Focusing Minds Archives - Focusing Minds CIC

Councillor David Hunter Takes on Wakefield Cathedral Abseil for Focusing Minds

Focusing Minds CIC — Sat, 19 Sep 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Wakefield Cathedral Charity Abseil: David Hunter Supports Focusing Minds

Local councillor David Hunter has completed the Wakefield Cathedral charity abseil to raise funds for Focusing Minds CIC.

David joined other councillors in taking on the annual city-centre challenge, with more than £4,000 raised for charities and good causes across Wakefield.

His support also marks an important first for Focusing Minds. David is the first person outside our organisation to undertake a sponsored event specifically to raise funds for our work.

David Hunter Takes on the Wakefield Cathedral Charity Abseil

The Wakefield Cathedral charity abseil is an annual fundraising challenge in the heart of Wakefield city centre.

This year’s event took place on Saturday 19 September 2026. Participants faced an impressive 164-foot (50-metre) descent from the Cathedral tower.

Getting to the starting point was a challenge in itself. Before beginning their descent, participants had to climb 170 narrow medieval stone spiral steps to reach the tower platform. Qualified instructors were then on hand to guide them safely back to the ground.

Each participant could choose a charity or cause that mattered to them. This meant the event supported organisations working across a range of different areas.

David chose Focusing Minds CIC as the cause he wanted to support.

Why David Chose to Support Focusing Minds

David considers the mental health, wellbeing and development of children and young people extremely important.

This also connects closely with his responsibilities at Wakefield Council. David currently serves as Deputy Portfolio Holder for Children & Young People. Wakefield Council confirms that each of its nine portfolio holders has a deputy, with David supporting the Children and Young People portfolio.

His interest in supporting young people also has a clear connection with the work of Focusing Minds.

We provide early-entry mental health, wellbeing and personal development support for children and young people. Much of our work takes place within schools and local communities.

Our aim is to offer support at an earlier stage. We want young people to have opportunities to talk, develop strategies and better understand the challenges they face.

Ultimately, we want to help young people make progress.

David’s decision to support Focusing Minds through the Wakefield Cathedral charity abseil helps us continue this work.

A Fundraising First for Focusing Minds

David’s challenge also represents an important milestone for our organisation.

Members of the Focusing Minds team have previously completed their own fundraising challenges. However, David is the first person from outside Focusing Minds to independently undertake a sponsored event to raise money for our cause.

We are extremely pleased to see our work inspire this kind of support.

As a Community Interest Company, additional fundraising can help us create more opportunities for children and young people. It can also support our ambition to make early help more accessible within local communities.

David’s efforts therefore mean a great deal to everyone involved with Focusing Minds.

Thank You, David

Everyone at Focusing Minds would like to say a huge thank you to Councillor David Hunter for choosing to support us.

Completing the Wakefield Cathedral charity abseil was an impressive challenge. More importantly for us, David chose to use that challenge to support the mental health, wellbeing and development of local young people.

We would also like to congratulate everyone who took part in the event and helped raise money for charities and good causes across Wakefield.

For Focusing Minds, we hope David’s challenge is the start of something new.

We would love to see more individuals, schools, businesses and community groups developing their own fundraising ideas in the future.

Every contribution can help us reach more young people, provide more early support and continue our mission:

to make progress.

Supporting Young People's Mental Health in Wakefield

Focusing Minds provides early-entry mental health, wellbeing and personal development support for children and young people across Wakefield and surrounding areas.

Our work includes 1:1 student support, mentoring, emotional wellbeing support and personal development. We work with schools to identify needs early and give young people practical strategies that can help them make progress.

Fundraising is important because it can help us take this support beyond commissioned services. It can create more opportunities to reach young people and families within local communities.

This is one reason David’s support means so much to us. His role as Deputy Portfolio Holder for Children & Young People also gives the partnership a strong connection to the needs of young people across Wakefield.

Could You Fundraise for Focusing Minds?

