times per week (10-15 minutes per session).

Click the below link to find out more:

Touch Typing Information Sheet

Cooking Skills

All pupils will have the opportunity to develop life skills through the provision of cooking sessions. Pupils will work alongside the school chef and Life Skills Manor staff with the aim of preparing and serving school lunches. Targets for some students can be set to develop motor skills, executive functioning, and social skills through delivery of the sessions.

The Reading Doctor

All pupils will have the opportunity to access ‘reading doctor’ support. The Reading Doctor delivers a personalised programme, which identifies and builds on strengths, enabling pupils to overcome difficulties around reading. Multisensory methods are utilised to support reading for pleasure and to become functionally literate.

Thrive

Chess Club

Chess has been proven to increase your IQ, improve memory function, help develop higher levels of creativity, simultaneously exercise both sides of the brain and increase a child’s problem solving skills, Research has shown that playing chess can help to reduce stress and anxiety and help to balance the mind.

At Life Skills Manor School, we offer Chess Club to all pupils. We have a beginners and advanced group. Pupils can mentor and competitions are offered to play against other pupils and staff!

Roller Skate Club

The roller-skating intervention focuses on improving emotional regulation ability, social skills and health/wellbeing. All pupils have the option to access roller-skating as an activity to participate in during break time (once a week) in the school hall. Pupils choose songs to listen to whilst skating and can participate in obstacle courses or skate solo.

Sensory Circuits

Sensory Circuits are a series of activities designed to support readiness for learning within the school day. The activities are sequenced as alerting, organising, and calming. They help to improve balance, co-ordination, awareness of the body position and sensory integration. Sensory circuits lead to an improvement in alertness to provide a “just right” state of mind for engagement and participation.

Interest Led Activity Groups

Pupils can be referred to our interest led activity sessions that take place with teaching assistants that are part of the well-being team. The sessions support building a therapeutic rapport, peer relationships and social skills. Activities currently provided include:

• Arts and Crafts
• Model Making
• Sewing
• Gardening/Allotment

Bike Training Programme

Pupil’s will have the opportunity to learn how to ride a bike through our qualified coach. Sessions will involve learning bike safety and a step-by-step approach to bike riding to support skill development and confidence.

Shopping Intervention

Each week, two pupils will go shopping with the pastoral lead to purchase shopping for the school. Pupils develop their social communication/interaction skills by asking teachers their orders and creating lists.

During shopping, pupils develop their independence by choosing items, navigating their way around the shop and making payment. This intervention is a great way to develop functional and meaningful skills required for everyday living.

Changing Lives Through Horses

Changing Lives Through Horses is an alternative education programme of regular sessions, taking place in a BHS Approved Riding Centre with qualified and experienced BHS Accredited Professional Coaches.

The programme is suitable for young people, aged 5-25, who have special needs. The CLtH programme uses a range of awards and achievements within a professional equine setting linked to the school curriculum, but focused and structured towards promoting holistic development and nurturing six life skills: building relationships, communication, confidence, responsibility, teamwork, and perseverance.

Outdoor Learning

Outdoor learning sessions are facilitated by our wellbeing intervention Lead, Nolan. Sessions include Outdoor Learning School activities, such as setting up tents, using outdoor cookers, making and preparing food and teamwork activities. Pupils learn how to problem solve and work together as a team. There are many benefits to outdoor learning, more information can be found on the following link.

Personal Hygiene

Personal Hygiene groups are facilitated by the Occupational Therapist to either whole classes (as a target group) or small groups (e.g. up to 3 pupils).

The Occupational Therapist works with the education team and parents/carers to identify need and will set goals with pupils to help support education around personal hygiene and strategies to aid independence. Sessions include visits from professionals in the community (e.g. dental nurses) to encourage engagement and highlight the importance of personal hygiene skills.

Fun and interactive approaches are utilised during the sessions to help pupils feel comfortable with participation.

