A Quiet Place Self Management Programme

Adding value for each client…

The A Quiet Place Self Management programme is a value added service that supports children, young people and adults of all ages and abilities with learning and behaviour techniques. The programme can run alongside and within the general curriculum to support learning by management of the arousal system.

The techniques and resources have all been built to offer an all round approach to personal development, whatever age group a client is working with. By helping each person to manage their physiology more successfully, empowerment and understanding are built in from the beginning.

Programmes that are developed and tailored…

The Self Management Programme techniques consist of:

• Bio feedback programmes (including HeartMath em-wave) to recognise the inner process.
• Breathing techniques in tandem with the A Quiet Place Music CD.
• Cross lateral exercises.
• Meditation consisting of simple, calming and focused brain exercise.

Monitoring each result…

The outcomes are extremely powerful and can be monitored throughout the journey with A Quiet Place workbooks and the bio feedback programmes. The results include:

• Improvement in managing behaviour
• Increased self esteem and self awareness
• Empathy and understanding toward others
• Improved communication skills
• Increased resilience
• Improvement in attainment, attendance and relationships

Each client receives a full report that includes quantitative and qualitative information on the impact of A Quiet Place within the organisation and including the effects toward students, staff and families.

Sanctuary™

The Sanctuary model means simply a place a child can go that is part of the ‘behaviour ‘policy of the school. It is never AQP environment and must not be linked as such. It is not considered to be a ‘punishment area’ but a programme of self control and management with help from all concerned.

It has to be an area where the child has an adult to keep an unobtrusive eye over them for health and safety. Traditionally it was ‘the chair outside the head teacher’s room.

Behaviourism has a limited effect yet it is essential for the running of any group or chaos may ensue.

Rewards and praise to be used rarely as ‘reasonable and considerate behaviour/communication should be the ‘norm’ and praise only used ‘above ‘ the norm. Otherwise it can seem like bribery!

Aims:

• To provide a place for the child to safely go for an agreed amount of time when they recognise that their arousal systems are heightening and need to remove themselves to a cooling off area
• A limited time span e.g. 6 weeks with one defined outcome (this will then inevitably begin to apply to other aspects)
• It is an effective technique that can be returned to with a different outcome defined by teacher and child working together beforehand
• To offer respite for the rest of the class
• To develop a sense of responsibility and self control in the child

Outcomes:

• The child recognises when their arousal systems are heightening
• The child knows how to lower them with a variety of techniques
• The child understands that they need to move away from a particular situation
• There is an agreed signal pre exiting the class room or area
• A unique outcome is agreed beforehand

A Quiet Place Body Work/Massage

Care and dedication…

Massage is an important part of the A Quiet Place protocol and must be done with care in order to keep children safe. Much research shows the connection between touch, emotional health and well being. Massage is offered in conjunction with a number of programmes to assist with relaxation and reduce tension.

A Quiet Place massage techniques aim to:

• • • • • • Understand appropriate and safe touch
          • Develop non verbal communication skills
          • Develop compassion
          • Develop an ability to touch in a caring way
          • Develop a 5 to 10 minute programme of basic massage techniques that teachers can continue to practice with the class

Participants can enjoy increased awareness of how the body responds to touch at different levels, in addition to the healing and therapeutic benefits. The use of aromatherapy oils also helps to heighten other senses and create a perfect relaxing environment.

A Quiet Place Emotional Intelligence Curriculum

The main objective of A Quiet Place is the development of Emotional Intelligence

People who are feeling good about themselves are both eager to learn and more likely to be successful in achieving their potential. A Quiet Place has created an Emotional Intelligence Curriculum which is a carefully crafted, scripted programme that helps a person develop all elements of Emotional Intelligence by harnessing the imagination through strategies such as visualisation and story telling.

The elements of Emotional Intelligence are:

• Managing behaviour
• Resilience and empathy
• Self esteem
• Confidence and awareness
• Successful communications and relationships

Humans are designed with extraordinary innate ability to heal themselves at every level by tapping into the unconscious mind through metaphor and story telling. It allows a more painless release of tension which can only serve to enhance all the elements of Emotional Intelligence.

Additional Programmes

A Quiet Place offers a range of additional programmes that have been designed to support clients that are looking for extended and more intensive outcomes.

Art of Parenting – Involving each parent every step of the way…

Parents are encouraged into the A Quiet Place room from the offset and are always invited to contribute and benefit from the A Quiet Place Programmes.

Regular relaxation groups can develop into full Art of Parenting programmes when a group is ready. This is an option that education establishments are invited to implement and includes a series of courses that can be run as stand alone projects or to add value with other options.

The parenting courses consist of:

• Reflective Parenting
• Emotionally Intelligent Parenting
• Family Massage
• Creative Parenting<

It is an educational model that is totally non judgemental, allowing effective and practical approaches to family inclusion. The aims of the programme are:

• To offer support that empowers parents.
• To work alongside parents and tailor the courses for the needs of the particular group.
• To develop a peer mentoring group that will be sustainable and enable them to run their own parent support group for hard to reach families.
• To build capacity in the community.

The effectiveness of each group is second to none, leading to parental engagement, interest and inclusion within their child’s school and everyday life.

A Quiet Place also offers services to support families in their community, with an ethos geared toward having fun in a relaxed, valued environment.