The Learning Mentor Toolkit A Complete Recruitment and Training Resource for Schools

The Learning Mentor Toolkit provides all of the resources necessary to recruit, train and supervise adult learning mentors looking to support children and young people within the school environment. Packed full of information, this book details all of the necessary training and uncovers how best to ensure that supervision meets the needs of the volunteers, the children and the school. Developed to enable a lead member of staff to find, co-create and train a range of adults from the school community and use these Volunteer Learning Mentors to support children and young people within their environment, the support offered is linked to the five key areas that create positive foundations for mental health and wellbeing: • the ability to create and develop positive relationships • emotional literacy • self-awareness • how our brains can affect learning and behaviour • skills for learning Full of practical advice and resources, this book is the ideal resource for any wellbeing lead or senior leadership team looking to recruit and train learning mentors within their school.

IntroductionChapter 1: Thinking and Finding OutChapter 2: Selection and Training: Creating Something Special TogetherChapter 3: Supervision: Reflective PracticeChapter 4: Developing the Role of the Learning Mentors

Alison Waterhouse has worked in mainstream, special education and the independent sector for the past 30 years, specialising in working with children with AEN, including mental health and Wellbeing. She has set up and developed an independent therapeutic special school, developed a role as teacher in charge of the social and emotional wellbeing of the whole school community and has been an inclusion manager and deputy head in mainstream schools. She now works as an independent educational consultant for SEN and wellbeing, is involved in staff training and has her own educational psychotherapy practice. Alison works with children who are referred due to difficulties with self-esteem, anger, anxiety, depression and other mental health needs as well as children with learning differences. Alison is developing the Circles for Learning Project in schools, a project that focuses on building positive foundations for mental health and wellbeing and includes staff training and a wealth of resources to support children and young people in KS1–KS4.