Improving Mental Health and the Ability to Learn Introducing an observational checklist designed to explore and meet the social and emotional needs of children in educational settings.’

Kim S Golding

Overview

Attachment Theory: A Recap Helping the Child with Attachment

Difficulties in School Supporting the Child in School Recognising the Emotional Needs of

Children in School The Observational Checklist

“As adults we have a shared ethical responsibility in ensuring that all children and young people are experiencing safety, security and stability – whatever our role or context. Realising a pupil’s starting point and then intervening relationally and developmentally facilitates growth, enabling the pupil to engage with his or her thinking brain.”

(Louise Bomber, 2012)

Attachment Theory:A quick recap

Sophie is a quiet but confident six-year old who enjoys playing with her friends. She likes mum to be around, but is able to amuse herself. She likes drawing and playing with her dolls. She was a bit alarmed when a wasp flew into the room however, and ran to mum for help. Mum made sure the wasp was gone. Sophie feeling safe readily returned to her playing.

When mum brings Sophie to school she is keen to meet up with her friends. Mum leaves her in the playground and she walks in to school with Louise, her best friend. Sophie appears happy at school. She is happy to share and works well in a group. She relates well to the staff. She happily follows the routines that are in place and is achieving academically. If she is frustrated she will appear cross but readily lets a member of staff help her. Generally Sophie is a co-operative, easy going child in school.

When Sophie reaches 10 years she is increasingly independent of the need for her mum to be available in the playground before school, she continues to work independently and as an active participant within group work, She is usually very responsive to teacher instruction

Secure Attachment

NOVELTY

Exploratory System

STRESS

Attachment System

Internal Working ModelSelf: Lovable, effective in relationshipsOther: Safe, helpful, available

Child:• Secure Base• Proximity seeking• Separation protest

Parent:Sensitive• Accepting

• Co-operative

• Accessible

Insecure Attachment

Child:Signals attachment needs in distorted way, expressing and hiding different needs..

Parent:Insensitive• Rejecting• Interfering• Ignoring

NOVELTY

Exploratory System

STRESS

Attachment System

Internal Working ModelSelf: Unlovable, ineffective in relationshipsOther: Unavailable, Unresponsive, Unloving

Disorganized-Controlling Attachments

Child:Seeks to control the relationship to feel safe:• Compliance, and caregiving• Self-reliance• Coercion and aggressionCan’t focus on exploration or comfort seeking

Frightening or frightened parenting:Potential for safety is also source of threat

NOVELTY

Exploratory System

STRESS

Attachment System

Internal Working ModelSelf: Fearful, angry, powerful/scaredOther: Frightening, dangerous, alarming

How does this impact on behaviour in school?

Kelly is a needy six-year-old who has not yet learnt to play alone. She follows her parents around the house, rarely settling to anything. If a visitor arrives Kelly tries to insert herself between her parents and the visitor. Sometimes mum, exasperated by this behaviour, will insist that Kelly play by herself for a time. When Kelly sees the wasp enter the room she screams and shouts. When mum arrives Kelly clings to her. She will not settle even when mum shows her that the wasp has now gone.

Kelly is not confident when brought to school. She tends to cling to her parents and does not want to be left. Once they have gone Kelly ‘attaches’ herself to a member of staff. She is demanding and ‘attention-needing’. She talks constantly, often asking questions repetitively but not paying any attention to the answers. She likes to stay close to the staff member, not wanting her to go out of sight. She is possessive and jealous when other children want to talk to this member of staff.

Kelly will not work independently, always seeking assistance even when she does not need it. If working in a group Kelly quickly falls out with the other children, as she tries to stay centre of attention. If she falls or bumps herself Kelly is inconsolable, clinging to the staff member who comes to help her.

By the time that Kelly has reached 10 years, she has developed skills in drawing funny pictures and making jokes and uses this to make her peers laugh and get adult attention, whatever the cost. At breaktimes she finds excuses to stay in the school and 'help' staff rather than mix with her peers.

Ambivalent Attachment Pattern

Secure Base

The world

Need for comfort and protection

Expressed Need:

I can’t trust in your availability. I need you to attend to me all the time. Hidden Need:

I will not show my need to separate and explore. I will pull you in and push you away to keep you noticing me

In the classroom I will: Be attention needing. Have difficulty taking responsibility for behaviour

or for learning. Be the class clown. Have difficulty concentrating and focusing on

work. Be hyper-vigilant to what adults are doing. Be hyper-aroused – loud, aggressive, talks a lot. Have difficulty following rules, learning from

consequences. Have poor understanding of cause and effect.

