PRIMARY SEMH OUTREACH SUPPORT
Steps to Success
Steps to Success provides specialist Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) outreach support for primary schools across Hull, helping children remain successfully included within mainstream education.
Working with children from Foundation Stage 2 to Year 6, our specialist team works alongside school staff to understand the needs behind behaviour, develop practical strategies and strengthen the confidence and capacity of the adults around the child.
Our trauma-informed approach recognises behaviour as communication and focuses on creating safe, supportive environments where children can learn, participate and thrive alongside their peers.
Our Approach
Support that develops
with need.
Steps to Success provides a structured three-tier approach, helping schools build capacity around the child and setting before moving to targeted individual support where required.
Experts Around the Child
Tier 1 support includes multi-agency advice and primary SEMH training to help schools develop practical strategies for supporting children with SEMH needs.
Experts Around the Setting
Tier 2 provides whole-school training, workshops and environmental support to strengthen trauma-informed practice within the school setting.
Experts With the Child
Tier 3 provides targeted support for an individual child following Tier 1 and Tier 2, including observation, support planning and active intervention.
TIER 1
– EXPERTS AROUND THE CHILD
Advice, Collaboration and SEMH Training
Tier 1 provides schools with access to advice, multi-agency support and Primary SEMH Training, helping staff develop practical approaches to supporting children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs.
Multi-Agency Network Meetings
A member of the Steps to Success team can attend regular multi-agency meetings to provide advice around SEMH support and practical strategies.
Primary SEMH Training
Primary SEMH Training is offered termly, with opportunities to attend face-to-face half-day sessions twice each term and a virtual session once each term.
The training supports primary educators to identify and respond to SEMH needs, understand underlying barriers to learning, develop supportive classroom environments and use targeted approaches that help children regulate their emotions and build resilience.
TIER 2
– EXPERTS AROUND THE SETTING
Training, Workshops and Environmental Support
Tier 2 supports mainstream schools to develop a trauma-informed, whole-school approach to SEMH needs through staff training, practical workshops and environmental support.
Whole-School Training
Steps to Success offers a universal twilight training package for mainstream schools. Delivered in school to the whole staff team, the training focuses on developing a trauma-informed approach to SEMH needs alongside practical strategies.
The package includes two separate 1.5-hour courses:
- Creating a Positive Classroom Culture and Proactive Approaches – supporting children with SEMH needs within mainstream settings.
- Social and Emotional Learning in the Classroom – developing approaches to support children’s social and emotional learning within everyday classroom practice.
Workshops
Workshops provide informal, smaller-group sessions within schools, exploring strategies and resources in greater detail. Topics include:
- Story Massage and Early Years regulation
- Scripted Interventions
- Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences
- Emotion Coaching
- P.A.C.E. – a trauma-informed, relational approach
Environmental Support
Environmental support helps schools consider how the setting can be adapted to meet the needs of children with SEMH needs. This begins with an observation and audit of the environments experienced by a child or group of children, which may include classrooms, dining areas, playgrounds and other potential trigger points.
The team will identify what is already in place and recommend adaptations and strategies to help adults support children effectively. A second visit takes place 4–6 weeks later to review the implementation and impact of the recommendations.
TIER 3
– EXPERTS WITH THE CHILD
Individual Support and Intervention
Tier 3 provides targeted support for an individual child where, following access to Tier 1 and Tier 2 support, a school continues to have concerns and feels that further support from Steps to Success may be beneficial.
Referral and Initial Assessment
Schools are asked to complete a Referral Form and Parent Consent Form. Once a referral has been accepted, a dedicated SEMH Practitioner will be allocated and the school will be asked to provide initial information and complete a questionnaire.
An initial observation will then take place, followed by a meeting with the school. It is recommended that at least one senior leader attends this meeting.
Support Planning
Following the initial observation, a support plan will be created with outcomes designed around the child’s individual needs. Schools will be given up to two weeks to implement recommendations, which may include resources and adaptations to the environment or routines, before active support begins.
Active Support and Review
Active support will initially take place over six weeks and will then be reviewed. Where appropriate, support may be extended depending on the child’s needs, but will not exceed 12 weeks.
Please return this form to Steps to Success Outreach Service: stsoutreach@vennacademy.org
Please note, the referral will not be considered without parental consent given or if the referral is not complete.
Please send the completed referral form to the relevant Outreach Services. For joint referrals, please send to both services (in the same email correspondence).
OUR TEAM
Meet the Steps to Success Team
The Steps to Success team brings together specialist SEMH knowledge and experience to support children, school staff and settings across Hull.
