Can you tell me about setting up a Circle of Support for a Year 7 group?
Q: I'm the newly appointed Student Support Centre Manager in a secondary school. It's a new post and I'd really like to have some 'models' and theory underpinning what we do. I'm really interested in how Circle Time can be used in secondary schools to support pupils, particularly for year 7 nurture groups.
Helen Peter (Jenny Mosley Consultancies Senior Consultant): Running circles in secondary schools, especially for Year 6 to 7 transfer is a brilliant start to transition. If you look at Penny Vine's book on "Bridging the Circle" it has some great scripts to use from Year 6 through to Year 7-but if you're already working with Year 7 that's fine. Running small groups is great, do make sure you are in a safe space where you won't be interrupted. Don't jump into the problems first, play some name games and have some fun before you start exploring any difficulties.
Follow the 5 stage model and make sure that the ground rules are clear. They will probably want to share some problems they have had so listen then ask the circle for ideas and suggestions.
If the group you're working with is very short on social skills, ask each member to invite a friend along next time.That way they may feel more comfortable & you'll have better models for listening, turn taking etc. Of course you may need to engineer who comes along too... Good luck.
Jenny: It may be useful to see my book, ‘Quality Circle Time in the secondary school’. In addition to Penny's great book you will find that page 62 onwards gives lots of lesson plans for you to use. I think it will be right up your street.
Its absolutely vital that we help secondary schools build on the emotional literacy of the young people coming in to year 7 from primary schools where they have often helped to run the school. The good news is that as we speak, the DfES is working on how it can promote SEBS (Social, Emotional and Behavioural Skills) in secondary schools. This is to make sure that the work of SEAL (Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning) DfES Guidance June 2005 for primary schools - gets built on in the secondary schools.
Another thought has just crossed my mind. We have a great series of books called ‘101 Games to boost self-esteem’ ‘.... behaviour’ ‘..... social skills’ - initially these act as a great programme to teach children the skills they need prior to working on their emotional understanding and empathy. Good luck!
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