The Learning Triangle(Geddes, 2006)

Pupil

TaskTeacher

Unable to focus on task

Unwilling to attempt task unsupported

Preoccupied with relationship with teacher

Mark is an independent six-year old who makes few demands of his father. Mark will play alone, giving dad a bright smile when he comes in. He is also keen to help his dad, frequently checking he is okay and helping him with little jobs. When Mark sees a wasp come in to the room he keeps a wary eye on it but continues playing.

When dad brings Mark to school he enters confidently on his own, barely looking back as dad leaves. He follows the rules and routines making few demands on staff. He approaches other children but tends to hang back waiting to be invited to join in. He enjoys running around at the fringes of their games in the outdoor area. Sometimes he falls over, but generally just picks himself up and continues with the game. Mark prefers to work on his own. He lacks confidence but does not like to be helped. If working in a group he is quiet, tending to follow the lead of the other children. Staff rarely see Mark upset but occasionally when he is very frustrated with something he will ‘explode’ with anger. He resists staff attempts to help him and is quickly back to normal.

When Mark reaches 10 years, her remains seemingly independent within the classroom, his work output is usually the minimum required. Mark will just sit rather than ask for help from school staff. He continues to experience seemingly 'untriggered' outbursts from time to time.

Avoidant Attachment Pattern

Secure Base

The world

Exploration

Hidden Need:

I will do it by myself, I fear my need of you. I will push you away

Expressed Need:I will act like I want to explore even when I need comfortI will not show my need for comfort and reassurance

In the classroom I will: Be withdrawn/quiet. Be self-reliant – reluctant to ask for help. Have inexplicable tantrums or outbursts –

appear from nowhere, quickly over. Lack emotional engagement with other

children and what is going on in the classroom.

Appear isolated, or my friendships will lack depth.

The Learning Triangle(adapted from Geddes, 2006)

Pupil

TaskTeacher

Focus remains on task

Avoids relationship to teacher

Denial of need for support and help from teacher

Daniel is an angry, hyperactive six-year-old who is exhausting to his mother. He is on the go all the time, playing loud active games. He frequently puts himself in danger and needs constant supervision. He is bossy, telling his mother what she must do. When she asks him to do something he ignores her. When Daniel sees the wasp enter the room he runs around chasing it. When mum tries to remove the wasp Daniel gets angry telling her to leave it alone.

Daniel arrives at school and everyone knows it. He comes in loudly and tries to tell the other children what to do. When staff approach he becomes angry towards them. Difficult to contain indoors Daniel prefers to be outside, running around and chasing the other children. He does not like to come back indoors and it is difficult to help him adjust to being back in the classroom. Daniel does not settle to his work, he is too busy seeing what everyone else is doing. He can explode with anger, and often has to be taken out of the classroom. Occasionally he will spend time drawing – He likes to draw soldiers in battle, frequently with lost limbs and lots of blood, soon however he is running around again or fighting with one of the other children. When staff try to intervene they can be physically attacked.

When he reaches 10 years, Daniel will often run out of the classroom when he feels challenged by work or relationships. He has difficulty accepting teacher authority and will respond with verbal and occasionally physical aggression

Elaine is a quiet, withdrawn six year old who spends a lot of time in her bedroom. As her mother approaches, Elaine is vigilant, keeping an eye on her. At times she will approach her mother, as if to check that she is alright. She is very compliant, doing as she is told and urgently trying to help her mother with household jobs. When Elaine sees the wasp in the room she runs to mum and then quickly away again. She is clearly distressed, but appears confused about whether to go to mum for help or not.

Elaine arrives at school late.

She appears unconcerned when mum goes but remains hyper-vigilant, watching what is going on around her but not able to settle to her work either with or without staff. At other times Elaine appears quiet and ‘switched off’’ as she sits at a table paying little attention to what is going on around her.

This behaviour pattern continues when she reaches 10 years.

In the classroom I will: Show a diminished range of emotions – rage/terror. Often be scared but masked by anger/aggression or by

becoming very withdrawn. Be disruptive or passively unco-operative. Be unable to concentrate, hyper-vigilant to

surroundings. Be controlling in all relationships, interactions feel highly

manipulative. Have a diminished capacity for enjoyment. Be dissociated or hyper-aroused much of the time. Be socially isolated or attracted to deviant peer groups. When older demonstrate compulsive behaviours eg self

harm, drugs.

