Anti-Bullying Bunch

Participants will be given the opportunity to:

• Recognise the brain chemistry in action during bullying and victim behaviour and know how best to intervene  
• Know why the arts and imagination play a crucial role in reducing bullying through building empathy in bystanders                
• Recognise a range of proven techniques to prevent, reduce, and manage bullying in Schools and Children‘s Service Settings
• Be introduced to the original and highly illuminating Draw and Write Research Technique which can be used to consult pupils and bring the child’s voice to policy-making decisions
• Be inspired to plan effective and fun events to engage the whole school community for a successful Anti-Bullying Week and other awareness-raising events
• Utilise an array of Children’s Literature to explore Anti-Bullying Themes
• Have a  taste of proactive and practical interventions such as:
  
  • The No Blame Approach
  • Bullying Matters Activity Pack
  • Draw and Write Research and Evaluation
  • Quality Ciricle Time Model for Peaceful Playtimes
  • Whole School Accreditation Schemes
  • Circle of Friends and Small Group Work
  • Massage in Schools Programme
  • Emotional Education Through the Arts

By taking part in the course participants will:

• Have a broad overview of the latest in good practice
• Know how to select and integrate interventions suited to their school or setting which will improve and enliven practice
• Make policy work to reduce bullying

Learning methods will include:

Case presentation of Draw and Write Research with pupils on bullying and the role of the bystander, whole group discussion, small group work, pairs activities and use of Children's Literature and Art Materials.

Who Would Benefit?

Children Services and School Staff, or any adult with a desire and/or responsibility to promote good practice and update policy in Anti- Bullying: e.g. Co-ordinators for Anti-Bullying, PSHE, Pastoral Care, Transition, Healthy Schools, Targeting Mental Health in Schools,  Early Years Practitioners and Child Minders.

Primary Teachers and Teaching Assistants, Learning Mentors, SENCO’s, Behavioural Lead Personnel, Educational Psychologists, School Nurses, Secondary Staff with Responsibility for PSHE, Family Centre Workers, Extended Services Carers, Children’s Homes Staff, Youth Workers and Voluntary Aided Sector.
 

Cost of Course

• UK - £95.00 (unless stated otherwise on course flyer)

Please enquire about rates for elsewhere and in-house training.

Course Cost includes:

• Tuition
• Handouts, including the Draw and Write Research Papers
• Certificate of Attendance
• All day refreshments and a door prize!

Your Trainer - Anna-Michele Hantler

Why train with us? - Reap the benefits of trial and tribulation!

Having worked with many victims of child abuse and bullying, Anna-Michele is well aware of and sympathetic to the needs of these children. Aware of the potential cyclic nature of bullying, she began delivering Anti-Bullying Programmes and Inset as a PSHE Advisor in Westminster, London, when in post back in the early 1990’s.

Albeit after three years, Government cuts meant the end of these advisory roles to support schools and the community, the Local Area Child Protection Committee pooled resources and invited Anna-Michele to tender for intervention work with 10 targeted Primary Schools.

This was the beginning of Anna-Michele’s successful working model - to deliver with an integrative arts approach, utilising the unique Draw and Write Research Technique as a starting point to consult, plan, facilitate and evaluate a scheme of work.

In came the dancers, artists and puppets to work alongside staff and pupils - we even had the local school police up on the dance floor alongside pupils, moving and grooving to strengthen body language, perception and stance! Quality Circle Time gave space to discuss and problem solve together as a whole school community, and Kanga and Scarecrow* got kids talking like AMH never could! Ultimately, we successfully reduced bullying incidents and equipped staff to quickly, easily and empathically manage any incidents.

An abbreviated version of this venture was published in the ‘Health Education Journal’ 1994.

*( Kanga and Scarecrow are puppets - but don’t tell them that!) Click here to ‘Meet the Team’

For the past 15 years, Anna-Michele continues to achieve results with this approach - working proactively, creatively and in partnership to improve policy and procedure. This includes a recent post for three years as Anti-Bullying Co-ordinator, establishing and delivering a new service to 90 Schools and Children Services across a Local Authority in the North East.

Some of Anna-Michele’s extensive experience in Anti-Bullying has included:

• Individual therapy to children and adolescents involved in bullying
• Children’s Groups for ’Bully Proofing'
• Small circles of support  for the bullied and bullying, in cross phase settings
• Extended Schools Services Workshops with pupils and staff
• Keynote Presentations at Conference’s e.g:  Out of Control Children at the Centre for Child Mental Health, London 2002-2009
• Inset Days and Workshops  e.g:  Defining Bullying, Signs and Symptoms and What to do about it
• A whole school approach to prevent and manage bullying
• Bullying Matters Activity Pack for primary-aged children
• The role of the Bystander
• Cyber Bullying
• The No Blame Approach (Maine and Robinson)
• Playground Improvements and Friendship Crews
• An Oasis of Calm - How to create a space of retreat in your playground (copyright)
• Quality Circle Time - A proactive approach to bullying
• Draw and Write Research - consultation and evaluation
• Creation of the accreditation scheme for Stockton-on-Tees as Anti-Bullying Co-ordinator
• Organising a calendar of CPD Training  for a Local Authority as Anti-Bullying Officer
• Initiation and completion of numerous projects to raise awareness, particularly for National Anti-Bullying Week in the U.K.
• Arts for Art’s Sake....Paint, sing, rhyme and rhythm it!
• Developed skills and subject knowledge in performers to deliver workshops for school audiences - artists, dancers, puppeteers
• Theatre in Education

The course content is based on much of this experience and brought to you with Anna-Michele’s unique application of authentic and practical know-how and informal professionalism.

What participants had to say about the one day course at the Centre for Child Mental Health, London, October 2009

“Great just what I needed  ...has left me wanting more.” Couples Counsellor, Pam Crust
 

“Style relaxed, really enjoyed her sense of playfulness around story work, what a great story teller! Extremely knowledgeable.” Play Therapist

“Given lots of tools to use. Particularly found children’s literature useful.” Trainee counsellor

“Style, skill and venue all get top marks.” School Counsellor

“Very lively communication, enjoy engaging for.” Social Worker

“Very good, very engaging, very responsive a good mix.” Assistant Psychologist
 

Val McFarlane, North East Regional Advisor, Anti Bullying Alliance, UK, 2009

"Anna-Michele has been a work colleague for the past five years. She is extremely professional, and an entertaining and informative presenter.

She is a great communicator at all levels and an asset to the North East Regional Anti-Bullying Alliance."