The Working With Others approach is being integrated with pupils aged 5 -16 in special school settings as an effective way of extending and enhancing pupil relationships and for developing further opportunities within the curriculum for pupils to work together.

Pupils who might otherwise struggle to work with others are able to positively modify their behaviour, develop strategies and learn practical ways of what to do and say to get on with others. The rest of class are also able to develop a positive attitude and to take responsibility for including them.

The special schools we work with all notice a positive and significant impact on inclusion – pupils who would tend to be removed from class to work with an adult are more integrated and spend more time within the class environment increasing their opportunity to learn from the rest of class and be better integrated socially.

As a practitioner-centred approach Working With Others supports the specific needs and priorities of staff and pupils to:

• Enhance positive pupil interaction
• Build relationships between pupils by encouraging trust
• Develop pupil emotional vocabulary and communication skills
• Support pupils in talking about, practising and developing strategies of what to do and say when working with others.

Working With Others helps teachers include opportunities for collaborative, cooperative group work within the curriculum and use this for developing fundamental key life skills.

For special schools we recommend either our Basic Training or Embedding Membership Packages, and for those that form part of a larger group we also offer more Network related activities that enable networks of schools to meet on a more regular basis at a local venue.

To find out more or book a meeting please contact Dr Cathy Ota on 01273 704918 or email cathy.ota@workingwithothers.org.