The Learning Triangle(Geddes, 2006)

Pupil

TaskTeacher

Extreme anxiety

Can’t relate to teacher.

May seek to control teacher

Trauma and fear interferes with relationship and attention to task.

Fear masked by anger and aggression

Disorganized/Controlling Pattern

Secure Base Frightening

The world

Expressed NeedI will not need you. Needing you is dangerousI must be in control

Hidden NeedI can’t explore the world.I can’t seek comfort I am too busy checking I am safe

Helping the Child with Attachment Difficulties in School

Children have to tolerate long periods away from their attachment figure.

Children have to share adult support with a group of other children.

Children have to learn to manage peer relationships, dealing with friendship and conflict.

Children cope with increasing demands for independence and self-organization.

All of these tasks are more difficult for children with attachment difficulties.

The School Environment as a Source of Stress

Trusting and relinquishing control to adults.

Directing attention away from concern for safety so able to

explore and learn.

Recognising, naming and regulating emotions rather than

displaying through behaviour.

Being able to focus attention, to sit, to concentrate.

Risking getting things wrong.

Coping with feelings of shame and badness.

Feeling special, significant, effective, and confident.

Able to problem-solve, able to resolve conflict.

Managing transitions.

Challenges in School

The Shield Against Shame

RageYou always blame me.

I’m rubbish

LieI didn’t do

it

MimimizeIt wasn’t so

bad

Blame Its his fault

‘What’s THAT, dear?’

asked the new teacher.

‘It’s Mummy,’ I replied.

‘But mums aren’t green and orange!

You really haven’t TRIED.

You don’t just paint in SPLODGES

-You’re old enough to know

You need to THINK before you work ….

Now – have another go.’

She helped me draw two arms and legs,

A face with sickly smile,

A rounded body, dark brown hair,

A hat – and, in a while,

She stood back (with her face bright pink):

‘That’s SO much better – don’t you think?’

The Painting Lesson

But she turned white

At ten to three

When an orange-green blob

Collected me.

‘Hi, Mum!’

The Painting Lesson by Trevor HarveyIn Read Me. A Poem a Day, Macmillan Children’s Books, 1998

Children will be able to regulate stress, with support.

Children have the capacity for emotional literacy.

Children have the capacity to manage shame inducing

experiences.

Children have the capacity to manage relationships.

Children’s emotional, cognitive and chronological

development are broadly similar.

These assumptions are often not true of children with

Attachment Difficulties

Assumptions Underlying the School Environment

Children need approaches that are empathy and

relationship based.

Boundaries, limits and consequences occur in the context

of highly warm, responsive, attuned and attentive

relationships

Recognition and support for the feelings underlying the

behaviours, including shame, anxiety and fear which are

masked by anger and aggression or withdrawal and

dissociation.

Need to recognise emotional immaturity.

Behavioural Management Programmes

Behavioural programmes will fail if:

Children can’t regulate impulses – to think before acting.

Children have poor causal thinking – don’t understand cause and

effect.

Children can’t generalize learning from behaviour that has led to a

reward.

Children don’t find relationships, and pleasing the teacher

rewarding.

Children quickly experience shame and put up a shield.

Feeling in control and avoiding emotional connection are more

important than praise and rewards

Children are maintaining negative self identity – ‘I will show you

how bad I am.’

Behavioural Management Programmes

Supporting the Child in School

Relationship, Relationship, Relationship

A School for Building Trust and Security

SAFETY

‣ Recognise fear and anxiety underlying behaviour.

‣ Communicate safety explicitly, provide place of safety in school.

‣ Meet and greet, support around all transitions.

‣ Clear structure, boundaries and routine, flexibly adapted to changing emotional age.

‣ Create school and class rituals.

‣ Provide and sustain a relaxing environment.

‣ Adults set the emotional tone.

‣ Provide support from adults as arousal increases.

‣ Encourage relaxation, calming strategies and sensory tools.

‣ Recognise the level of support the child needs, especially during times of transition during the day.

A School for Building Trust and Security

BUILD A RELATIONSHIP

‣ Key adult, build sense of belonging.

‣ Proactively engage with the child.

‣ Pay close attention to direct and distorted

requests for help.

‣ Support child to regulate emotion.

