In 2008 the Paul Hamlyn Foundation awarded the Mulberry Bush a grant to undertake an exciting three year action research project which aims to explore and examine the ways in which the methodologies used at the Mulberry Bush can be successfully adapted and transferred to mainstream settings.
Schools involved are participating in a programme of action research in order to develop effective ways of working with pupils who are experiencing social, emotional and behavioural difficulties which disrupt their learning and whose behaviour is challenging and causes concern.
The project is undertaken by two teams of two researchers working in partnership with three mainstream primaries and one foundation school within the ISIS partnership in East Oxford. This innovative project works through supporting the development of a collaborative problem solving approach and the enhancement of skills and confidence amongst the staff groups.
The central strategy is be to give support to the partner schools to developing their understanding of children’s behaviour as a form of communication, whereby they are seeking to have their needs met.
The project team members facilitate and enable other senior staff to facilitate meetings with various staffing groups in order to achieve sustainable developments in culture, policies and practices.
The project is evaluating and analysing the impact of these experiences with a view to disseminate the findings in a way that will be of benefit to other schools, LEAs and teacher trainers across the country.
We are now half-way through the project and already seeing significant changes to cultures within the participating schools, resulting in positive outcomes for the pupils.