Small group programmes
This section provides links to small group programmes proven to result in positive changes in social and emotional skills for children.
All programmes have been (or are being) tested in the UK and Ireland to ensure they actually make a positive difference to children’s coping skills. Each programme has been allocated a rating for the quality of evidence that supports it, from 1 to 3+. You can find our more on our understanding the evidence page.
Most in this list have been identified as resulting in proven improvements in children’s social and emotional skills and learning. However, some have a stronger evidence that they make a difference than others.
Some are paid for programmes. Please get in touch with the programme provider for current costings.
Incredible Years: Classroom Management Programme
Age
4-8 years
Description
The programme aims to improve teacher competencies in supporting children in the classroom, and developing children’s social, emotional and problem-solving skills. Incredible Years group leaders work with teachers to develop specific skills including proactive teacher strategies around behaviour management.
This is a paid for programme. Please contact the provider for current costings.
This programme is available UK-wide.
Proven improvements
- social and emotional skills
- self-control
- emotional disorders/symptoms
- behavioural problems
- focus
- pro-social behaviour.
Quality of Evidence
Going for Goals
Age
6-11 years
Description
Part of the Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) programme, Going for Goals focuses primarily on the key aspect of motivation, with a subsidiary focus on self-awareness. It gives an important opportunity for all children’s abilities, qualities and strengths to be valued and provides opportunities for children to reflect on themselves as individuals, particularly their strengths as learners and how they learn most effectively.
This programme is only suitable for schools in England.
Proven improvements
- social and emotional skills
- emotional disorders/symptoms.
Quality of Evidence
Pyramid Project
Age
7-11 years
Description
Pyramid is an early intervention for quiet, shy, withdrawn or anxious children aged 7 to 14 that is now managed by the University of West London. The 3-stage Pyramid model has run in hundreds of schools across the UK and has been extensively evaluated over the past 20 years.
Please contact the provider for current costings.
This programme is available UK-wide.
Proven improvements
- empathy
- behavioural problems.
Quality of Evidence
Nurture Groups
Age
All ages
Description
Nurture groups are an in-school, teacher-led psychosocial intervention of groups of less than 12 students that effectively replace missing or distorted early nurturing experiences for both children and young adults; they achieve this by immersing students in an accepting and warm environment which helps develop positive relationships with both teachers and peers.
This is a paid for programme. Please contact the provider for current costings.
This programme is available UK-wide.
Proven improvements
- self-esteem
- attendance
- attainment.
Quality of Evidence
Zippy's Friends for SEND
Age
6-17
Description
Zippy’s Friends for SEND is an adapted version of Zippy’s Friends mental health promotion programme for children with SEND and uses Widgit Symbols.
It is a school-based programme that uses stories, role play, drawing and discussion activities to teach children how to cope with everyday difficulties, to identify and talk about their feelings, to explore ways of dealing with them and support others.
This is a paid for programme. Please contact the provider for current costings.
This programme is available UK-wide.
Proven improvements
- Social and emotional skills
- Emotional knowledge
- Coping skills
- Peer relations
- Emotional disorders/symptoms
- Behavioural problems
- Hyperactivity
- Bullying
Quality of Evidence
Smart Moves
Age
10-12 years
Description
Smart Moves is a small group programme of evidence-based short sessions to give young people with low resilience in year 6 and 7 the skills to increase their resilience.
This is a paid-for programme. Please contact the provider for current costings.
Proven improvements
- resilience
- behaviour
- emotional wellbeing.