Updated DECEMBER 2023 – Free relational plan download – see below the table (bottom of the page)
There is one way to ensure a relational support plan does not get read – and that is to make it too long. Often too much background information can make it unlikely a document is shared too for fear of data protection issues. For this reason, we are going to look at one page relational support plans to help support a young person in the classroom and from a pastoral perspective. An example table at the bottom will provide a possible layout.
The key aspects of this are time and type of support. Time is broken down into two categories – every lesson and every week. Every lesson routine is the domain of the class teacher, should be small and easily implemented. Every week pastoral support maybe more time consuming and have a different focus.
Before we get to this level of support however, we need to some basic information to help promote positive behaviour with the classroom. Questions or statements such as “What do they find difficult/known triggers?”, “What do they like adults to do?”, “What don’t they like adults to do”, “The young person wants you to know that…” can help.
We also need a section for social times – what should happen during these times? Another section of this one page plan is around what needs to be reviewed and when – e.g. risk assessments, other plans, pupil voice, social time plans etc.
Finally a section at the bottom for responding to crisis. Often escalation can occur quickly when an adult responds who is unfamiliar with a young person. Some young people can find this particularly difficult – establishing a “squad” of first responders who can be called upon first (e.g Head of year, mentor, TA, other key staff member who is familiar and available at a given time) will help reduce exclusion from escalation.
This plan is linked to the 4 parts of a relational support plan – protection/safety, care, understanding and connection.
For me, these link together in this way: Understanding underpins everything – I am creating a child informed planning guide at the moment that helps to outline a process for this. Understanding both means what we understand about the young person and how we show that. When we understand a young person, we can understand how to make them feel safe, how to form a connection with them and how to maintain that connection over time (care) and show its authenticity.
Here is the example plan in table form:
| Understanding | |
|---|---|
| What does the young person want you to know about them/about what helps? | INFO |
| YP finds it difficult when: | INFO |
| YP finds this helps when they begin to feel anxious/angry/upset… | INFO |
| Protection / Connection / Care | Every lesson (small changes) | Every week (pastoral) |
|---|---|---|
| How can we make YP feel safe/protected? | ||
| How can we build a connection with YP? | ||
| How can we show care? (they feel valued, belonging, worth) |
| What is our plan for social times? |
|---|
| Who / what / where / when |
| What needs to be reviewed and when? |
|---|
| Behaviour plans / risk assessments / positive events / home school communication… |
| Crisis – who responds? | Crisis – what to do / say? | What to offer as a place of safety |
|---|---|---|
| Name 1
Name 2 Name 3 |
Scripts that are known to work to de-escalate, make feel safe
Body language, position, tone etc |
Where/who is a safe place for the YP? |
Thanks for reading this guide to writing a one page relational plan – if you want more information/form ideas get in touch via the mailing list or twitter @DanH_9
See below to Download the free relational plan.