‣ Support child to manage shame.

‣ PACE not anger or criticism.

‣ Pay attention to interactive repair and re-

attunement following difficult times.

‣

Communicate with PACEPlayfulness – help child to experience

enjoyment in the relationship

Acceptance – Understand and accept the child’s experience. Thoughts, feelings, beliefs, desires are not wrong.

Curiosity – Stay curious, wonder why.

Empathy – Communicate acceptance

A School for Building Trust and Security

Connection before Correction

‣ Empathy first, co-regulate stress and arousal. Match affect to connect with child.

‣ Begin where child is, think young.

‣ Avoid control battles.

‣Understand and communicate child’s experience before expecting them to think about others.

‣ Provide unconditional valuing of the child, whilst supporting feelings and containing behaviour.

A School for Building Trust and Security

SUPERVISION AND STRUCTURE

‣ Be clear, and appropriate for child (relate to emotional

age).

‣ Help child to allow adult to be in charge.

‣ Provide appropriate time when child can feel in control.

‣ Celebrate child taking responsibility for behaviour.

‣ Limit and simplify choices and consequences.

‣ Help child to understand cause and effect.

‣ Celebrate good choices and/or learning from poor

choices

Support for the Adults

Look after yourself. Those working with the child will need

good support. Opportunities for reflection and planning. Good Supervision. Opportunities for training. Be aware of possibility of secondary

trauma.

Therefore:

Secure attachment gives the child the opportunity to feel safe, to trust, to relate, to be dependent and to be independent.

The child with attachment difficulties has not had this experience.

These children bring their fear, their lack of trust, their difficulties with relationships, their unfulfilled dependency needs and their struggles with independence into school.

We need to provide school environments within which we can help the child to develop relationships and to feel safe and secure enough to learn.

“Any given day in school holds countless possibilities for learning. Supportive opportunities provide the vulnerable pupils ... With an alternative lens through which they can interpret themselves, others and their home/school contexts. For these opportunities to be maximised, we need to facilitate real relationships between both adults and pupils. We need to listen well and engage in reflective practice.”

(Louise Bombér, 2011)

Recognising the Emotional Needs of Children in School

Amanda Amanda strides out confidently, a little ahead of her

mother. She looks eager to arrive. As they approach the playground she runs up to the gate. She gives a little look back to her mother, who gives a slight nod, and then runs in. By the time mum catches up with her she is already getting into line, chatting to the girl ahead of her. Her school bag has been dropped beside her. Mum picks it up and gently hands it back to Amanda. She reminds her to place it on her peg as soon as the teacher lets them in. Mum steps back and watches the teacher come out and organize the children. Amanda looks over to her mum and gives her a smile. Mum gives a quick wave and then watches as she walks into the classroom, bag in hand.

John John appears less confident. He walks with his father

who chats to him about the day ahead and what he is going to do. They walk across the playground together and Dad guides him into his line. He does not want to take his place until he is sure that Dad is going to stand and watch him go in to school. Dad shows him where he is going to stand; and, settled now, John gives Dad a hug. He watches Dad as he moves to the side of the playground. The teacher comes out to organize the children. John looks over to Dad anxiously, making sure that he is still there. Dad gives a wave and watches as he walks into the classroom still looking over at him.

Nico

Niko holds on to his mother’s hand, almost holding back as they walk up the road. When they reach the playground he falters, not wanting to go in. Mum bends down and encourages him on, giving him a light hug to reassure him that she will support him. Slowly they move across to the gate. Niko makes no attempt to go in or to join the line. Mum accepts this and stays with him whilst he gathers up his courage to move on. A teaching assistant comes up to support Niko. She encourages mum and Niko to follow her to the line where mum leaves him with her as they have agreed. Niko cries as she goes but allows himself to be comforted by the teaching assistant who keeps him close to her.

Emotionally Resilient Children

Amanda, John and Nico represent the range of individual differences that children can display emotionally and socially.

The sensitive teacher adapts her approach tailored to the children’s individual needs.

The children grow in confidence and security. They remain different from each other but each child is able to benefit from the experience of school.

Children with Emotional Difficulties

These children require a more specialised help within school.

Recognising these children can be difficult because children show a range of individual differences.

