Our mentors help children and young people develop lifelong skills and flourish. Whether they are exhibiting challenging behaviours, low self esteem and confidence or they are facing mental health concerns, Marsh Mcneil Mentoring can create an individualised plan that can support their unique circumstances and abilities whilst still challenging them with initiatives like ASDAN that can evidence progress and provide valuable rewards and qualifications.

Our mentors can support young people with high needs to engage in education.

1-2-1 and 2-2-1 support can be offered in:

• Classroom settings in school

• Isolated settings in school

• Out in the community, making use of public services like libraries and museums

• In our Learning Hub located in Gloucester

• Family homes and care settings

Our team are trained in positive behaviour support and specialise in working with young people with challenging behaviours.

We are able to follow the national curriculum whilst also adding interventions like sports, music and animal therapy to keep young people engaged. This means we can help young people reach education goals and achieve their full potential.

Exclusion prevention requires collaboration between schools and our mentors to reduce suspension and exclusion rates of young people.

Here are some of the strategies used to support young people overcome their barriers to learning:

• Setting consistent boundaries and support when young people are displaying challenging behaviour.

• Role modelling positive behaviours.

• Helping young people make positive choices.

• Introducing coping mechanisms and de-escalation strategies.

• Using trusted relationships to build confidence and improve communication.

MM Mentoring has its own Therapy Dog, Nelly, who visits young people regularly. We also provide other animal interventions, for example farm visits and interactions with horses, alpacas and other farmyard animals.

Animal Therapy can be especially beneficial for young people with SEND and SEMH needs by:

• Decreasing anxiety and stress

• Decreasing perceptions of pain

• Reducing feelings of fear or worry

• Increasing feelings of social support

• Providing motivation, stimulation, and focus

Our mentors have experience supporting young people with special educational needs and disabilities as well as working with children with social emotional and mental health needs.

They can help with:

• Educational and Emotional support with Therapeutic oversight.

• Positive behavioural support using trauma informed practise.

• Activities and trips

• Bespoke support plans that meet young peoples needs, whilst also challenging them with appropriate educational and vocational learning.

Our mentors can supports families who have social care involvement and reduce the number of children at risk of going into care by preventing and de-escalating issues. We can help by supporting families experiencing issues with:

• Low mental health

• Challenging behaviour

• Drug and alcohol misuse

• Home education

• delivering sex education

• Our staff can offer a respite service for families with children with challenging needs.

Education Interventions can be effective to fill gaps in a child’s knowledge and overcome barriers to their education. Some examples of what our mentors can provide:

• Literacy Interventions

• Numeracy Interventions

• Communication Interventions

Behaviour Interventions can help students with a range of needs. Some examples of some behavioural interventions that our mentors can provide:

• Music Interventions

• Sports Interventions

• Pet Therapy

• Art Interventions

• Vocational Skills

These can help:

• Develop new skills

• Improve academic performance

• Help students engage more consistently and productively in lessons

• Help students develop self-regulation skills.