We also hope David’s Wakefield Cathedral charity abseil might inspire other people to develop their own fundraising ideas.

And don’t worry – fundraising for Focusing Minds does not have to involve abseiling 164 feet down the side of a Cathedral!

A sponsored walk or run could make a difference. Schools, businesses and community groups could organise their own fundraising activities. Individuals might even have a unique challenge of their own in mind.

Big or small, fundraising activities can help us continue supporting children and young people.

They can also help us develop new opportunities within the communities we serve.

If David’s efforts have inspired an idea, we would love to hear from you.

Interested in fundraising for Focusing Minds?

If you have a fundraising idea or would like to support our work with children and young people, we would love to hear from you. Whether you’re an individual, school, local business or community group, your support could help us create more opportunities for young people to access early help.

Focusing Minds Continues Support at St Thomas’ Junior School, Featherstone

Focusing Minds CIC — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Focusing Minds and St Thomas’ Junior School support will continue into a second academic year following the positive impact of our work with pupils in Featherstone. The partnership began shortly after Easter and has provided children with targeted support for their social, emotional and mental health needs

Focusing Minds St Thomas' Junior School Partnership

The partnership gives pupils access to individual support during the school day.

Every child is different. Because of this, we plan sessions around the needs of each pupil.

Building a positive relationship is also important. We want children to feel safe and comfortable during their sessions.

This can make it easier for pupils to talk about their feelings. It also helps them discuss any problems they may face.

Together, we can then find simple ways to help. Children can use these ideas at school, at home and in daily life.

Supporting SEMH Needs in Featherstone

St Thomas’ Junior School uses Focusing Minds to support pupils with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs.

Rebecca Spellman, Pastoral Leader at the school, has praised the impact of the service.

Rebecca described the work with children as “exceptional”. She also praised our focus on building relationships and meeting the needs of each child.

The school has seen pupils grow in confidence. Children are also using ideas from their Focusing Minds sessions in the classroom.

These are positive signs of progress.

These are important signs of progress.

Positive Feedback From St Thomas' Junior School

Rebecca said the school is “excited to continue working with Focussing Minds next academic year”.

She also said she would highly recommend the service to other education settings.

This feedback means a great deal to us. It shows the value of putting each child at the heart of their support.

The Focusing Minds St Thomas’ Junior School partnership will now continue into another academic year.

How Focusing Minds Supports Pupils

Focusing Minds provides early support for children and young people who may need extra help in school.

Our sessions are person-centred. This means support is shaped around the needs of each pupil rather than using the same approach for everyone.

Depending on the child, sessions may focus on:

understanding and managing emotions;
building confidence and self-esteem;
developing coping strategies;
improving communication;
dealing with worries or anxiety;
building positive relationships; and
improving engagement with school.

We also work closely with school staff. This helps us understand the needs of each pupil and identify areas where support may be useful.

At St Thomas’ Junior School, this approach has helped pupils take strategies from their sessions back into the classroom. This is one of the key benefits highlighted by the school.

That gives someone arriving from Google considerably more information about what Focusing Minds actually provides, rather than the article being primarily an announcement.

Local School Support From Ossett

St Thomas’ Junior School is close to our support base in Ossett, Wakefield.

Working with local schools is an important part of what we do. It also helps us build strong links with staff and pupils.

Focusing Minds works with schools across Wakefield and West Yorkshire.

We can help pupils with mental health, wellbeing and SEMH needs. Our work can also focus on confidence, personal development and engagement with school.

Above all, we want children to learn useful skills. They can then use these skills long after their sessions have ended.

Building Longer-Term School Partnerships

Continuity can be an important part of effective pupil support. By continuing our work at St Thomas’ Junior School, we can build on the relationships already developed with pupils and staff.

A longer-term partnership also gives us more time to understand the needs of the school. Support can then respond to those needs as they change throughout the academic year.

