How several Renfrewshire centres were granted new 'status'

The educational facilities recognised were Wallace Primary School, Moorpark Early Learning Childcare Centre and Todholm Early Childcare Centre.

It comes as they have been “excelling” in putting children’s social and emotional learning (SEL) at the heart of teaching.

A recent announcement saw them recognised for their efforts and awarded ‘SEL Worldwide Model School’ status.

READ NEXT: Virgin Money agrees £2.9bn proposed takeover by Nationwide

This is due to them having successfully integrated the Paths Programme for Schools (UK Version) within everyday life.

This SEL programme supports children from a young age to raise awareness of their feelings and helps them to develop self-regulation skills.

Diana Brooker, depute headteacher at Wallace Primary School and ELCC, said: “We are very proud that the Paths Programme has been embedded across Wallace Primary and Early Learning and Childcare Class and has supported children’s development of their social and emotional literacy. 

“Securing our award has meant that the hard work of all staff from the ELCC and school has been recognised.”

Almost 20 schools and pre-schools in Renfrewshire have now received global recognition due to their teaching methods.

There are now 14 schools and four pre-school settings in Renfrewshire that have achieved Model School recognition.

Staff and pupils from the schools were presented with their awards by a Programme Co-ordinator from the children’s charity Barnardo’s.

They have been working closely with schools to support staff to embed the programme into everyday learning.

Pauline Thomson, head of centre at Moorpark Early Learning and Childcare Centre, said: “This programme has had such a positive impact on staff, children and families who attend our centre.

“The programme is fun and engaging for children, and staff have truly been dedicated to the programme’s delivery, making the characters come alive through engaging curriculum experiences.

“We have seen an increase in our performance data collected for children, with a higher percentage of children meeting the Health and Wellbeing Outcomes from the Curriculum."

Jennifer Glover, Early Years Graduate at Todholm ELCC, said: “At Todholm ELCC, the children, staff and parents all embraced the Paths programme.

"The programme has now been embedded in the culture.

"This has supported staff with a consistent language around social-emotional learning when supporting children who become distressed.

“Our coach, Kristy, was very supportive, and I would recommend the programme to others in education establishments. 

“The programme has helped children and staff develop an understanding of equity and how our feelings impact our actions.

“Parents have fed back that the programme has guided discussions at home with regards to emotions and behaviours.”

The prestigious award is given out by Barnardo’s in recognition of the outstanding commitment to fostering emotional intelligence, interpersonal skills, and overall well-being amongst school children.

Delivery of the programme is supported by specialist coaches from Barnardo’s.

Mairead Ewart, programme manager at Barnardo’s, said: “To be an SEL Worldwide Model School using the Paths Programme requires more than to have teachers doing a high-quality job of teaching the lessons in their classrooms.

“These settings have worked to create deeper transformation nurturing whole-school systems change that has included embodying SEL skills in the school’s leadership, using SEL practices throughout the school, creating a school culture in which staff and pupils feel valued and nurtured, creating positive expectations that pupils and staff will utilize SEL skills throughout the school, with peers and adults, and communicating with parents and supporting the ability to use SEL skills at home.

“We are extremely proud of the way these settings have taken the Paths Programme and made it part of the fabric of their schools."