richard.parker18@bathspa.ac.uk / k.brooks@bathspa.ac.uk
South West includes: Bristol, Cornwall (including the Isles of Scilly), Dorset, Devon, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire.
March 2023
We continue to work closely with the South West (SW) group of Virtual School Heads.
In January, we met to discuss current pressures on schools in the region, and the difficulties in maintaining liaison across services, especially social care, mental health and police. We also discussed the importance of working with MATs and other organisations, such as the C of E Trauma-informed Schools Initiative.
Responding to those discussions, we are currently working with Virtual School colleagues to maximise Primary, Secondary and Special School membership of ARC, and to use the Timpson Award processes to promote and recognise local school projects.
Colleagues have also suggested the need to highlight existing practice in schools and encourage word of mouth ‘bottom up’ approaches with schools. We are working on increasing membership and strengthening networks, which will enable us to identify a number of school learning hubs and develop cross-regional support, such as local training opportunities, learning events and links.
A key priority is organising a ‘South West Share’ online session 3:30-5:30pm on Thursday 8 June, to showcase the wide range of work on attachment and trauma awareness in schools which is being developed across the region. We encourage anyone who would like to discuss their practice with others in a friendly and informal session, to book. Further details to follow nearer the date. To book a place please click HERE.
Another major local priority is working with dioceses and MATs, and with the Church of England project on trauma-informed practice. One issue is that diocesan and local authority boundaries do not always coincide, and one diocese may be operating across several local authorities. Again, we are working with our virtual school colleagues to link up with dioceses and ensure continuity of support across the region.