For pupils, familiar support can make it easier to talk openly about challenges. It can also give them more opportunities to practise the skills discussed during sessions.

For school staff, continued support provides another resource for pupils who may benefit from early help with their mental health, wellbeing or personal development.

We are proud to provide this support locally and to strengthen our relationship with St Thomas’ Junior School.

Looking Ahead to Another Academic Year

Schools looking for SEMH and mental health support in Wakefield and West Yorkshire can find out more about our Education and School Services.

Focusing Minds provides flexible, person-centred support for schools and their pupils. This includes support with mental health, wellbeing, SEMH needs, confidence, personal development and school engagement.

Could Focusing Minds support pupils in your school? If you’re school is looking for SEMH and mental health support in Wakefield and West Yorkshire can contact Focusing Minds to find out how we can help.

Focusing Minds Provides Free Support at Trinity Academy Cathedral

Focusing Minds CIC — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Focusing Minds was pleased to provide mental health support at Trinity Academy Cathedral during the summer term.

The service was completely free for the school. Local donations and fundraising made this possible.

This gave students access to extra help with their mental health and wellbeing. It also marked a welcome return to a school we know well.

Free mental health support at Trinity Academy Cathedral

Focusing Minds believes young people should be able to get help when they need it.

However, schools do not always have the funds for extra services.

Local donations allowed us to provide free mental health support at Trinity Academy Cathedral. As a result, students could access our service at no cost to the school.

Students had a safe place to talk about their concerns. They could also learn simple ways to manage the challenges they faced.

Returning to Trinity Academy Cathedral

Focusing Minds has a long history with Trinity Academy Cathedral.

Before this project, we worked at the school for four years. During that time, we built strong links with staff and students.

We helped young people with their mental health and wellbeing. We also provided support with confidence and behaviour.

In addition, we helped students improve their personal growth and engagement with school.

It was great to return and work with the school again.

Helping Year 6 students

Our free service also included a Year 6 transition workshop.

Starting secondary school is a big change. It can be exciting, but it can also cause worry.

The workshop helped Year 6 students prepare for their new school.

We talked about common worries and ways to manage them. Students also had the chance to ask questions.

For example, we talked about new routines and meeting new people. We also looked at where students could find help in school.

This gave students some useful tools before starting Year 7.

Mental health support for students

Every young person is different. Therefore, our support is based on the needs of each student.

We listen to young people and give them time to talk. Together, we then look at what may help.

Our mental health support for students can cover many areas. These include anxiety, confidence and emotional wellbeing.

We can also help with friendships, behaviour and school life.

Our aim is simple. We want young people to feel heard and supported.

We also want them to build skills that can help them make progress.

Supporting young people's mental health

Focusing Minds is committed to young people’s mental health support.

We work with schools to provide early help for children and young people. This can prevent smaller concerns from becoming bigger problems.

Our support is flexible. Therefore, we can respond to the needs of each student.

We can also work alongside the support already offered by schools.

Thank you for supporting our work

Projects like this are possible because of local support.

We are very grateful to everyone who donates or raises money for Focusing Minds.

Your support helps us provide services to young people who may otherwise miss out.

In this case, donations helped us return to Trinity Academy Cathedral. They also helped us provide a free Year 6 transition workshop.

We hope to provide more free support in the future.

Working with local schools

Focusing Minds provides school mental health support for children and young people.

We support students with their mental health, wellbeing and personal growth. We can also help with confidence, behaviour and school engagement.

Our services are designed around the needs of each school and its students.

If your school needs extra support, please contact Focusing Minds. We would be happy to discuss how we can help.

Focusing Minds Support at Trinity Academy St Edwards

Focusing Minds CIC — Thu, 14 May 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Focusing Minds is delighted to continue its partnership with Trinity Academy St Edwards (TASE) for a fourth consecutive academic year.

The partnership has already had a positive impact on students across the school. Through our service, young people can access mental health, wellbeing and personal development support when they need it.

