Our Feedback

Young People :: Parents :: Books :: Training :: Community Circles :: Conferences :: Legal Work

Young People

Dear Colin and Derek,
Many people have helped me with my problems over the years, but no-one has helped me as much as you (and The Circle) have.
Without the Circle (Your own very brilliant invention), I don’t think I’d have made it into year 11 let alone the sixth form.
The Circle has taught me much about respecting other people and their wishes and now I send my respect to you, Colin and Derek
Thank you very much for the Circle.

Jason

Parents

I am the mum who had the privilege of introducing my lovable ten year old son before the participants at the powerful course organised by Inclusive Solutions.
I do wish that more such professionals, as well as more parents, can be given the opportunity to attend such courses, which challenge non-inclusive beliefs.
My intention is to promote your educational ethos for inclusion across the board, with all of the SEN professionals that work with my son, as well as non-inclusive schools, parents and any others disabled by their disabling views.
I look forward to implementing Circle of Friends at my son's school in the near future, as well as MAP and PATH.

A Parent from Wimbledon

I will speak tothe Head Teacher later during the day and impress upon her the inspiring work done by Inclusive Solutions. We need your magic wand to transform the mindsets of countless professionals, parents and teachers, both in this country and abroad.

A Parent from India

Our Books

Astrid Greven, Onderwijs & Training, Holland

Dear Parents

"Thank you very much for sending across the 'Dear Parents' book by Micheline Mason. Her book symbolises the invincibility of true human spirit and epitomises courage of the highest order."

Parent

Community Circles

"it is a meeting which is free with food and drink and where able and disabled people come together completely equally and help each other in all sorts of little and big ways [...]this meets one of the greatest needs of the disabled person: to be able to help and to give. Also in the meeting there is a chance to share in two's good things and needs in a respectful way. Thank you again for a lovely uplifting experience."

"I really enjoyed the gathering [community circle] and it just highlighted what inclusion is all about. I have never seen it so brilliantly demonstrated; it was as if a veil had been lifted from my eyes."

Training

Sheffield's Ground Breaking 'Children's Voices' Team reflect on two days intensive work with Colin and Derek of Inclusive Solutions

"...your session went really well- I wish I could have experienced it with you. Nothing but praise from everyone- a true chance to build relationships, develop joint systems and start understanding each other's perspectives better. I caught from a couple of people the obvious differences in starting points and hypotheses expressed by different teams- but what I love about Circles ofAdults is that it validates and legitimises all theories, allowing people to get engaged in solution finding as opposed to conflict and one-upmanship! Thank you to both of you for setting the tone so well, and delivering what sounds like a really energising and thoughtful session."

Joanna Mitchell
Educational Psychologist
Joint Project Manager (TAMHS)
Inclusion, Disability and Access Division
Children's Services, Nottinghamshire

"Many thanks for another wonderful and inspirational day. Excellent feed back  from  parents and staff.
Best wishes"

Elaine Murray
Quality Development Officer (ASN) Stirling
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"I understand from two separate phone calls that the training you delivered was excellent. We rarely get phone calls saying thank you and how good the training was.
On behalf of the service, thank you for delivering such successful training."

Su Wall , Team Leader Childcare Outcomes Quality and Inclusion, Strategy
and Commissioning, Children and Young People Directorate, Derby City
Council.

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"I just wanted to thank you for the fantastic session you did for the Educational Psychologists. It feels like a long time since I have laughed and learned so much. The 'artwork' has pride of place in one of the area offices and we are currently trying to work out how to replicate it in a smaller version. We are discussing the process of achieving some of our goals at the next leadership team meeting and hopefully in a years time will have achieved most, if not all of them.

Once again many thanks. You were brilliant."

Senior Educational Psychologist

Including Children with Autism

Keys to Inclusion

The key speakers were really thought provoking.

They were fantastic!

I really enjoyed the introductory session with Derek and Colin. I felt the way it was presented taught us a great deal about ‘thinking outside the box’ in terms of inclusion.

Excellent – very well presented.

Excellent presentation – lots of active participation.

Colin and Derek involved us and kept us motivated.

Reaffirmed my values and principles re inclusion.

This was very useful for making us think from the child’s point of view.

