• Supporting attainment in schools

A recent report published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) (2014) discussed and highlighted the issues surrounding child poverty in Scotland. The report was aimed at making recommendations for educators and policy makers with regards to intervention that can be implemented to reduce the educational attainment gap that exists in Scotland.

There is a growing body of evidence that highlights the existence of an educational attainment gap between pupils from the most affluent and poorest communities in Scotland. The JRF report clearly states that this attainment gap starts in preschool and persists throughout primary and secondary schools Those pupils who live through poverty and who at times struggle with educational attainment may be significantly hampered in adulthood in terms of their psychosomatic health, income and socioeconomic position (Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) (2014)).

Based on the evidence in the JRF report it has been suggested that there needs to be a greater focus on developing projects and interventions aimed at tackling the attainment gap associated with lower socioeconomic groups or pupils from more disadvantaged backgrounds.

StreamFit interventions are evidence based and data focused so that government funding may be allocated to effective interventions and ultimately benefit those pupils who need support.

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What the teachers think of the programme

  • “The children are definitely more settled and are accessing strategies used in the weekly sessions. Understanding how the brain works and how important it is to look after it has also helped with overall classroom climate and focus on learning. The pupils enjoyed the variety of the sessions” Teacher at Canal View Primary, Edinburgh

  • “The body scan, we now do that approx. every second day/when needed. It was good to do things that can be used by the class teacher at other times. Also the lesson is a nice calm start to the day” Teacher at Canal View Primary, Edinburgh

  • “The children can be very active and chatty in the afternoons. Many children have friendship issues and struggle to concentrate for long periods of time. They are enjoying the sessions and improving each week. Time for quiet reflection and meditation is working well to relax the pupils and create a calm atmosphere” Teacher at Canal View Primary, Edinburgh

Benefits of the Programme

  • • Pupils and teachers seem to enjoy the mindfulness method. It is easily integrated into classroom settings and fits into a range of educational topics

  • • The evidence supports that the mindfulness method can enhance psychosomatic health and the wellbeing of young people. Some of the report effects have been a reduction in anxiety, stress, behavioural problems, improved sleep and motivation, a greater sense of relaxation and calm, and the ability to regulate negative behavioural cycles and emotions while improving self-awareness and empathy.

  • • Implementing and embodying the mindfulness method enhances cognitive development and performance skills and executive function. Being mindful can help young people develop greater levels of focus and attention, be more creative and innovative while using existing knowledge more effectively. Being mindful may also improve working memory and develops more efficient problem-solving skills, and the ability to plan and reason more effectively with peers, teacher and their parents.

  • • The scientific evidence points towards the mindful method having several positive effects on health outcomes and educational attainment in children of school age therefore this intervention warrants further investigation. Another benefit of mindfulness is that it is an inexpensive method to implement in schools and it can be fit into educational contexts.

  • • Getting it right for each child. The StreamFit program evolves as it is being delivered to ensure the pupils are responding to the program, understanding the information and seeing positive effects.

  • • We combine movement, mindfulness and meditation and adapt the program to suit each year group from infants to seniors.

Corporate Programme

SUPPORTING ATTAINMENT IN SCHOOLS

Get in touch with us today to find out more about the programme.

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