Welcome to Balanced Schools

Balanced Schools provides educational staff with the resources and knowledge needed to positively address the wide range of student issues that arise daily.

Our CBT Based Resources empower staff to equip students with the knowledge and skills to regulate their emotions and manage their behaviours.

Our CBT Facilitator Training enhances staff skills by understanding how the brain works, how CBT works and how they can use this knowledge to improve outcomes.

Staff can provide early intervention and ongoing support to student mental health, wellbeing, behaviour, attendance, and specialist support for SEN students.

Founded by Samantha Garner, Ex-SENCo, Cognitive Behavioural Therapist, Counsellor and Mindset Coach, Balanced Schools provides practical, realistic and flexible resources that are being successfully used in settings nationally and internationally.

Issues Supported:

• Anxiety
• Anger
• Attendance
• Behaviour Management
• Bereavement
• Bullying – Perpetrator
• Bullying – Target
• Exam Anxiety
• Friendship Issues
• Low Mood/Depression
• Self-Esteem
• Self-Harm (Secondary/College ONLY)
• Social Skills
• Transition

SEN
• Autism
• ADHD
• Conduct Issues
• Dyslexia/SpLD

Tier 1 – Everyday Practise

• PSHE Lessons
• Teacher Conversations
• Classroom/school rules
• Assemblies
• Pastoral Conversations

 

Tier 2 – Targeted Support

• Intervention Programmes with individuals or groups
• Therapuetic Groups e.g. Self-Esteem
• SEN Support Groups – ASC, ADHD
• Behaviour Management Groups – e.g. anger management

Used by:

• Teachers
• Head of Years
• Pastoral Leads
• MH & WB Leads
• ELSA’s
• Lunchtime Assistants
• Teaching/Learning
Assistants
• Safeguarding Staff
• Behaviour Managements
Staff
• SEN Staff
• First Aider
• Attendance Officer

Anyone!

;

What we do

Our Resources

CBT Pastoral Toolbox for Children – written for primary aged children

CBT Pastoral Toolbox for Adolescents & Young Adults

Over 100 CBT worksheets to support the wide range of daily issues that occur in educational settings.

CBT Handbook for SEN Children

CBT Handbook for SEN Adolescents & Young Adults

Over 100 CBT worksheets specifically written to support students with ADHD, ASC, conduct issues and Dyslexia.

 

Intervention Programmes:

Our intervention programmes are designed to be run over several sessions with individuals or groups of students.   The logistics of sessions can be adapted to suit the school timetable.

Our programmes are being successfully used in schools nationwide, from PRUs to prestigious independent schools.

  • Changing Patterns (Behaviour Management)
  • Exam Anxiety
  • Managing Anxiety (Anxiety)
  • Ready to Go (Attendance)

Our Training

Further enhance your staff skills with our CPD Accredited training.   It provides staff with an understanding of how the brain works, the basics of CBT, and how it can be used in their setting as part of every-day practise.

Trained CBT Facilitators can then improve their skills working with SEN students with our online on demand SEN Specialist Facilitator Training.

How it works

Common problems

Balanced Schools is here to help education settings support the increasing numbers of students requiring help with mental health issues and behavioural problems.

We help settings provide support that isn’t just about understanding, it’s also about providing students with the tools and techniques to move forward and thrive.

Why CBT?

When we say that CBT is one of the most evidenced forms of help for use with students, we mean it.  From some of the most respected organisations in the field, to individuals looking to find out for themselves, the evidence is overwhelming – and positive

CBT doesn’t work for everybody, but it is said to work for most of the people most of the time.

Benefits of Balanced Schools

Using our resources, you can teach students cognitive and emotional self-awareness to help them become better learners and achieve.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) has revolutionised mental health treatment.  When integrated into educational settings, our CBT-based resources can provide significant benefits for both students and staff.

Who we are

About Us

Balanced Schools is the brainchild of Samantha Garner.  As an ex-SENCo and qualified mental health professional Sam recognised the need for flexible school-based resources that can be used by staff.

Having worked on the frontline in a variety of settings, Sam understands the everyday day demands placed of staff when supporting students.

Sam is a well-known in the Education Sector (Sam would say famous). Her use of humour and “tell-it-like-it-is” attitude is widely recognised and appreciated.

Sam is also on the committee of the Devon & Cornwall Branch of the Association of Child and Adolescent Mental Health (ACAMH’s)

Testimonials

Don’t just take our word for it. Read what people who use our CBT Based Resources or take our CPD accredited training have to say.

“I think the training offers a constructive way forward for recognising and supporting anxiety and exam anxiety in my school”

NK

What we have to say

Our Blog

Everything from advice on proactively managing your own mental wellbeing, to opinions on the latest research and news cycle, it’s sometimes just us letting off a bit of steam.

We always try to take the positive and helpful angle, so why not have a look and see if something resonates with you.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are always questions.  We’re more than happy to answer any related to what we do and how it works or how it can be implemented in your setting.

We love talking to people, so get in touch with us if you have a question!

But first, why not see if we’ve already covered it (or part of it) first in our FAQ’s?  It might just have the answers you need…

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