Impact – more preparation to welcome families more effectively.

Learnt to go right back to basics and not to judge people.

Impact – to prepare the welcome for parents and ensure this happens all the time.

Very well presented – passionate and thought provoking.

The enthusiasm of the presenters was inspiring.

This was very interesting and made me very reflective.

Watch some comments from our "Keys To Inclusion" training at Culloden Primary School

Keys to Inclusion - Next Set

Behaviour

Great – enjoyed the interaction and the joining in.

Used language that was easy to understand.

Excellent content and delivery. Really gave me food for thought regarding my own practice. I will see challenging behaviour in a new light.

I will be using the circle of courage principles to underpin my values in working with pupils.

I plan to use the circle of courage to evaluate and each child’s emotional and environmental position.

Plan to try harder to reach out to children with challenging behaviour and support them better.

Impact – incorporate ‘encouragement menus’ in our behaviour plans.

I will take this back to our staff meeting – particularly the way we deal with behaviour, and use to demonstrate to staff.

Excellent and thought provoking (impact – to update my team on emotional intelligence – their own!)

Impact – to look further into reasons behind behaviour and everyone’s reactions.

“We are privileged and delighted that Colin and Derek are returning to Galway to work with us. The training event in April was a truly amazing learning experience for us as trainers. For those of you who have not had the opportunity to participate so far - you don’t know what you’ve been missing!”
Breda Lymer, West Training & Development Ltd., Galway.

A BIG THANK YOU for everything you did to make the conference such a success - everyone I spoke to on Friday was still 'buzzing' after it.

I thought you might like to have a note of just a few of the many, many wonderful evaluations of your speech and workshops - evaluations for both were 100% successful in terms of content, preparation and delivery.

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A "Thank You"

Feedback from Inclusive Solutions

"Fresh Approaches to Behaviour"

Training in Prague,October 2011

More Feedback from our Training in Prague

Why did you choose this training?

1. I work as a school psychologist and solve the problems  with children with behavioral challenges daily
2. Collegues recommandation
3. I don t know how to cope with behavioral challenges
4. I wanted to compare with my own experiences and I want to use the new strategies in practice
5. I work as a classroom teacher in the classroom where is a child  with very complicated diagnosis, also with behavioral and emotional disorders
6. I wanted to learn new things, approaches and use them in practice
7. I need the information and strategies not only for school but also to use them in my family
8. Because I teach in the class with several children with behavioral challenges
9. I wanted to get info which I need for my work
10. I am very much interested in inclusive Education
11. I want to help children and I am interested in new methods also

Are you satisfied with the training?

• Very much
• Fantastic
• Useful
• More than satisfied
• I regret that the literature is available only in English L
• The best course I have ever been at
• Brilliant
• 100% and I will use the tools in future
• Perfect.  I am sorry that other collegues from my school could not be with us

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Meeting Boys Needs

After 2 Days on site School Based Work

"Thank you so much for an excellent two days. I was especially moved by the second evening and all that the team brought to it. I don't think I could ever have created a vision like that alone or earlier in my time at the school."

 

Person Centered Planning

Comments from practicioners from the UK and beyond after 2 days PCP training in Nottingham, September 2011

Restorative Justice Training

Thanks for your work with us -much appreciated! All the best!
Patsy Wagner

'I have just done a rough count of children who have been involved in
Restorative Conferences since we completed our training with you and I am up to about 100 children. We have also had about 12 parents involved in conferences. We are using the language so much it is second nature and there have been many more children who have benefited from this I'm sure! We are really pleased with how it is going and just this week me and Jane Cunningham (Head Teacher) have held a couple of really successful conferences where the children have been so on board and positive at the end of the process it has confirmed to us that we are doing the right thing! We have had times when we doubt what we are doing because we are still struggling to get some staff on board but luckily we have been able to remind each other of our successes! We both agree that your training was very inspiring and would like to thank you for that!
We will keep chipping away at everyone!

Thanks again
Alison Holmes
Relationship Manager
Seaview Primary'

Feedback from a Secondary Head after a day on behaviour and relationships with the full secondary staff team

Thankyou so much for the excellent traing day you delivered last week. I found the whole expereience quite uplifting and inspirational.I have always been a great believer in the restorative approach to behaviour management and you provided the evidence that it actually works. The day gave all the staff food for thought and I hope they will now begin to use this approach more.There was already evidence on the first day of school for pupils that staff were adopting a different approach. Thank you so much for helping us to make a difference.

