Play Therapy UK (PTUK)’s 800+ registrants have 15 years’ experience of working in 1500+ primary schools with pupils who have a variety of special needs.  They recognise that parents are a major agent of change and that most of them are very concerned about the emotional well-being of their children and the impact that this has on their educational attainments.

Our registrants relieve the school staff of some of their work relating to parents.  If the teaching staff are concerned about a pupil’s behaviour, absences or emotional well-being the Play Therapist is available to discuss how these issues might be improved through Play Therapy.  The therapist will also inform the parent of their child’s progress and the outcome at the end of the therapy.

Parents may also be offered the opportunity of coaching on how to use non-directive play at home to provide further support at home after the therapy has finished.

What do the parents think? Based on a study of 10,130 cases, parents observed that in 77% there was a positive change following therapy delivered to PTUK standards. This is the same percentage as that of Teachers’ observations.

School staff can be trained as Certified Practitioners in Therapeutic Play as well as Filial Play Coaching. This enables parents to be actively involved in alleviating their child’s special needs using the principles of non-directive play.

These services help to enhance relationships with parents, the image of the school and add positive points to an Ofsted inspection.

More information:

The register: www.playtherapyregister.org.uk

Training:  http://www.playtherapy.org.uk/TrainingCourses/TrainResourcesAccCourses1.htm

SENCO Week special consultation on introducing play therapy services into primary schools: email mokijep@aol.com