EBO For Schools

Enhancing Brain Organisation

Do you have children in your school who struggle to learn to read, write clearly or listen? Are there some whose speed of processing and attention span affect their learning. Or  are their difficulties with sitting still, relating to others, communicating or co-operating. Does this show as frustration, refusal, meltdown, aggression or withdrawal?

These are just some of the features of an immature brain.

There are many more.Turn a challenge into an opportunity.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (A.C.E.)

You probably know about A.C.E. and its impact. But do you know what to do about it?

The BrainChild Developmental Program has been helping children and families to overcome the resulting neuro-developmental challenges for more than 14 years. Its active and playful approach not only engages children but also tackles the issues at their source.

The Program works to help the brain recover from the impact of very early childhood experiences. It’s particularly relevant for looked-after and adopted children, but a surprisingly large number of children can be affected by issues in utero or their birth process or early management.

Now there is EBO for Schools to reach and help more children with neuro-developmental issues.

What do neuro-developmental issues look like?

They influence brain function. This affects how the child behaves and learns. Children who find life difficult, whether with writing, reading, processing, social interaction or easily enter into reactive behaviour such as meltdown, aggression or hostility, or running away,  are all struggling with immature neuro-development.

Records show that increasing numbers of children have neuro-developmental issues without a diagnosis. As the percentages rise, there is an increasing need for intervention.

In response, BrainChild has developed the digital program –  EBO for Schools, so all children can have access.

What is EBO?

EBO stands for Enhancing Brain Organisation.

This innovative program combines an exciting digital game presentation with a physical program that children (and teachers) love!

The program is carefully constructed to follow early developmental progress presented with an imaginative storyline in short  game style videos that lead children into the physical activities.

In brief –  an energetic whole-class program that helps each child to be ready for learning and life, while having fun!

What does it look like?

Here is a taster…..click Fullscreen.

EBO is  designed to be streamed to your school laptop for projection.

Staff

Each teacher is fully supported through

• the training videos
• the digital format (videos and interactive scoreboards)
• The Teacher’s Manual.
• delivery that aims to enhance each teacher’s observation and teaching skills and motivate the children through the use of the creative story-line and  game scoring.

Children

A few minutes of video supports the activities within the levels. The partner and team activities encourage collaboration. Some impressive teamwork has been observed and teachers report that their class now works co-operatively, with greater awareness of others and more considerate behaviour.

Q: Who is it for?

Primary schools.

Eligible for funding through:

• PE and Sport Premium.
• Pupil Premium

Physical activities that add EXTRA.

Main focus: Years 1, 2 and 3 , although older children love it and can benefit!

The program is designed for whole class use, but many of our schools have initially used it with nurture groups and their children with SEN.

Q: Why do schools need it?

A: Because the incidence of neuro-developmental issues in school children is steadily increasing.

Children are struggling. Not only with academic learning. With life too.

This may show as anxiety, withdrawal, refusal, meltdowns, frustration, aggression,   and low self-esteem. I’m sure you recognise these signs of distress. Often labelled as bad behaviour or mental health issues, they relate to immaturity and are not under the child’s control.

Other features show as difficulties with co-ordination, learning to communicate, reading, writing, attention, sitting still, perseverence, making friends, showing empathy, coping with the school environment. In fact, any feature of an immature brain.

This includes the developmental diagnoses of Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia and Dyspraxia etc, but many more children have developmental issues that are  not acknowledged or fully understood.

Teacher’s stress levels are increasing. Help them to help their children.

Q: How is EBO different?

A: A child’s developing brain needs a good start.

EBO for Schools works on the foundation level of brain function. Without sound foundations a house will collapse.

Adverse childhood experiences are now acknowledged as brain changing. EBO works at the earliest level, with brain function present even before birth. This helps the brain to re-organise.

Change your children’s challenges into an opportunity.  

Feedback from the participating schools: 

Y5 teacher in an area of high deprivation:

“This has been great for my group”

EBO seemed a good opportunity for everyone to be ‘good’ at something and make progress. An activity we could all start together and work as a team on – outside the academic curriculum, but to support our learning.

It was good fun. It was an opportunity for less academic children to shine. I was particularly pleased early on when everyone joined in ‘Yummy Pizza’. We’ve talked a lot about Y5 being a time for new things,  joining in and sometimes having to be brave and just give it a go. We’ve even said it’s ok to feel uncomfortable when you try something new. EBO has been a great opportunity to talk about how we approach new things – how we learn.”

Y3 Teacher: “Thoroughly enjoying all activities. All exercises went well.”

Using the Teacher’s manual.

The classroom  activities: The pictures in the manual made it easy to introduce the activities. It is very clear. On the first two days, I just had the instructions in front of me.

After a few sessions the children were beginning to remember the sequence and needed little instruction. The ball activity was great to use before handwriting activities and as a brain break half way through the afternoon.”

Y2 teacher:

“It could make a difference for so many children.”

University of Cumbria 2019/20

Starting in Autumn term, 2019 – University of Cumbria Research Study, in the Department of Health, Psychology and Social Studies. Focus: Children and families, health and well being.