...And from the deputy head:Today has to have been one of the very best INSET days I have personally been to - full of practical tips and techniques to use in the classroom; and also proof that this approach does work in practice. It really was inspirational and an excellent start to the term.

Feedback from secondary teacher after whole Secondary school INSET day

Although I spoke to Derek right after the course, to express my thanks and offer some immediate feedback, I feel compelled to write to offer a little more of both.

I personally found the whole day immensely rewarding; I often enjoy good INSET days and I am always seeking new sources of inspiration, but, as you revealed early on, many of my colleagues do not share my enthusiasm for such activities. The sustained applause at the end of the session was indeed a powerful testament to the breadth of your 'reach' throughout the staff; I have never known such a full and ringing endorsement of a staff development session, as I said afterwards to Derek. It was only later on in the afternoon, in the staffroom, that I became increasing aware of how wide and how deep the immediate effects were. I heard no negative feedback at all and people who rarely express positive sentiments about anything to do with staff training were engaged in active discussion about the positive feelings which had been released by your input that day. Several of us 'old guard' agreed that we had not witnessed such uplifting staff reaction to anything for a very long time. "It's just like the old days, when we all used to have so much more fun!" said a particularly valued colleague. Thinking back, it was also very noticeable that there was so much discussion during the breaks in the day about the course; this is also relatively rare in my experience. I have no doubt that your course will have much more impact in the longer term.

I could go on to list all the aspects of your course which made it so successful, but I think you are well aware of these already. I will just offer two bits of feedback which were not appropriate to give at the time:
    1. We found it painfully difficult to come up with a title for the "vision" and what we arrived at was unsatisfactory. Perhaps this was partly because we were trying to label something at the start of the process, before any of us knew what it was going to be. (This was about the only thing which niggled me during the day)    
    2. On a purely personal note I was really shocked that there was so little true idealism (as I would define it) in people's vision of an 'ideal' future. My older colleagues tell me that few people bring any idealism into teaching today, which would greatly sadden me if it were true. That activity would seem to bear this out (but perhaps there is a more straightforward explanation why so many things suggested were pragmatic rather than idealistic?)

I've taken enough of your time. I'd just like to say a really sincere THANK YOU to both of you.

Keys to Inclusion

The feedback was stunning and with some really heartfelt comments. Thanks so much for such a thought provoking and challenging day. Many people have come up to me this morning and commented on the value of the day to them both personally and professionally.

We will have an organizing team debrief and agree where we go next. I liked the idea of producing a feedback booklet for participants which includes themes, photos and comments from the day - so we will discuss this idea and you would be able to get a copy. We have an early years and childcare newsletter which goes out quarterly, so we will definitely have an article and photos in that - I can send you a copy of that for starters.

We will definitely be looking at a session for childminders - probably next financial year - but will be in touch about that.

A flavour of some of the comments:-

'Brilliant'

'An unforgettable day'

'The vision we all dreamed of today is not a possibility but a reality if we all work together and support each other'

'The whole day had a big impact on my day to day attitudes, responsibilities and awareness of the community around me'

'Visual and auditory aids were particularly interesting'

'Being able to share views and opinions on what it means to run an inclusive provision/setting'

'Reflecting on the meaning of inclusion, I was able to visualize the past and the focus of future work'

'I have learnt a lot about people, team work, friendship, and kindness and strength together'

Thanks again!! 'Extremely inspiring'!

Sensory Sensitivities

Hi Colin and Derek, really enjoyed the training yesterday, it was excellent. Must admit when you were working on the “circles” it reminded me of “Meet the Fockers films “ and Robert Dinero’s “circle of trust” Re the sensory work I have in my possession a sensory assessment for a child I work with. The only bit I understand is the section on food. I have written to the occupational therapist who carried out the assessment, requesting that she draws up a list of what does and what doesn’t work with this young man. He goes to holiday clubs and to a pair of carers and they would benefit from the sensory advice, if it was intelligible.