Amanda and Karen

Amanda is sociable, and confident. How can we distinguish her from Karen who also comes in confidently in the morning? Karen however is a little overly boisterous. Other children warm to Amanda but appear more wary of Karen, who can be controlling and domineering. When it is time for assembly, Amanda and Karen are keen to go in. Amanda walks into the hall, seeking out her friends to sit with, whilst being aware of where her teacher is. Karen rushes into the hall, pushing herself amongst the children. She takes no notice of the teacher as she demands that the child next to her move up a little.

John and JackJohn is quieter, and more reserved. Jack also appears quiet and reserved, but when the boys are observed together there is a confidence in John that is not apparent in Jack. John will get on with the task in front of him, but as the adult approaches he is able to accept support and to go further in what he is doing as a result. He tends to gravitate to one or two of the other children, but is not overly concerned when paired up with a different child. Jack on the other hand is less easy to support, and progresses less well under the adults careful gaze. He finds it harder to adjust to children outside of his small group. When it is time for assembly, both boys will respond to the teacher’s instruction and move on into the hall. Jack however will appear more on edge during the assembly. He complies, with the teachers encouragement but is less comfortable doing so.

Nico and George

Niko is shy and quiet. He needs extra support to cope with daily routines and to cope with change and transition. George also appears shy, but is much more clingy and needy of support. Neither Niko nor George will cope well with assembly. Niko however will cope as long as he is supported by a familiar adult whereas George is more likely to go to pieces, clinging to the adult until the assembly is over.

Amanda, John and Nico will thrive with sensitive, responsive adults, but Karen, Jack and George are more emotionally troubled and remain of concern to those supporting them.

Therefore need to distinguish between the different but emotionally secure children and those who are more emotionally troubled, who will need different support.

Observational Checklist

A tool to increase understanding and support for children’s social and

emotional needs in school

Attachment Theory

The development of the checklist is underpinned by Attachment Theory.

Amanda, John and Niko

Experienced security of attachment. Whilst they all approached school

differently they each could use their parent to support them to make the transition to school.

They could transfer this ‘secure base’ to the teacher or teaching assistant and therefore be supported to manage the day away from the parent.

Karen, Jack and George

Do not have security of attachment. Less able to draw security from parent to

make the transition to school. Struggle to use teacher/teaching assistant

as a secure base in school. Impacts on feelings of safety and security. Impacts on emotional development and

social development Impacts on learning.

When we do not feel secure we become preoccupied with the need for safety, and this makes it much harder to face outwards to the world, to enjoy challenges, and to learn and develop new skills.

Identifying the Emotionally Troubled Child

Behaviour: understand the child and how he copes with different situations.

Progress: is the child making good social, emotional and learning progress?

Contextual experience: knowledge of the child’s current and early experience at home and school.

Identifying the Emotionally Troubled Child

The observation checklist can guide staff to observe behaviours and monitor progress of children.

This interpreted in the light of contextual information can inform the support that the child is given.

In this way the emotionally troubled child can be identified and appropriately supported.

Who is this book for?

• All Early Education settings, (appropriate from age 2 years to end of Foundation stage at 4 years).

• Schools - Children aged 5 – 11 (sometimes beyond).

• Anyone who wishes to reflect on a child’s emotional needs using Attachment Theory to guide interventions and help them to be measurable.

All behaviour is a

communication of need.

Contents: The Checklist

The observation checklist Detailed guidance for completing and

analysing the observations made with the checklist

Worked examples of the observation checklist: Chloe and Jacob

Suggestions for developing an action plan to meet the needs identified

Contents Supplementary Information

Attachment Theory & Child development Helping the child with attachment difficulties

in school Supporting children with multiple difficulties

– when attachment difficulties co-exist with other difficulties including learning difficulties, ADHD, Autism, Sensory integration difficulties.

Glossary, further reading and useful websites

The aims of the checklist:

Highlight Emotional Needs of

child

Reflect & Unpick

Behaviours

To consider further

strategies

To support adults to

make interventions measurable

To inform & sit alongside

other assessment

tools

The contents of the checklist

The key person considers a child’s behaviour in the following 5 areas:

• Behaviour• Play & relationships with

peers• Attachment behaviours• Emotional state• Attitude to attendance in

early years settingObservations & notes

Strategies

Key Person

  Almost always

Sometimes

As child of same age or stage of devpt.

Sometimes Almost always  

What is child’s behaviour like?

Resists boundaries, non-compliant√

√ Overly compliant, accepts boundaries with little fuss

Difficult behaviour that is overly challenging

√ Passive but difficult behaviour that is expressive subtly

Unpredictable, easily triggered emotional outbursts

√ Appears very self-contained, too good

Attention, concentration and activity levels?