The school has also increased its commitment to the service. In fact, Trinity Academy St Edwards has doubled its use of Focusing Minds support over the last 18 months.

This growth shows how highly the school values the service. More importantly, it allows more students to access support.

Supporting student mental health and wellbeing

Focusing Minds provides flexible support for students at Trinity Academy St Edwards.

Every young person is different. Therefore, we shape our support around the needs and goals of each student.

Sessions can focus on mental health and emotional wellbeing. We can also help with confidence, behaviour, relationships and personal development.

Some students may find it hard to engage with school. In these cases, our support can help them explore the challenges they face.

Our approach puts the young person at the centre of each session. This gives students time to talk about the issues that matter to them.

Together, we can then explore practical strategies and realistic goals. This can help students build confidence and recognise their progress.

A valued partnership with Trinity Academy St Edwards

The school’s continued investment is a strong sign of its confidence in Focusing Minds.

Principal Mark Allen speaks highly of the support and the impact it has within the school. He also values the way Andy works with students and builds positive relationships with them.

Trust is an important part of our work.

Therefore, we aim to create a safe and supportive space for each student. This can make it easier for young people to talk about difficult experiences.

Students can then explore ways to manage challenges and make positive progress.

Growing support for students at TASE

The growth of our service at Trinity Academy St Edwards is very encouraging.

In just 18 months, the school has doubled its use of Focusing Minds support. As a result, more students can access one-to-one help.

This growth also shows the strength of our partnership with the school.

Most importantly, it reflects the school’s commitment to student mental health and wellbeing. It also goes beyond the school’s statutory requirements.

Continuing our work into the future

Focusing Minds is proud to support Trinity Academy St Edwards for a fourth consecutive year.

We are delighted that this partnership will continue. We also look forward to building on the progress already made.

Our aim is simple.

We want to help young people build confidence and resilience. We also want them to develop skills that can help them make progress.

Mental health and wellbeing support for schools

Focusing Minds provides mental health, wellbeing and personal development support for children and young people.

We work with schools to provide flexible support for their students. Each service can be shaped around the needs of the school and its young people.

If your school needs additional student wellbeing or mental health support, please get in touch with Focusing Minds.

You can also visit our Education Services page to learn more about our work with schools.

We would be happy to discuss how Focusing Minds could support your school community. Please contact us today to discover how.

Focusing Minds Celebrates Community Spirit at Ossett and Gawthorpe Maypole Parade

Focusing Minds CIC — Sat, 02 May 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Focusing Minds was proud to take part in the annual Ossett and Gawthorpe Maypole Parade.

The event brought together local organisations, businesses and families. It was another fantastic celebration of one of the area’s longest-standing community traditions.

As an Ossett-based Community Interest Company, we were delighted to get involved. The parade also gave us an opportunity to raise awareness of the support available through Focusing Minds.

We provide mental health, wellbeing, counselling, SEND and personal development support across Ossett, Wakefield and the wider West Yorkshire area.

The history of the Ossett and Gawthorpe Maypole Parade

The Ossett and Gawthorpe Maypole Parade, also known as the Gawthorpe Maypole Procession, has a history stretching back more than 150 years.

Gawthorpe is one of the few places where a permanent maypole remains an important part of the community.

Records show that a maypole was standing in the village as early as 1840. The first recorded permanent pole was then purchased in 1850.

The tradition continued to grow during the 1870s. A new pole was erected in 1874 with help from public donations and voluntary labour. The first procession followed in 1875.

Since then, generations of local people have helped to keep the tradition alive.

Today, the event brings together the May Queen and attendants, decorated vehicles, businesses, community organisations and local families.

For Focusing Minds, it was a privilege to be part of an event with such a strong connection to the history of Ossett and Gawthorpe.

Focusing Minds wins third place at the Gawthorpe Maypole Parade

There was even more reason for us to celebrate on the day.

Focusing Minds achieved third place in the Class 1 Commercial Advertising section of the parade.