Covering the subject of sensory sensitivity, reminded me of an experience I had last year. I bought a pair of tickets to go up the coast on the excursion vessel the Balmoral. I was thoroughly enjoying myself and had a great time looking through the glass panelling , into the engine room, as my dad was a chief engineer at sea. I managed to catch the Bal moral’s chief engineer on deck and asked if I could go into the engine room. On entering the engine room I was hit by the heat, the noise and the smell of diesel and lub oil. I was momentarily ecstatic, however, I then became very emotional and had to leave the engine room quickly, as the heat, the noise and the smell brought back memories of my dad, who has been dead for 18 years. Regards, Bob

 

Working with Parents Training



"Made me more aware of how to approach parents and carers",

"It (the conference) couldn't have been improved. All the speakers were good",

"I'll have a more positive approach to welcoming people"

"It will encourage us as practitioners to listen and think a little more"

"We have so much more to put into practice as a reult of the day"

"Lots of ideas to take back to my setting"

"Made me more aware of how to work with parents effectively"

"Will go back to my setting with a more positive attitude"

Circles of Friends Training

“In an intact group the pool of shared understandings is like a shared bank account of the group wealth”

Colin Newton and Derek Wilson invite closing reflections after a day with educationalists in Tower Hamlets, in London on their training on 'Circle of Friends approach to friendship and inclusion.'

The course has made me think that everyone feels excluded at some time in their life, including me.  Previously I have thought disability and inclusion is something that is happening around me and this course has made me realise I am a big part of that, particularly with my family and friends.

Having a good circle of friends myself it has made me understand what it must feel like to have that circle taken away.  Therefore, I will in future not judge anyone and make more of an effort to find out people’s thoughts and feelings both in my work and my private life and offer help to school and encourage people to attend future Kindred Spirits courses.

It makes me want to go out there and get a more ‘hands on’ job with children.I regret not training to be a teacher.

The Circle of Friends day was brilliant and I feel like going out to every school and enforcing them everywhere!

I shall be going home and telling my 8 year old son all about it and I hope he’ll spread the word to his teachers.

Attachment Difficulties Training

Senco Conference Feedback 2011                               Attachment Difficulties

Very good	Good	Satisfactory	Poor	Very poor	Total responses	Total delegates	% responding
57%	35%	8%			37	57	65%

Some  participants made a written comment:
 ‘ thought provoking x2’   ‘very thought provoking and inspirational’,    ‘Really good, interesting and dynamic workshop’,    ‘inspiring’,    ‘Interesting – understanding reasons behind behaviour but what about ideas  for solutions? These were a little vague.’    ‘Interactive approach was excellent’, ‘brilliant’,    ‘v.practical’,    ‘wonderful workshop – very useful’   ‘Excellent! This gives me lots of ideas. Thank you’,   ‘Really useful’,    ‘Would be useful to have strategies to support children in school alongside the theory’,    ‘Not sure this met the needs I’d hoped it would’,   ‘De-bunked the false medical model. Very practical, down to earth’,     ‘very hands on’,   ‘very well executed presentation’
In answer to ‘Identify 2 actions that you are proposing to take following today’s conference-
‘Arrange staff training in attachment and complex learning difficulties’, ‘talk to staff about prem babies and attachment issues workshop (very relevant to several children at our school), ‘Feedback info about CLD and attachment strategies to staff’,  ‘Inset re attachment’,  ‘Share good practice re attachment’, ‘Look at way school approaches children with attachment difficulties’
In answer to ‘What aspect of today’s conference did you find most useful and why?

‘Emotional attachment –practical ways to help children’, ‘Attachment workshop’

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International Training

I am a Greek secondary school teacher who attended the seminar that Derek Wilson and Colin Newton  gave at Piraeus at Kaiti Laskaridou's Libary on the 29th and 30th of March and I was really impressed.  I have attended many courses of a similar kind but none was so well organised and so well understood. Most of them were purely theoretical with no practical hints or guidelines about what to do in practice.

'The work of Inclusive Solutions was for me, the most memorable and dynamic.  Their success was in making me really feel for those that are disabled in any way and the importance of caring enough to be active in creating systems/solutions with them and on their behalf.'

