Wiltshire Ordinarily Available Provision for All Learners (OPAL)

Difficulties participating and presenting as withdrawn or isolated

• relationships are key: develop relationship with key adult - using relational practice and the PACE approach, attune to understand, share and acknowledge the CYP's experiences
• develop belonging within the school community: provide roles or responsibilities in school, support friendships, encourage participation in extra curricular activities
• assessment through teaching - e.g. are there parts of the curriculum that they find easier to manage than others? Use these to develop confidence
• small group work e.g. friendship or social skills, nurture groups
• ELSA or equivalent sessions with a trusted adult
• backward chaining - bringing learner in at the end of assembly or school day
• where age appropriate, make use of play based activities
• establish interests, create opportunities to practise new things
• buddying/peer mentoring
• giving responsibility for looking after someone else
• allow flexibility in curriculum and routine
• emotionally based school avoidance https://rightchoice.wiltshire.gov.uk/Page/19873 (opens new window)

Displaying behaviours that challenge e.g. refusal to follow instructions, aggression, damage to property

• adopt a relational approach to behaviour as a school-wide policy. Encourage self-reflection whereby staff can reflect on their own interactions and responses and consider whether an alternative response could lead to a different outcome?
• ensure reasonable adjustments are made in order to differentiate for SEMH in the same way that we differentiate for learning
• maintain a consistent messaging but flexible approach, e.g. "I want you to be in class learning" is the consistent message, but the approach to support this happening may vary or be flexible depending on individual needs
• understand the basis for the behaviour e.g. what is the history/context?
• understand that behaviour is a method of communication e.g. what purpose is the behaviour trying to achieve for the CYP? What are they trying to tell us with their behaviour? What need are they trying to meet?  What skills do they need to be taught?
• use of choices to allow the CYP some control with the same end result e.g. would you like to complete this on the computer or hand write it?
• teach the CYP different ways to get their needs met? E.g. develop social skills, strategies to regulate their emotions
• develop readiness to learn through regulation strategies use restorative approaches
• use of individual behaviour plans, Pastoral Support Plans and risk assessments
• consideration of the routine, timetable, and transitions. Make stress as predictable, moderate, and controllable as we can
• ensure all expectations are clear and explicit
• staff to be aware of and monitor their own regulation and swap with another staff member when needed
• detailed transition between year groups/phases of education
• professional meetings to understand the behaviour
• maintain positive communication with home/family e.g. what is going on at home, other agencies involvement
• ensure support plans are regularly reviewed
• ensure a consistent, whole-school approach to support strategies

Physical symptoms that are medically unexplained e.g. soiling, stomach pains

• be curious and listen to the CYP
• provide activities that are stress reducing e.g. games, dance, colouring, gardening, animals, outdoor activity and play, messy play, sensory activities
• Keep a log and analyse pattern or trends to identify triggers

Attention difficulties

N.B. any provision or support should be provided in line with the needs of the CYP and is NOT dependant on any formal diagnosis

• liaison with school nurse
• understand the reasons, look for patterns
• allow plenty of time for movement or frequent small concentration periods, sensory breaks and regulation activities
• have a clear structure to the day
• have clear expectations regarding behaviours and a clear and consistent response to behaviours
• being aware of times of the day that may be more difficult, break down activities and verbal information into manageable chunks
• Consideration of application of any reasonable adjustments that need to be made in line with the Equalities legislation

Developmental trauma and attachment difficulties

• ensure all staff have a good understanding of trauma-informed practice, eg: Five to Thrive (FACT - Five to Thrive: Attachment, Trauma and Resilience Training). Encourage relational approaches, eg: connection before correction
• Adopt an attitude of PACE - Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy (Help Children Live Better: PACE – A Therapeutic Approach (opens new window))
• consideration of teaching and reparative opportunities using natural consequences, rather than discipline procedures. Use relational influence rather than rewards
• apply nurture principles (nurtureuk: What is nurture? (opens new window))
• liaise with parent carers for shared understanding
• ensure a well supported transition when the CYP starts a new setting - checking the history
• supportive, structured curriculum
• staff to all be trained and aware of any CYP with attachment difficulties and how to respond to them
• consideration of family context and the range of CYP that may have attachment difficulties e.g. adopted, forces children, previously CIN, LAC
• Liaison with the Virtual School for support and advice https://rightchoice.wiltshire.gov.uk/Page/23169 (opens new window)

Low level disruption or attention needing behaviours, e.g.  frequent interruptions to learning, fiddling with objects
(See section on sensory and physical needs regarding physical sensitivity)

• differentiated use of voice, gesture and body language
• focus on reducing anxiety and thereby behaviours
• flexible and creative use of rewards and consequences e.g. 'catch them being good'
• positive reinforcement of expectations through verbal scripts and visual prompts
• Provide a safe space in the setting
• Consider giving sensory or regulatory breaks. 4 R's of co-regulation - Regulate, Relate, Reflect and Repair (TouchBase: Meet the team - Louise Michelle Bombèr (opens new window))

Difficulty in making and maintaining healthy relationships

• small group/nurture group activities to support personal, social and emotional development
• a range of differentiated opportunities for social and emotional development e.g. buddy systems, friendship strategies, circle time
• adopt school-wide relational approaches

Difficulties following and accepting adult direction

• put relationships at the centre of interactions with learners
• look for patterns and triggers to identify what may be causing behaviours
• positive scripts - positive language to re-direct, reinforce expectations e.g. use of others as role models
• calming scripts to de-escalate, including for example, use of sand timers for calming and de-escalation time
• limited choices to engage and motivate
• flexible and creative use of rewards and consequences e.g. 'catch them being good' sticker charts
• follow-lead-follow activities (reciprocal interaction)
• provide structure-consistency without rigidity
• visual timetable and use of visual cues i.e. sand timers to support sharing

Presenting as significantly unhappy or stressed. Behaviours that may reflect

• Anxiety/depression
• Self-harming
• Substance misuse
• Eating disorders
• Developmental trauma

• identify and build on preferred learning styles
• provide a safe place/quiet area in the setting
• feedback used to collaborate and plan with parent/carer, to ensure consistency between the home and setting
• use of social stories to identify triggers and means of overcoming them
• understanding what lies behind the behaviours
• multi-professional approach (eg: MHST/BSS/EPS/Early Years Inclusion Team) looking at the history, when did the behaviour start to change?
• liaison and collaboration with home to understand the wider context
• provide sensory or regulatory breaks
• encourage substitutes for self-harming behaviours e.g. elastic bands, marbles - after training on self-harm or seeking advice from MH professionals (MHST or CAMHS) National Self-Harm Network

Patterns of non- attendance

• feedback is used to collaborate and plan with parent/carer, to ensure consistency between the home and setting
• maintain connection - let the CYP know you are keeping them in mind
• Refer to Wiltshire EBSA guidance: https://rightchoice.wiltshire.gov.uk/Page/19873 (opens new window)