Taking part and supporting our community was always our main aim. However, receiving third place was a fantastic bonus.

It was also great recognition for everyone who helped to prepare our entry.

Most importantly, the parade gave us another opportunity to showcase Focusing Minds and our commitment to helping people “to make progress”.

Supporting the Ossett and Wakefield community

Being part of our local community is extremely important to Focusing Minds.

Our work goes beyond the support we provide in schools, therapy spaces and individual sessions. We want to be a positive and recognisable part of the communities we serve.

That includes supporting local events and community initiatives whenever we can.

Events such as the Ossett and Gawthorpe Maypole Parade show what can be achieved when people come together.

They also allow us to meet local families and raise awareness of our services.

These include support with mental health, wellbeing, counselling, SEND and personal development.

Thank you to our Ossett and Gawthorpe Maypole team

Our involvement would not have been possible without the people who gave their time and energy to support us.

A huge thank you goes to Andy, our personal trainer and coach Mark, and Focusing Minds director Nick, who all helped make our involvement in the parade possible.

We would also like to give a special thank you to the children who joined us and enthusiastically handed out Focusing Minds flyers along the parade route. Their help was very much appreciated and played an important part in helping us introduce Focusing Minds to even more people across the local community.

Finally, thank you to everyone involved in organising and delivering the Maypole celebrations and to the many people who lined the streets of Ossett and Gawthorpe to support the parade.

Focusing Minds: proud to support the Ossett community

Focusing Minds is proud to have a base in Ossett, Wakefield.

We are also proud of the relationships we continue to develop with schools, families and organisations across West Yorkshire.

Taking part in the Ossett and Gawthorpe Maypole Parade gave us another opportunity to support our community.

It also allowed us to raise awareness of the services available through Focusing Minds.

Achieving third place in the Class 1 Commercial Advertising section made a fantastic day even more memorable.

We look forward to supporting more local events in the future.

We will also continue our work with children, young people, adults, families and schools across Ossett, Wakefield and West Yorkshire.

If you would like to learn more, take a look at the support available through Focusing Minds and discover how we can help you to make progress.

Andy Completes Grueling 60km Sponsored Treadmill Walk

Focusing Minds CIC — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 20:00:00 +0000

Focusing Minds director Andy has successfully completed a gruelling 60km sponsored treadmill walk in Wakefield, raising an incredible £1,000 to support the organisation’s community-based work with children, young people and families.

A Grueling 60km Sponsored Treadmill Walk

Andy began the challenge early in the morning at Total Fitness in Wakefield, determined to complete the entire 60km distance in a single day.

After walking continuously for just under 13 hours, Andy successfully reached his target and brought the demanding endurance challenge to an end.

Completing a 60km sponsored treadmill walk required considerable physical and mental determination. The encouragement Andy received throughout the day helped him remain focused and continue until the full distance was complete.

£1,000 Raised for Community-Based Work

The fundraising event was a fantastic success, raising a total of £1,000 for Focusing Minds.

The money will help us continue delivering our mental wellbeing and personal-development support to children, young people and families within our local communities.

Funds raised through events such as this make our support more accessible and help us reach people who may otherwise struggle to access the assistance they need.

Supporting Our Community-Based Work

Focusing Minds provides accessible mental health, wellbeing and personal-development services across Wakefield and the surrounding areas.

Our work includes support for schools, individual support for children and young people, transition programmes and services designed to improve confidence, emotional wellbeing and engagement.

The £1,000 raised through Andy’s 60km sponsored treadmill walk will contribute directly towards this work and help Focusing Minds continue making a positive difference within local communities.

Thank You to Digital Doodles

We would like to thank Digital Doodles, who have kindly agreed to sponsor our in-house fundraising events in the future.

Their support will help us develop further fundraising opportunities and strengthen the community-based services we are able to provide.

We are also extremely grateful to everyone who donated, shared the fundraiser or offered encouragement before and during the challenge. Every contribution played an important part in helping us reach this fantastic total.

