“In an intact group the pool of shared understandings is like a shared bank account of the group wealth… Since it is spiritual or psychological wealth, it does not diminish by being spent. Rather, the more lavishly it is circulated, the greater inner wealth and security each single member feels.”
Ted Hughes- Winter Pollen 1994
Circle of Friends is an approach to enhancing the inclusion, in a mainstream setting, of any child or young person who is experiencing difficulties in school because of disability, personal crisis or because of their challenging behaviour towards others. The ‘circle of friends’ approach works by mobilising the young person’s peers to provide support and engage in problem solving with the person in difficulty.
‘Circle of friends’ is not the same as ‘circle time’ but many of the skills and techniques used by teachers in ‘circle time’ can be used to support the ‘circle of friends’ process. Over the past 12 years Colin Newton and Derek Wilson have been encouraging the use of ‘circle of friends’ in a wide variety of primary and secondary schools, often with very successful outcomes. Some of these are described in their books ‘Circles of Friends’, (Folens, 1999) and ‘Creating Circles of Friends’ (Inclusive Solutions, 2005).
This is an excellent opportunity to learn from Colin Newton and Derek Wilson the educational psychologists who brought this Department of Education endorsed approach to the UK.
Learn how to build teams around challenging pupils by drawing on a resource which is always there…. other children. Enjoy participating in a multi media workshop that will challenge, entertain and reach for your emotions. Circles of support are for us all, for life…. and they work!
Course Content
The course answers the questions:
What do you do with the child who is isolated by their aggression and anger, through being different, disabled or new to the school or community?
Practically how do we go about including high profile children or young people?
How can we help some children be friends?
We will cover:
The importance of Welcome
Inclusion values underpinning this work
The Intentional Building of Relationships – ‘Circle of Friends’ work as an example
Not doing it alone – The Importance of Teams in developing inclusive practice
Practical setting up of circles of friends
Lessons learned
Stories of circles in primary and secondary mainstream schools
Testimonials
‘Absolutely fantastic session – so thought provoking and positive.’
‘Well presented excellent course’
‘Wonderful, mind blowing day. Lots of children and young people there we need to really see – not treat’
‘Excellent presentation, lively, modern, current – definitely got the attention. Course gave great food for thought and I feel confident that this way of working will have a place in the future of our school.’
Learning Objectives
To be able to understand the values and wider context of inclusion
To be able to set up and run a ‘circle of friends’ to reduce likelihood of a pupil being excluded or segregated
To understand and be able to maximise the power of the peer group in supporting relationships, achievement and behaviour
Who Is It For ?
Primary and secondary teachers
Heads and Deputies
SENCOs
Learning Support and Guidance staff
Advanced Skills Teachers
Parents
Local Authority Support Services
Community Development workers
Early Years and School based Practitioners
How to Get Started with Creating Circles of Friends
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Creating Circles of Friends Book
Creating Circles of Friends by Colin Newton and Derek Wilson offers a powerful, values-based approach to inclusion through peer support. It outlines how to build respectful, supportive teams around vulnerable individuals, fostering friendship and positive change. The book combines practical guidance with a strong ethical foundation—and the approach genuinely works.
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Online Self Passed Learning
In this course we introduce you to the Circle of Friends approach. The idea is to build a team around a child recruited from their peer group - encourage acceptance and problem solving and watch for the change! This approach could change the life of a child you really care about or one you find particularly challenging.
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Facilitated Process
This is a guided Circle of Friends session led by our experienced facilitators who work directly with a group to set up and support a Circle of Friends around a focus group of people. Using tried-and-tested inclusive tools, they create a safe, practical structure to build peer support, friendship, and belonging.
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In Person Training
Join our in-person Circle of Friends training to learn how to build inclusive peer support networks for individuals at risk of isolation. This interactive workshop equips participants with practical strategies to foster belonging, enhance social skills, and create lasting, supportive relationships within schools and communities. Ideal for educators and support staff.
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Hear From Others
Hear directly from those who have used Creating Circles of Friends to create meaningful change. These video stories share real experiences of how this process has helped individuals, families, and teams reflect, plan, and take action. Visit our YouTube channel to see the impact of this powerful person-centred planning tool in action.