Loses concentration easily

√Concentration can be intense, becomes absorbed in tasks, hard to interrupt

I

mpulsive, often acts without thinking

√ Overly controlled, rarely impulsive

Restless, highly active √ Less active than

expected.

Supporting Evidence and Comments

1. Behaviour checklist

Helping the child with attachment difficulties in school

Raising awareness of attachment needs. Building relationships. Supporting key person role. Reflect on emotional needs and ideas for

meeting these needs. Model relationship building activities. Plan with the network

A Case Study.J – 9yrs old

Request for support – “J is currently struggling with his

numeracy in school. When he struggles he puts up a barrier and will not try to take part in the subject. His Mom and teachers feel that he would benefit from some support to build his confidence with numeracy to help him begin to access the subject and enjoy and achieve within lessons. Teachers also feel that they would benefit from advice as to how to best support him with this in the daily numeracy lessons.”

Although his behaviour is not overly challenging to staff it is clear that he:

Frequently loses concentration

Occasionally resists boundaries

Sometimes seems restless and highly active.

Less interested in relating to peers than typical – support to develop relationships?

Play behaviour is immature – need more adult support?

Can sometimes become over excited by a task and become competitive and needing support when he does not “win”.

J seems to experience security with parents but struggles more away from them – he needs a substitute attachment figure in school to help him to cope with school and being away from his parents.

• He needs support and attention from teachers to feel settled and engage fully in learning – this is why he prefers to be close to an adult and talks a lot.

J presents as a child who hides feelings and sometimes it might be hard to know how he is feeling - it may be because he needs a little help to recognise when he is anxious and support to express how he feels.

Sometimes in contrast he might appear overly worried or happy – but at these times it was noted that he struggled to talk about his feelings and found it tricky to become calm again.

This supports the thought that J was experiencing general anxiety about school and on occasions was not coping well.

Taking the overall picture from the checklist it is clear that J can often show signs of anxiety and will benefit from extra support in school. This anxiety is particularly apparent to teachers when it comes to taking part in numeracy lessons but the checklist reveals a more pervasive pattern of anxiety in school.

Actions planned;School allocated a Key

TA for JAttachment Training for

Teacher and Key TA.Relationship Based Play

support for TA – building her relationship with J.

Numeracy sessions replanned – using rel based play, 1:1 instruction from TA, whole class working.

ISL Direct Work with J teaching Protective Behaviours Strategies to help him to recognise anxiety and build strategies for managing it.

Impact of using the Observational Checklist?

Staff became more aware of J’s anxiety in school and how this was impacting upon his learning and enjoyment of school – particularly concerning numeracy.

The tool helped to show staff why traditional support methods that they had tried were not working for J at that time.

Staff developed a greater understanding of J as a whole child and could meet his emotional needs more fully.

J began to feel more settled and happy in school – his esteem grew as he learned to take control of his feelings using the strategies that he was learning.

J began to take part in numeracy with enjoyment and success – declaring it “easy-peasy”.

Case Example Two S. is 6-years-old. Removed to foster care 1-year-old She was adopted with her elder sister 11

months later. Birth parents had learning difficulties and a

volatile relationship. Early care was chaotic, inconsistent and

neglectful Sarah has always been delayed reaching

developmental milestones

Behaviour Almost always

Sometimes As child of

same age or stage of development

Sometimes

Almost always

What is child’s behaviour like?

Resists boundaries, non-compliant

Overly compliant, accepts boundaries with little fuss

Difficult behaviour that is overly challenging

Passive but difficult behaviour that is expressive subtly

Unpredictable, easily triggered emotional outbursts

Appears very self-contained, too good

Attention, concentration and activity levels?

Loses concentration easily

Concentration can be intense, becomes absorbed in tasks, hard to interrupt

Impulsive, often acts without thinking

Overly controlled, rarely impulsive

Restless, highly active

Less active than expected.

√

√

√

√

√

√

√

Frequent

At play or work with adult support

Behaviour Attention Needing –anxiety is raised when S. perceives

that attention does not appear to be available. S. strives to control her environment in order to feel safe.

Fear driven – that attention may not be available or may go away.

Doesn’t always understand what is required of her – risky, challenging, scary.

The intention of all behaviour, positive or negative, is to get her needs met.

