Circle Of Friends
Circle Of Friends is an inclusive peer support strategy that can be used in any context where young people are together.
Educational Psychologists have found it especially useful in encouraging understanding and support for young people with additional support needs where the young person is socially excluded. This social exclusion may be as a result of limited social skills where the young person appears to isolate themselves, rejecting peer contact, or it may be as a result of maladaptive social skills where the young person’s attempts to make contact with others are unsuccessful. In the latter circumstance, young people reported to have benefited from Circle Of Friends have been deemed to have behaviour difficulties in the playground or have been attention-seeking in class with both children and adults.
In fact it is not just the target young person who seems to benefit. Reports from the peers who participate in the Circle is that they enjoy the process. The success of the methodology appears to lie in the structured nature of the sessions where peers can explain why behaviour has been unhelpful, suggest alternatives and review success.
Primary and secondary groups have been reported to be successful.
Outline of Approach
- Parental permission is sought.
- Class Teacher/Pastoral Care Teacher is approached and shows commitment to the intervention.
- Aims of the meeting are set out, here to discuss the behaviour of the focus child.
- State that this is a confidential meeting.
- Note that the focus child has agreed to the meeting.
- The class are being asked for their help/insights/ideas – success depends on this.
- Children volunteer anonymously to be part of a small group
- This group meets weekly for a short time to reflect positively on target child’s behaviour and give ideas for the future.
For more information click on the PowerPoint below.