PE Interventions

PE Interventions are facilitated on a needs basis to help develop a range of skills and to support a range of needs. For example, small targeted groups will focus on improvement of strength and fitness, teamwork and social interaction skills and self-esteem/confidence.

A range of sports/fitness based activities are offered as part of PE interventions and pupils are matched on ability to support an inclusive and positive approach towards engaging in physical activity.

Lego Therapy

What is Lego therapy?

Lego therapy is a social development program for autistic children and other children with social communication difficulties. It uses children’s love of Lego play, as well as their strengths and interests, to develop communication and social skills.

Who is Lego therapy for?

Lego therapy is for autistic children and other children aged 6-16 years who have social communication difficulties.

What is Lego therapy used for?

To provide each child with an opportunity to practice and develop a wide range of skills, including language skills (in both giving and receiving instructions) turn-taking, negotiating, sharing and collaborative social problem-solving. It also encourages children to reflect on their own actions and skills as well as give constructive feedback to their peers.

What is the idea behind Lego therapy?

When children play with Lego, they’re more likely to interact with each other through collaborative play. Children who might not be keen to go to a social group might go to a Lego group, because they like building with Lego. The shared focus on building uses children’s strengths and helps them practise communication and social skills while having fun.

Girls Group

Pupils have the option to access our ‘Girls Group’ which aims to encourage social skills and form peer friendships. Many topics are covered within the girl’s group and are led by the needs of the girls attending the group.

Girls Group is facilitated by our experienced teaching assistant, Marie. Pupils have the opportunity to engage in fun and creative activities based on their interests. For example, jewellery making, sewing and creative/art based play. Girls Group aims to create a safe environment whereby pupils can express their identity and have opportunities to network/build friendships.

Boxing Intervention

Boxing intervention facilitates self-esteem, self-worth, and discipline. Pupils at Life Skills Manor School have opportunities to participate in boxing fitness groups via our intervention lead in the school studio or out in the community through Hornets Boxing Club.

The intervention not only supports mental health and wellbeing, but also social skills, teamwork skills and it empowers Young People to become self aware, enabling them to make the right life choices and become a positive contribution to society.

Standardised Assessment & Observation

Evidence based assessments used by a qualified therapist to identify the pupil’s strengths and challenges. Examples include:

• Fine and Gross Motor Skills
• Handwriting Skills
• Visual Motor Integration Skills

Individualised Sessions

Provided by a qualified therapist based which will utilize specific treatment approaches that the professional is trained in. For example:

Cognitive Orientation to Occupational Performance Approach (CO-OP):

An evidence-based approach used by qualified therapists to support children and young people with using meta-cognitive strategies to solve and overcome occupational performance challenges in everyday tasks.

More information can be found at: icancoop.org/the-co-op-approach

CO-OP Approach

Cognitive Orientation to Occupational Performance Approach (CO-OP):

An evidence-based approach used by qualified therapists to support children and young people with using meta-cognitive strategies to solve and overcome occupational performance challenges in everyday tasks.

More information can be found at: icancoop.org/the-co-op-approach

Speech & Language Therapy

Speech and Language Therapy is offered to pupils on a specific 1:1 basis to help support their language and social communication needs.

This is particularly important to help our pupils that have a language disorder and need that extra support to learn strategies to access our curriculum. Sessions are facilitated by a therapy assistant, as overseen by a qualified speech and language therapist.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy sessions are offered to pupils on a needs basis. Pupils have the opportunity to express and explore their emotions in a way that is related to their needs and ability to cope and function. Psychotherapy sessions are also offered jointly with pupils and their parents/carers to help with family dynamics/relationships.

Music Lessons

Music lessons are provided on a 1:1 basis to KS4 pupils and above. The lessons help to learn new skills, develop interests, and build self-esteem and confidence. We currently offer the opportunity to learn how to play the keyboard. Pupils who engage in this intervention can use their learning as part of their evidence for Duke of Edinburgh Award.