Outbursts occur when Sarah struggles to regulate her emotions and needs.

Hypervigilant, High levels of anxiety

Behaviour with other children

Almost always

Sometimes

As child of same age or stage of development

Sometimes

Almost always

Behaviour with other children

Possessive about playing or interacting with other children

√ √

Not interested in playing or interacting with other children

Wants to join in but struggles to get along with others

√

Tends to remain alone, appears isolated

Overly controlling and bossy with other children

√

When does interact with another child tends to be easily led

Can be quite controlling or bullying towards other children

√ √

Is often bullied, controlled or picked on by other children

Pref ers to play alone

Never just lines up in a normal way

Parallel playing – alongside others in a group

Other children don't like her (they are fearful of her reactions – not sure how she will react) – S. sets herself up for the other children to tell tales about her.

Behaviour with Other Children

No secure base to support exploration – she doesn't feel safe in school

Socially immature and confused by unwritten rules

Difficulty in taking turns and sharing Low self-esteem Feeling out of control will lead to feelings

of wanting to feel powerful/ in control

Play Behaviour

Play behaviour

Reluctant to engage in new play or tasks

√

Overly enthusiastic about new play or task

Finds it difficult to settle to task √

Tends to get over-involved in task to exclusion of others

Unable to play imaginatively

Overly absorbed in imaginary world

Overly competitive, always wants to be first

√

Overly timid, reluctant to join in

When lining up

When on her terms she can be creative

Can be very shy

Play Behaviour

Hypervigilant – may be focused on keeping an adult engaged or knowing what adult is doing – attending to play may be difficult

Poor right brain/left brain development In control of own world

Attachment BehavioursSeparation and Reunion

Almost always

Sometimes

As child of same age or stage of development

Sometimes

Almost always

How is the child upon separation and reunion with caregiver?

Very clingy, does not want to leave caregiver

Doesn’t look back, takes little notice of caregiver

Angry or overly distressed when caregiver returns

Actively avoids and ignores caregiver

Cries, hard to soothe. Appears not comforted.

Never cries or shows emotion

Not observed as Sarah is transported to and f rom school n taxi.

Reports f rom the taxi service say that Sarah is very disruptive in the

taxi and her behaviour is of ten unsafe. The escort has to sit between

her and the other children f or all their safety

Attachment Behaviourswith familiar adults

How does the child behave with familiar adults?

.

Unusually dependent √

√

Unusually independent

Stays close to adult, tries to gain attention, talks a lot

√

Difficult to relate to, avoids eye-contact

Very clingy, wants to be with adult all the time

√ √

Hard to get close to, or false quality to affection given

Overly demanding and attention-needing

√

Overly self reliant, undemanding, detached

Likes to be in control/in charge

√ Unusually passive; tries too hard to please

Depends on her mood

Can relating (working/ playing) calmly, then suddenly comes out with

aggressive behaviour. Can be diffi cult to relate to.

All the time – everything has to be on her terms

Attachment Behaviourswith unfamiliar adults

How does the child behave with unfamiliar adults?

Overly affectionate, gets too physically close

√

Overly fearful, shy, wary

Overly demanding and attention-needing

√

Resists friendly overtures

Likes to be in control/in charge

√

Unusually passive; tries too hard to please

Asks personal questions even though does not mean to be rude

√

Shows little interest in visitor

Attachment BehavioursMinor Hurts

How does the child behave when experiencing minor hurts?

Appears overly distressed √

Acts as if nothing has happened

Wants lots of comfort √

Appears not to need comfort

Needs lots of soothing and resists being comforted

√

Appears not to need soothing

But will cry a lot

Not easy to sooth

Attachment Behaviours S. appears to find it extremely distressing when

leaving her parents. Extreme separation anxiety which leads to her dysregulating on a regular basis.

Sarah's 'default' behaviour appears to be along the Avoidant Attachment style – this is where she finds the intimacy of relationships and eye contact threatening. However, she also very anxious about keeping the adults around her close. Therefore, depending on her emotional state during the day she will push adults away or try to draw them close –often inappropriately or in a confused way. – disorganized presentation.

Attachment Behaviours

S. has learned to do things for herself and has learned self-reliance. She may have learned to self-sooth and may appear independent from adults.

S. is fundamentally untrusting of adults May focus on something else to manage

the anxiety of caregiver leaving them. In order to feel safe S. will strive to control

her environment.