Feedback from a Group of Czech Particpants after three days working with Colin and Derek in Prague on Person Centred Planning and Social Inclusion

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Conferences

Keynote Speech

" It made me think and realise how positive and friendly you have to be to everyone"

" The Keys to Inclusion was very well delivered. It was very powerful and extremely thought provoking."


" I will try to find ways for our setting to make all children feel welcome and have good memories of their childhood with us."


" It made me really think about my words/actions and impact within my early years group. The speech was very powerful and should be heard by everyone!"


" It made me understand how everyday practices may not be inclusive to all children."


" I'll remember that everyone is an important valued member of society."


" I'll keep striving to include and encourage inclusion of those who are often excluded due to disabilities."


" It has given me back some confidence to take back to my setting after a disheartening experience last year. I realise it is still better to try."


" It was inspirational. It will make me think about how I interact with everyone."


" It made me think about how I view life as a whole."

Childminders Conference

'I have just got home from training you provided for childminders in Coventry on 21st June at the Techno Centre. What an excellent workshop. I was amazed how you both were able to get the childminders engaged in the activities. Personally I enjoyed the whole workshop: it was fantastic. It certainly made me think about how I provide care and reflect on my practice,and also reflect on how I see myself , and to take on board good criticism and feel positive about myself and what I do as a childminder.I have gain such a lot from the workshop and as a support childminder to newly registered childminders I will certainly be recommending your training.I would like to thank you both for providing a most enjoyable workshop. I now know what Jackie Hulme was raving about. Many thanks - Elaine Ward' ( Chair Coventry City Childminding Association)

Workshops

" Very powerful in terms of getting the message across"


" A thought seeking workshop with lots of interesting things to do"


" Some parts were heart-rending but thought provoking" " Excellent"

" Inspirational"

" It challenged my heart and mind"


" An excellent, powerful, challenging workshop."WOW!


I started the day tired and jaded, not wanting to be there. I'm leaving motivated and inspired, to look at and make changes both personally and professionally.

Very good, very clear, and personal life experience added that third dimension which made it really, and extremely self reflective.


Very good, hard hitting, emotional... need more training like this. Best one of the embracing children's needs days and the only one to do disability.


It will take time before I reply - but on at a personal note I have felt reassured that more people are moving forward in the right direction.


I have felt very involved, and have taken away a lot to think about .


Made me think a lot deeper than usual.

Very rewarding, helps you to tune in to your own emotions


Content was excellent, embraced emotional needs of all children and gave practical examples and resolutions, Mole and Colin work well as a Team and the use of personal experiences made the training jump off the page and come alive.


Excellent course, the trainers were top class. Very impressed with the delivery of the course. Understanding was brilliant. It made me stop and think about changes I can make.

HEADING FOR INCLUSION: Conference feedback

'A wonderful day and great to hear stories about such inclusive practice happening all over!! Keep it up!!'

'An inspiring day which has refreshed and invigorated my belief in inclusion' 'Thank you'

'Inclusive practice has become more daring, more radical, more inspirational = more inclusive. How exciting and encouraging!'

'What a moving and energising day - there is so much we can do together'

'Thank you to everyone involved in presenting yet another motivational, inspirational, enjoyable, emotional day of learning. I feel I have been treated to a banquet!'

'Oh yes. We are getting there together'

Teaching Assistants Conference

Many thanks for your input at the Plymouth TA Conference on Friday 18th
November. The feedback on the day was excellent and I have now had a chance to look through the evaluation sheets.

Almost every delegate gave you a 1 as their rating and comments included - Inspirational / absolutely first class / thought provoking and involving / all teachers should be made to attend this session / excellent, wish the whole school could have heard it / best presentation I have been to / A+ / entertaining morning / fun and thought provoking / made me think about my approach to SEN children / refreshing and creative!

Your input was very much appreciated - again very many thanks!

Problem Solving Approaches and Techniques

 

Legal Work

Your report is brilliant. my advocate is very impressed. When it is put into court it will show up the false reports and incompetent reports of all of the fake " expert witnesses." There are a number of important principles in your report writing ( taking advice from parents, pursuit of the child's interest first and foremost as opposed to that of the authority involved ) that of which hopefully the Judge and LEA will take notice

Thanks once again.