Helping Children and Young People Make Progress

At Focusing Minds, our aim is to help children, young people and families make progress through person-centred mental health, wellbeing and personal-development support.

Andy’s achievement demonstrates what can be accomplished through determination and community support. Most importantly, the money raised will help us continue providing valuable services to those who need them.

Thank you once again to Digital Doodles and every person who generously donated or supported the challenge.

Exploring the Use of External Provisions in Schools in 2024

Andy — Mon, 20 May 2024 09:00:00 +0000

The educational landscape in the UK is continually evolving! In 2024, it is becoming more common for schools to turn to external provisions to enhance their educational offerings and support student well-being as they strive to provide a high-quality, comprehensive education experience to students. Typically, these provisions encompass a wide range of services and resources, from supplementary educational services to specialised support for mental health and wellbeing and extracurricular activities. In our latest blog, we explore the growing reliance on external provisions in UK schools, the benefits they bring, the challenges they present and how Focusing Minds could just be the solution you are looking for…

A Growing Need for External Provisions…

Several factors contribute to the rising demand for external provisions in UK schools:

Budget Constraints: With budget cuts and financial pressures, schools often find it challenging to meet all their students’ needs internally – does this sound familiar? External provisions can fill these gaps without requiring significant long-term investments in in-house staffing.

Specialised Needs: Students today have diverse needs, it’s inescapable that both SEN requirements and young people’s mental health and wellbeing needs are on the increase. External specialists can provide targeted services that schools generally may lack the resources to offer.

Diverse Educational Experiences: Parents and students increasingly seek educational experiences beyond the traditional curriculum. This is something we are acutely aware of with many young people accessing our range of private support services. External providers are many and can offer enrichment activities, such as music, arts, sports, and STEM programs.

Types of External Provisions…

External provisions in UK schools come in various forms, each serving a unique purpose. How many are you aware of or currently utilising in your setting?

Educational Consultants and Tutors: These professionals offer specialised knowledge and tutoring services, helping students with specific subjects or exam preparation, many different services that day-to-day school staff may be unable to deliver due to workload or commitments.

Mental Health Services: External psychologists, counsellors, and therapists provide essential mental health support, addressing early entry and more complex issues such as anxiety, confidence, self-esteem, and stress.

Extracurricular Program Providers: Organisations offering sports, arts, music, and other enrichment activities play a crucial role in holistic education.

Technology Partners: Tech companies provide digital tools and platforms that enhance learning, such as educational software, online resources, and e-learning solutions.

Benefits of External Provisions…

The integration of external provisions brings several benefits to UK schools:

Enhanced Educational Quality: By leveraging external expertise, schools can offer high-quality education in areas where they may lack in-house expertise.

Access to Specialised Services: External providers offer specialised services that address the unique needs of students, such as SEN support and mental health care.

Improved Student Outcomes: Access to additional resources and support can lead to better academic performance, improved mental health, and increased engagement in school activities.

Flexibility and Scalability: Schools can scale services up or down based on their needs, allowing for flexibility in resource allocation.

Challenges and Considerations…

While external provisions offer numerous advantages, they also come with challenges:

Cost: Hiring external providers can be expensive, potentially straining already tight school budgets in an era of high inflation, rising staffing and utility costs.

Quality Control: Ensuring the quality and effectiveness of external services can be challenging. Schools must thoroughly vet providers to ensure they meet relevant standards and have ways of determining the quality of the implementation and impact of provisions with students.

Alignment with School Values and Curriculum: External services must show some adaptability and flexibility to align with the school’s values, goals, and curriculum to ensure a cohesive educational experience.

Dependency Risks: Over-reliance on external providers might undermine the development of in-house capabilities and expertise.

How does Focusing Minds overcome such challenges?

