As we start a new academic year, we feel it is really important to take a step back and acknowledge some of the celebrations of last year. We have collated a short blog to highlight the importance of celebrations within The PATHS® Programme for Schools (UK Version), but we also wanted to celebrate some of our own key achievements!
Last year, Barnardo’s supported 694 teachers across Wandsworth, Swindon, N. Ireland and Scotland. Within these classrooms, 20,604 pupils received PATHS® lessons. Alongside that, we trained an additional 534 adults through Additional Staff Training and Parent Information Sessions. Over the year, we’ve celebrated successes in many classrooms and schools, and worked closely with teachers to problem-solve challenges as they arose. Our feedback has been positive, and where improvements need to be made, we will work closely with schools to provide the best service we can for children.
We’ve also had moments of sadness. In June 2018, our coaches said ‘farewell’ to the 40 schools they’ve been supporting since 2014. While it’s more on an ‘Au revoir’, I know our coaches will miss the regular contact they’ve had, and we all look forward to celebrating properly with these schools in October at our two ‘Celebration Events’. As a testimony to the hard work all 40 schools have put into SEL we’re delighted to announce that a further 12 of these schools will be awarded PATHS® Model School Status at these events. We are so very proud of each of them.
We also look forward this year to some new celebrations with some new schools. We’re beginning implementation in a new cohort of schools in Northern Ireland, and we couldn’t be more excited! We are also supporting pre-schools in Bridgend which will be a new focus for our coaching team, and we’re already enjoying the process. Our work this year also sees us expanding into Richmond and Manchester, so keep an eye out for some celebrations from there throughout the year!
Over the year, we’d love to hear from you so please remember to share good practice with your coach and we will share via our social media. We hope all our schools have an amazing year! We look forward to seeing you soon.