SMART Inclusive Group

SMART (Supporting, Motivating, Artistic, Resilient Talents) Inclusive Group is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company that provides a range of soft approached Cognitive Behavioural, ACT, & DBT therapy techniques, and strategies through a range of creativity. 

SMART supports individual needs, encourages personal development, and provides strategies for integration, communication, whilst forming friendships in a fun, and safe environment.

SMART provides specialist Education and well-being services by extensive first-hand SEN experienced staff, (Autism, ADHD, ADD, Sensory Processing Disorder, ODD, Generalised & severe Anxieties, high functioning Autism, Diabetes, Executive functioning disorder, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Panic attacks) working within schools, as well as providing after school and holiday programs. 

SMART supports individual needs, encourages personal development, and provides strategies for integration, communication, whilst forming friendships in a fun, and safe non-academic environment. We work with children and teens of all abilities and backgrounds, while striving to remove barriers and disadvantages which youths may face in relation to their disability, gender, religion, belief, faith or sexual orientation.

We provide a variety of sessions for 7 - 16 year olds in the following areas:

Working within the schools, we provide 1:1, or group workshops. As well as a place that the students can relax, feel listened to, and be respected by staff that honestly understand their needs. SMART has found that working in schools as a contractor makes us more accessible to students as an external agency. This has enabled us to form a non-academic relationship, which allows students to open up, ask for support, and even make disclosures to us. This is where the unique delivery of the SMART sessions excels in.

SMART supports "newly arrived" in the UK, our Embracing change program supports these vulnerable students and works in partnership with BBC Children in Need, please contact us if you have any students who meet these criteria.

SMART’s Friday evening group for 5 - 16 year olds is inclusive of their backgrounds, or abilities. SMART runs a weekly youth group, which is followed by musical theatre workshops broken down into 3 consecutive 1 hour sessions; dance, singing and drama. This is a safe, positive environment, inspiring young people to unleash creativity, as well as discover new skills in drama, dance, & singing. At the same time reinforcing positive social & emotional topics; through role plays, or games, catering for several different learning styles. 

SMART delivers a holiday club for all half terms, Christmas, Easter and summer holidays.

This is a place where through age related fun activities children are encouraged to be themselves in a safe and positive environment. They are taught essential life-skills and a full understanding of their emotions; which leads to better social interactions, as well as helping youngsters with their mental health, and wellbeing.

SMART supports students that have behavioural difficulties, allowing us to provide strategies and assist in changing their perceptions prior to behaviour outbursts.  

·  SMART interventions are evidence-based, that are proven to significantly make a positive change and increase both students and Adults Mental Health and Wellbeing: 

·  INCREASE students’ motivation, focus, and attention during school classes.

·  Improved Behaviour of students.

·  Significantly improves the young person’s relationship with the teacher (Including their  parents)

·  Teachers find that young people are more engaged and therefore teaching is easier, and teachers get LESS frustrated.

·  Young people feel better understood and see positive results of their change.

·  SMART unique programs will make a better, happier school for everyone.

·  Specialists in year 7 to year 10.

Parents recent comments:

'We've seen big improvements at home with our Young Person - Mel has taught her coping strategies for when she's feeling overwhelmed or worried.  She has been able to grow her circle of friends at school because of the work on peer relationships and because of the friendships she has been able to form in the safe environment of SMART workshops.'

                           Parent review Sept 2021

'Mel cares so much about each Young Person in her care and will go above and beyond to get the best out of them.  She is full of energy and positivity and has creative ideas to encourage engagement.'

                           Parent review Sept 2021

According to a recent OFSTED report, the effects of the pandemic has had on Early Years, and NHS, is 'concerned about the lasting impact on children's self-esteem, social, and emotional development and that children returning to school were significantly more anxious and less confident than they were prior to the pandemic and were less likely to engage socially.'