Let’s take each of the challenges and consideration in turn and demonstrate how our provision can effectively overcome to provide effective and impactful support in your school:

Cost: We fully understand the financial constraints many schools operate under and the impact this can have on the ability to enrol external provisions in your setting. With this in mind, we offer complete flexibility for schools to determine what their needs are and how this can be structured in an affordable way so students don’t have to miss out on the impactful work we undertake.

The bespoke nature of our provision offer allow schools to ‘buy in’ for as little as half days per week and often on a term-by-term basis: no long-term contracts, no tie-ins and no costly commitments!

What’s more, if you’re part of a multi-academy trust, or have strong links with other local schools (within a reasonable distance by road) you are welcome to take advantage of our MAT discount by splitting our day rate rather than being charged our full day fees – typically we spend three and a half hours in each school. Alternatively, we can accommodate fortnightly support without having a detrimental effect on the impact of services offer, ensuring your students can take advantage of our provision without the associated weekly costs and you can save more if you alternate with another school in your trust or who you are linked with too!

And what of schools who already benefit from our services? We offer early booking incentives in the summer term for the following year, providing discounts – it’s not much but is a gesture from us to you for your commitment to purchase our services on an ongoing basis.

Quality Control: We are absolutely dedicated to providing the best possible service to your school and your students and it’s a commitment we don’t take lightly! Getting the basics right allows us to set the foundations – our staff hold Enhanced DBS checks on the update service and are familiar with KCSIE documentation. We have our own defined safeguarding policy to work alongside that of our own school and staff are trained to recognise and effectively manage safeguarding concerns.

And what of the impact of the work we undertake? This is something we are naturally keen to demonstrate and we discuss ‘what great looks like’ in our initial communications with you. We also conduct student surveys to identify the impacts of our work and construct reports and use data to ascertain where improvements in student performance are being made. We evidence the work we do with students but also you will get a feel of the positive impact our work has by noticing a difference in the students themselves.

Alignment with values: For us, this is incredibly straight forward. We immerse ourselves in your school culture and environment, seamlessly working alongside your current staff and teams to increase the likelihood of positive outcomes for your students. We are keen collaborators, team players and do not work ‘in a silo’: only can external provisions working together with in-house teams can true, lasting impacts be made.

Whether it’s relating our support to your current policies and procedures or referencing specific models you utilise in everyday school life, we adopt them as our own without having to depart from the person-centred approach we see as key to student development and improvement.

Dependency risks: We are nothing but honest and open about our support and where there may be limitations or opportunities to develop staff to increase your own in-house offer – indeed, many of our school services feature staff CPD quite heavily to be able to offer training for specific needs which may reduce the need for our regular day-to-day, term-by-term input.

The Future of External Provisions in UK Schools…

Looking ahead, several trends are likely to shape the future of external provisions in UK schools:

Increased Collaboration: Schools will likely form more strategic partnerships with external providers, focusing on long-term collaboration rather than ad-hoc services. In essence, at Focusing Minds we already do this with several of our schools who have repeatedly accessed our services for several years now.

Personalised Experiences: External provisions will play a crucial role in personalising education and support, tailoring support and resources to individual student needs. We are proud at Focusing Minds of our bespoke and thorough approach to ensuring individual needs of both schools and students are met through our own provision.

Focus on Mental Health: The emphasis on mental health and wellbeing support will no doubt continue to grow, with schools increasingly relying on external mental health professionals, therapists, coaches and more to support students without the need to employ internally.

Integration of Technology: As technology continues to advance, digital tools and platforms provided by external partners are and will continue to become integral to the learning process.

In conclusion:

The use of external provisions in UK schools is a growing trend that offers numerous benefits, from enhanced educational quality to improved student well-being. However, it also presents challenges that schools must carefully manage. By thoughtfully integrating external services, schools can create a more comprehensive and supportive educational environment, ultimately leading to better outcomes for students. As we move forward, the role of external provisions will continue to evolve, and we at Focusing Minds aim to be at the forefront of this, with the overall aim of supporting as many students and young people as we can.