The Pyramid Project has run for 3 years in Torfaen in Hillside Primary, Penygarn Primary and Blenheim Road Primary. We are hoping to run Pyramid again in these schools in the summer of 2009. Woodland Road Junior and Pontnewynydd Primary are coming on board in January 2009.
Pyramid
Pyramid clubs offer a safe haven for children amid the hustle and bustle of the busy school environment. They offer fun and support for a group of children that is often overlooked – the quieter children who don't make a fuss or draw attention to themselves, but who are not entirely happy or doing as well as they could in school. Pyramid clubs are designed for children of all sorts of ability and background and use a systematic approach to ensure that the children who need support are identified early so that the support given is low-key and non-stigmatising.
How Pyramid works
Pyramid is a well-established and evaluated programme for use in primary schools and the early stages of secondary school. It aims to identify children who are facing difficulties in their social and emotional development, focusing on those who are quieter, shy or more withdrawn and who tend to internalise their difficulties.
Pyramid for children follows a three stage process:
Identifying need
One year group in the school is chosen for screening: usually this is Year 3 in Wales, but the school may decide that another year group has a greater level of need. The whole year group is screened by the class teacher(s) using the Pyramid screening tool, which takes just a few minutes for each child. The preferred screening tool is the Department of Health's recommended Goodman's Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) which looks at five areas of development: conduct, hyperactivity, peer relations, emotional and pro-social skills. Other tools such as sociograms are also used in some schools. Screening the whole year group ensures that the quieter, more withdrawn children are not overlooked, and that early intervention can be put in place for all children who are causing concern.
Inter-agency solutions
The results from the screening are then taken to a multi-agency meeting which will discuss those children who are displaying any sort of difficulty in order to identify some suitable support for them. Agencies involved will include school staff (class teachers, headteacher/deputy, Senco, learning support assistants, learning mentors) and other children's services like educational psychology, education welfare, behaviour support, CAMHS, school nursing etc. Knowledge of services offered through local statutory and voluntary organisations will enable the group to identify suitable support to meet children's needs
Pyramid Clubs
Those children whose difficulties are considered to arise from being quiet, withdrawn or having problems in establishing good peer or adult relationships, may be offered a place at a Pyramid Club. Up to ten children will be offered a place at these fun after-school clubs that are run by school staff and/or trained volunteers. The clubs run once a week for ten weeks, for one and a half hours, immediately after school. The aim of the clubs is to raise the children's self-esteem and to develop skills like resilience, speaking up for themselves, empathy and working in groups. The children develop a sense of belonging, are given the opportunity to learn how to make friends in a supportive environment, and get the undivided attention of a friendly, sympathetic group of adults. They are encouraged to make their own decisions and helped to master real new practical skills.