HOW WE WORK WITH SCHOOLS

AT The Bus works with primary and secondary school age students who are referred by their school. We work in partnership with schools and our art-as-therapy sessions are always conducted on school sites; either on board our double decker bus (currently at The Cherwell School in Oxford), or in static tailor-made studio spaces within a school. We can also work in other spaces within a school using our mobile AT The Bus in a Box provision.

Our methodology, The Beattie Method, aims to cultivate emotional awareness, self-regulation, social skills, thinking skills and creative skills. Through weekly small group sessions we use art to build self-esteem, confidence, resilience and independence. The group aspect supports relationship building and the impact of the work extends beyond sessions back into schools and family and community life - headteachers tell us of the ‘ripple effect’ our work has on their schools and beyond.

“Many of [our students] have social issues compounded by the cost-of-living-crisis and are able to use art as an oasis of calm. Everything about this space, the facilitators, and the programme adds a streak of colour, nurture and enrichment to our school. The ripple extends beyond the individual children and moves through the school as a whole and is an invaluable experience for all children.”

Lyndsey Caldwell, Greyfriars Catholic School Oxford

Provision on the school site is essential for the most vulnerable young people. When we help these children with their mental health problems, they can better engage with their peers and access the curriculum.

PROFESSOR MINA FAZEL, PROFESSOR OF ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY, UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD

STUDENTS WE WORK WITH

We work with small groups of seven students, usually from the same year group, seeing them for a minimum of one session a week, for a minimum of one term. Each session lasts approximately two hours. We work closely with schools to tailor provision to meet the needs of individual students. If required we may work with smaller groups or run shorter sessions than usual, or a child may attend sessions for more than one school term.

Any child or young person finding it difficult to engage with education and their everyday lives can benefit from The Beattie Method, in fact, headteachers who have experienced our practice tell us it would benefit all students in every school. Currently, we support children who are finding it difficult to attend or fully engage at school including those with complex needs.

Some of the reasons students may attend Beattie Method sessions include, but are not limited to:

Familial or home circumstances such those who are living in care or who have experienced trauma.
Relational issues such as low self-esteem or lack of confidence, friendship issues including being bullied or bullying, school refusal or those at risk of exclusion.
Those who may be new arrivals to the UK including refugee and asylum seekers.
Those with special educational needs including those who are diagnosed as or may be neurodivergent.
Eating disorders, self-harm and those experiencing difficulties around identity.
Those at risk of grooming

Frequently the students we see are experiencing multiple of these issues which are often interrelated. We do not limit referrals to those with a particular diagnosis or behaviours, and our groups are inclusive of a range of differing student needs.

Each group is run by a minimum of two therapeutic arts facilitators. Our facilitators come from a wide range of backgrounds, including teaching, art and psychology and all have received comprehensive training in The Beattie Method, which directs our practice.

You can download an information leaflet about who we are and how we work with schools to share with your leadership team or colleagues here.

Read what our schools have to say about their experience with AT The Bus here.

If your school is interested in working with AT The Bus, please get in touch with us at: info@atthebus.org.uk.

SEE THE SCHOOLS WE WORK WITH