Pastoral Interventions

Pastoral Interventions offered at Connex

Creative and Therapeutic Arts

Creative and therapeutic arts provide a supportive outlet for learners to express themselves, explore emotions, and enhance their overall mental wellbeing. The focus is on emotional processing and personal growth rather than artistic skill, helping learners build trust, develop coping strategies, strengthen social skills, and improve emotional resilience. This approach can be particularly beneficial for learners experiencing anxiety, trauma, behavioural challenges, or difficulties with relationships.

ELSA

ELSA sessions provide targeted one-to-one or small-group intervention designed to help learners understand and manage their emotions while building resilience and developing key social skills. Areas commonly addressed include emotional awareness, self-esteem, social interactions, friendship skills, loss and bereavement, and anger management. All sessions are delivered by a trained ELSA practitioner within a supportive and structured environment.

Lego Therapy

LEGO® Therapy is a structured, group-based social skills intervention typically delivered with two to three learners. Each participant is assigned a specific role within the construction of a shared LEGO model, creating a motivating, collaborative task with a

clear, shared focus. This approach encourages positive communication and teamwork while providing a safe environment to practise essential social skills.

LEGO Therapy promotes social interaction and supports the development of turn-taking, problem-solving, managing frustration, and resolving conflict. By combining a highly engaging activity with purposeful social learning, it offers an effective and enjoyable way for learners to strengthen their interpersonal skills.

Therapeutic Stories

Therapeutic stories are carefully crafted narratives designed to help learners process life changes, difficult emotions, and challenging experiences in an indirect and supportive way. Each story uses relatable characters and situations to mirror the learner’s feelings, incorporating clear, accessible problem-solving language and concluding with a hopeful, reassuring resolution.

SPARK/SPARKEY

SPARK/SPARKEY is a structured developmental programme designed to enhance learners’ motor coordination and overall readiness to learn. It incorporates targeted, movement-based activities that promote the development of fine and gross motor skills, cross-lateral movement, sensory integration, and sustained concentration and attention.