Attachment Behaviours

S. may find safer not to respond or engage with others and prefer to remain invisible.

She may not necessarily seem distressed, even though she is highly anxious.

S. may find the intimacy of eye contact threatening

Lacks social competence

Attachment Behaviours

S. may be suffering extreme emotional distress when hurt, and needs to maximise the opportunity to engage the adult.

Although she appears not to need comforting, she is unable to regulate her own emotions – pushing the adult away but still needing comfort. Very confusing for the adult.

May be disassociating when stressed.

Emotional State

Almost always

Sometimes

As child of same age or stage of development

Sometimes

Almost always

Current emotional state, considering any current circumstances?

Appears overly anxious, worried or distressed √

No anxieties or concerns even when there is cause

Appears overly cheerful or happy √

√

Appears sad, withdrawn or flat

Appears very sensitive, easily upset √

Appears indifferent, doesn’t show feelings

Extremes f or both

Walk on 'eggshells' as don't know how she will react

Emotional StateDisplay Feelings

How does the child display feelings?

It is easy to tell how the child is feeling

Tends to hide feelings away. It is difficult to tell how the child is feeling.

Displays feelings only through angry, challenging behaviour

√

Tends not to show how he/she is feeling in the way he/she behaves

Tends to hurt others √

Tends to hurt self

Can only tell when she physically reacts.

Facial expressions - disengages

Peers and staff

Emotional State

Confused emotions - mood swings Easily shamed Energy used up on anxiety Low self-esteem Emotional outbursts – holding in emotions

that 'spill' over Dysregulates quickly S. may want to control her environment to

get predictability

Emotional State Empathy hasn't yet developed. Sarah doesn't really understand social

inferences/rules - Misunderstands verbal cues

Feelings of worthlessness may provoke rage. She may want to get feeling of being powerful

Vents anxiety Not able to verbalise feelings – may react

physically.

Attitude to Attendance

Almost always

Sometimes

As child of same age or stage of development

Sometimes

Almost always

Attitude to attendance at school

Overly reluctant to attend

Overly enthusiastic about attending

Does not cope well with school appears immature √

Copes well with school, but rather too grown up

Can become very disruptive or oppositional when directed by adults

√ √

Passive but non-compliant when directed by adults

Depends on mood

Not known

Action Plan ACTION PLAN TO SUPPORT OBSERVATIONAL CHECKLIST

Name of Child S. DOB Code Of Practice

Dates of Observation

03/12/12 None

SA

SA+

STATEMENT

Involved Professionals

Speech & Lang Therapist

Ed Psych

What works well

Key Person Support

Additional adults within setting

Boundaries and structure – containment, predictability

Calm, quiet and nurturing

Areas for development Supporting emotional regulation

Concern: Target How will this be achieved Resources Who?

Where?

To help Sarah feel safe and secure in school

For Sarah to feel safe enough in school to be able explore the learning environment

– Through the key person role - support building a relationship with Sarah

– Allowing Sarah to become dependent on the support in order to explore the learning environment

– Consistent repetition 1=hear, 2=process, 3=action

– To establish a transition from school to home

– To use ‘check-ins’ routine

The learning environment

Transitional objects

Key person

School staff

School staff and parents

Concern: Target How will this be achieved Resources Who?

Where?

To reduce anxiety based behaviours in school

For an adult to co-regulate Sarah's emotions and feeling of containment

– Providing clear structure and boundaries

– By the support intervening early – Providing high non-confrontational

responses with empathy – To 'wonder out loud' – To provide concrete, mechanical

and rhythmic activities to help calm.

– Supporting Sarah to regulate her emotions

– ‘Time in’ or have TA sit with her whilst calming down.

– Using visual cues/timetable during transitions through the day

– Giving Sarah plenty of warning for transitions

– Empathic language

– Relationship based play activities

– Visual cues/timetable

– Calm area – Calming

activities

Key person support

School staff

Outcome Emotional difficulties recognised alongside

learning difficulties. Action plan implemented. S. responds well to a high level of

structure although continues to demonstrate her need to control.

She responds better to relationship support than behavioural strategies.

Anxiety reduces. Requires long-term support

Much of what these pupils need to learn can’t be learnt alone through textbooks.

They need you and me. Relationships matter. In school let’s take up our

responsibility in ensuring that these pupils experience healthy secure attachment in our care so that they can be all that they

can and want to be, making valuable contributions towards our shared society

.(Louise Bomber, 2012)