Ramsey Grammar School is part of a new initiative in which The Solihull Approach for parents/carers is being implemented within educational settings Ramsey Grammar School is one of six schools on the Island who have recently offered parents and carers the opportunity to attend a ten week programme based on the Solihull Approach to understanding children. The Solihull Approach was developed based on the original work of child psychologists and in partnership between the Solihull NHS Care Trust and the Birmingham City University. The theoretical model has three components that underpin the Solihull Approach: Containment, Reciprocity and Behaviour Management. The group promotes a deeper understanding of these concepts and as such of children and the root causes behind displayed behaviours; this approach has been helpful to parents and carers and has shown that children’s behaviour tends to improve as a consequence. Issues such as having fun together, child developmental needs, behaviour difficulties, communication and parenting styles are explored and a reflective approach and alternative way of thinking towards your child is developed. Mrs Cathy Holland and Mrs Zoe Chestnut qualified as facilitators of the Solihull Approach group in September and will shortly complete their first ten week programme with a group of 7 parents, all of whom have children who currently attend Ramsey Grammar School. Cathy Holland states that “The group is quite informal and Zoe and I are not there to tell parents what to do with their children; we are there to facilitate the exploration of children and their developmental needs in a bid to promote a deeper understanding of them and an alternative way of thinking around them. This group is one way in which Ramsey Grammar School promotes Families Supporting Learners”. The group is held at Ramsey Grammar School, during school time for one afternoon a week, and has proven to be of great benefit to the parents who attend. Zoe Chestnut states that “It has been a brilliant experience supporting this group of parents and watching them develop into a strong and positive support network for each other, which will hopefully continue long after the ten week programme; Cathy and I are privileged to have been a part of that”. Parents from the group have commented: “I am now able to deal with situations differently and more effectively”; “I now understand why my child behaves the way she does” and “I would recommend this group to anyone looking for some new ideas and strategies to deal with their child’s behaviour and anyone who wants to understand things from their child’s perspective”. After the success of the first programme, Cathy and Zoe are now looking to run a second group which will start on Wednesday 11th January 2012, 2pm - 4pm, and will run for ten weeks. Any families of Ramsey Grammar School students who think this group may be of benefit to them are encouraged to contact either Cathy or Zoe at Ramsey Grammar School on 811100. Further information can be found in November’s RGS Mail or on the RGS Wiki. ENDS