Extreme demand avoidance: Universal support

_What might this look like? _ 

For children and young people with high levels of demand avoidance it’s important that settings apply reasonable adjustments and enable flexibility in relation to behavioural expectations and how the curriculum taught, and learning evidenced. Focus on relationships and understanding and reducing anxiety is important for these pupils.  

**Education services ** 

In school support  

• Neurodiversity promotion in school and neuroaffirming approaches embedded throughout the school  

• Relational approaches applied in school focusing on forming connections between staff and pupils to promote trusting and positive interactions. Use of the Building Stronger Foundations[External Link] whole school audit can be used to identify any provision gaps that exist to develop setting development  

• See more about Ordinarily Available Provision in schools here 

Cognus Educational Psychology Service 

• A range of training sessions including those particularly focused on supporting pupils with extreme demand avoidance. See here for more information[External Link] about dates and signing up for courses  

• A call back service for parents/carers to receive a one-off consultation for support and advice. Sign up here[External Link] 

For more information or enquiries, please email ep.service@cognus.org.uk 

Cognus Therapies  

• Cognus Therapies runs a SEND champion training which consists of training on universal speech, language and communication needs, occupational therapy and educational psychology advice and support. Sutton schools who have not accessed this training previously can send one delegate for free or pay for additional staff members to attend. If you would like to book on the training, please contact cognus.therapies@cognus.org.uk 

• Parent workshops which consist of training on range of universal speech, language and communication needs, occupational therapy and educational psychology advice and support. See more information here[External Link]  

Special school outreach  

• Fishbowl sessions to provide school visits and advice and signposting from special school staff. 

Cognus Inclusion Team  

• Inclusion Surgeries run every week Tuesday afternoon and Friday morning for any member of school staff to provide information, advice, and guidance to schools to support inclusive practice and the prevention of exclusion. To book onto the Inclusion Surgery, please complete the booking form[External Link]. 

Cognus Autism Service  

• Half-termly CPD workshops to enhance the skills, knowledge and expertise of Autism Leads in schools. These are virtual training sessions for primary and secondary school staff based on themes and needs in the Sutton area. To see upcoming dates and book on, staff can sign up via here[external Link]. Recordings can also be accessed online here[External Link], with other videos available on the Cognus YouTube channel[External Link] 

• Webinars and workshops[External Link] available for parents/carers and practical strategies and tips videos for parents and carers on the Cognus YouTube channel[External Link]   

**Social care services ** 

Family Hubs  

• Parent/carer Coffee Information Sessions. If you would like to find out more about the sessions, please contact Clare Kennedy Parenting Administrator via her email: clare.kennedy@sutton.gov.uk 

• A range of parent/carer training programmes, support sessions and information which can be found here  

**Health services ** 

Education Wellbeing Service SWLSTG/Cognus  

• A range of webinars[External Link] and videos[External Link] for school staff and parents/carers on a range of topics related to emotional wellbeing and mental health  

• In school workshops for school staff and parent/carers on a range of topics related to emotional wellbeing and mental health 

• Every Conversation Matters training to introduce ideas about communication approaches which build relationships and emotional resilience in children and young people  

For more information about this service or to request training and support contact your schools Mental Health Lead. To find out who is your linked worker please email EWSinfo@swlstg.nhs.uk or see here[External Link]. For schools who are part of the team linked to Cognus see more information here[External Link]