I am More

💭 What changes when a young person can describe themselves differently?

One of the most interesting findings from a recent evaluation suggested that the language young people use to describe themselves may be more important than we realise.

For years, I’ve delivered sessions focused on strengths, personality, communication and self-awareness.

They’re often viewed as helpful extras.

Nice to have.

But not necessarily essential.

Yet this evaluation appeared to suggest something different.

The ability to describe strengths, qualities and what they could contribute repeatedly appeared alongside increases in confidence, participation and future thinking.

It got me wondering…

If a young person struggles to explain what they are good at, how easy is it for them to recognise their own potential?

The reality is that many adults still find it difficult to talk about their strengths.

Imagine developing that skill as a teenager ✨

👉🏼 8 months 👉🏼No targets set 👉🏼No pressure applied.

Just consistent relational presence, meeting a young person exactly where they were.

One practitioner.
One consistent relationship.
One young person who needed someone to show up.

These are the TOMs scores across three domains:

1️⃣Participation in Learning
2️⃣Selective Mutism
3️⃣Social Communication

Every single measure moved.

This isn’t magic, it’s inclusion 🫳🏼🎤

❌ No behaviour system�❌ No rewards chart�❌ No compliance targets

It’s what happens when a young person finally feels safe enough to grow.

If the change is real, it should be measurable.

Falling rolls, surplus classrooms and rising SEND need.

The pressure on schools right now is real and the solution on paper looks straightforward.

👉🏼 Use the space.
👉🏼 Move more complexity into mainstream.
👉🏼 Reduce reliance on expensive external provision.

But here’s the question nobody is asking loudly enough:

🗣️ If you change the structure faster than you change the capability of the people inside it, what actually happens to the young people?

Empty classrooms don’t include children.

Trained, regulated, relationally skilled adults do.

The buildings are ready.
Are the adults?

More 'difficult decisions' ahead due to falling rolls Politicians urged not to turn budget cuts into a political football

We’re pleased to let parents and carers know that all education, health and care plans (EHCPs) for children going through phase transfers at Year 6 and Year 11 were completed on time this year – a first for Torbay.

Find out more about how we’re progressing with EHCPs and other SEND improvements in the latest blog from Alison Hurley, chair of our SEND local area improvement partnership board.

Follow the link in the comments.

SEND Family Voice Torbay Sendiass Torbay Devon Partnership NHS Trust Play Torbay 0 to 19 Torbay Torbay Communities Torbay young adult carers Eat That Frog CIC Turning Heads Tissues and Issues CIC
Kings Ash Community Partnership Imagine This Torbay I am More Torbay Carers

Attended the Preparing for Adulthood conference yesterday.

Good to see the focus on post-16 pathways and hear directly from parents and professionals working in this space.

What stood out for me is how much emphasis there is on transition and engagement, particularly for young people who don’t fit traditional routes.

Having recently delivered a pilot in Cambridge focused on this exact space, now due to be rolled out more widely 🤞 it was interesting to see how these conversations are evolving and where there’s real opportunity to build on existing provision.

Some useful conversations on the day, including with those shaping upcoming post-16 commissioning.

Interested to see what comes next…

It was great to see so many parents and carers at our Preparing for Adulthood conference yesterday.

Thank you to SEND Family Voice Torbay South Devon College and Torbay's SEND employment forum for putting together a fantastic event.

Learn more about supported internships and watch the latest video put together by Sound Communities CIC. They used a grant from National Development Team for Inclusion - NDTi to produce the film, which shows young people gaining valuable work experience. Follow the link in the comments to watch the video.

Children and Family Health Devon Devon Partnership NHS Trust Sendiass Torbay Youth Hub Torbay Turning Heads Combe Pafford School Brunel School Paignton 0 to 19 Torbay

Grief.

I wasn’t expecting to find it here.

I’m currently about 50+ hours into analysing 15 months of data from a mentoring pilot.

Looking at communication, reflections, behaviour patterns and trends across several young people.

And if I’m honest, something keeps appearing in the language used.

It isn’t anger.

It isn’t defiance.

It’s grief.

Statements like:

“Time is running out.”
“I missed out on childhood.”
“I don’t want to repeat what happened.”

Just a small snapshot of the language that keeps surfacing.

When you read the communication, reflections and behaviour patterns together, something becomes clearer.

These young people DID want to participate.

But they simply couldn’t tolerate the environments available to them.

What seems to sit underneath many of the cases I’m observing is a nervous system response to expectation and authority.

And when I say authority, I don’t mean discipline.

I mean perceived evaluation, pressure and loss of control.

I’m still deep in the analysis, but one thing is already becoming clear.

Sometimes what we call disengagement is actually grief.

Yesterday I had the privilege of attending the as an and meeting Theo Paphitis in person.

I’m always looking for ways to bring real world inspiration into the lives of the young people I work with.

From Steven Bartlett to Simon Squibb, I’ve learned that being in the room matters.

This time was no different.

The opportunity to potentially bring not one but two Dragons’ voices to our young people is incredibly exciting.

Katie Piper was the main guest speaker and she truly blew me away. I knew her story, but hearing more in person… as a human… wow.

Grounded. Real. Relatable. 🙏🏼

Katie shared something that really stayed with me:

“When someone’s sees me flourishing, another part of my life is suffering (my kids).
But it’s ok to excel for a season.
Then it’s about making it up and regaining balance.”

That one landed.

As a mum, the juggle is real.

When I’m away delivering or building new opportunities, I feel that pull too.

But I do this so our young people see what’s possible.

So they see belief in action.
So they know they can build something bigger.

My daughter recently told her Head of Year she wants to run a business like her mum.

That’s what keeps me going. Building something that shows our children what’s possible, not just telling them.

Always building.
Always thinking of the young people first. 🦋

Choose You with I am More


Theo Paphitis Theo Paphitis

Christmas feels like a lifetime ago 👀

As we move further into the new year, we wanted to gently reconnect and say hello again.

Although we’ve been quieter on here, the work has very much continued behind the scenes (and nationally)

👉🏼 supporting young people, learning, growing, and holding space with care and intention, alongside family life and everything that brings.

February also marked 4 years since we officially incorporated, and it’s been a moment to pause and reflect on how much has evolved over that time.

We’re proud of the work, the values it’s built on, and the relationships at the heart of it.

If you’ve been part of our journey, as a parent, carer, young person, partner or supporter… thank you. 🙏🏼

We know consistency and trust matter and we’re still here, doing the work thoughtfully and with purpose.

We’ll be sharing a little more again as the year unfolds.

We really should and will get more visable on this platform 🙂

Choose You with I am More 🦋