Seasons for Growth Evaluations By Alison Gardner, Senior Educational Psychologist, Seasons Trainer, WDC Seasons Group Chairperson Whenever a Seasons for Growth Group finishes, an evaluation of its outcomes is required by the Code of Ethics. While the group is running, the Companions meet at the end of every session to reflect on what happened in the session and review how they will proceed in the light of that. This information is recorded by the Companions jointly in one Sessional Evaluation for Companions per week, which also forms a record of the group as it unfolds over the 8 weeks. When the group is finished, the Companions get the participants to complete the Participant Evaluation forms, for the level the group worked at. This is often done during the last session, and contributes to the outcome for week 8, ‘review key learning from the program.’ Often the hardest evaluation to gather is that of the parents/carers. Companions have found that the most likely way of succeeding in getting this is by asking parents/carers to complete the Evaluation for Parents/Carers at the Celebration at the end of the programme. If the parents/carers don’t come to that, Companions have devised innovative ways of gathering the information: completing the evaluation during a phone call; making a home visit; catching people on parents’ nights . . . While this is time consuming, it is important to try to get feedback, as what parents/carers tell us often goes way beyond what the children and young people say. It is amazing what we hear back about the changes that have happened for the whole family, not just the individual pupil, and these reflections are so important for us as Companions to appreciate the full impact of Seasons on the population of West Dunbartonshire. Each Companion then completes their own copy of the Companion Self Evaluation, reflecting on how the group went from their own perspective. This is a critical step in your development as a Companion, as it allows you to review your own competences, the progress you are making, what you bring and how delivering a group has affected you. No matter how experienced we are as Companions, each group will raise new issues for us to

think about and learn from. Finally, Companions are required to submit all these evaluations to me for summarising and monitoring, accompanied by the Submissions of Evaluations sheet. I have redesigned this form to make clearer what you need to submit. The new form will be emailed to all Companions at the start of the new term. It is important for all paperwork to be submitted at one time, as with over 20 groups running some terms, the volume of information received is huge. If Companions don’t label things clearly, or send them in several packages, papers can get mixed up. I still have some full sets of evaluations that have no names on them, so I can’t reply to the Companions!!! In the past, the majority of Companions didn’t manage to gather this essential data and return it to me. I’m delighted to report that last term, 22 groups ran in West Dunbartonshire, and so far I’ve received 13 evaluations – that’s 59%. Although it may take me some time to read over the evaluations given how many I now receive, I do always write to Companions individually, responding to how the group went. In addition, I have to have the evaluation of at least one successful group before I can put Companions forward for their Certificate of Authorisation. I feel really privileged, proud and uplifted to read the evaluations I receive, as they are testament to the immense impact that Seasons has on children and families in West Dunbartonshire. Keep them coming in!

“I learned to accept the sometimes unplanned, but very important, aspect of group discussion.” Companion

“She learned that families come in all shapes and sizes, and not every child had a mum and dad in theirs, and she was no different.” Carer

“I can be the boss of my feelings.” Young person

Alison Gardner Senior Educational Psychologist, Seasons Trainer

Christie Park Primary School & The Story SackChristie Park Primary School & The Story SackChristie Park Primary School & The Story SackChristie Park Primary School & The Story Sack

For a number of years now, our second level Seasons for Growth groups have made use of the prescribed text: Badger’s Parting Gifts by Susan Varley. We have found it to be a powerful tool which beautifully explains the importance of happy memories in helping to overcome the sense of loss. I recently ordered a Storysack box based on the book. This contains puppets and all resources required to act out the story. There are ideas for extending follow up work and a useful book on bereavement called, “I Miss You.” The puppets themselves are charming and help pupils to engage in discussion about what can be a difficult concept. Details of this useful addition to Seasons for Growth are available from:

www.storysack.com.

The cost is £67 excluding VAT, for the whole set but items may be purchased separately.

Linda Clark, Christie Park Primary School

This collage was made by a father and son for the celebration of a group in Linnvale.

Re-connector Dates 2014 - 2015: The Code of Ethics you sign when you train as a Companion commits you to attend a Re-connector on an annual basis.

Thursday 2nd October 2014, 3.30 – 4.30 pm Wednesday 25th February 2015, 3.30 – 4.30 pm Thursday 21st May 2015, 1.30 – 2.30 pm

If you have any comments or questions about Seasons contact Alison Gardner at alison.gardner@west-dunbarton.gov.uk