EBO For Schools

EBO – Enhancing Brain Organisation

Enhancing Brain Organisation relies on frequent stimulation.  Teachers always knew that a long gap of 6 weeks over the summer was bad news for the learning of their more vulnerable children…and then there was the disruption of Covid -19.

Even before the pandemic, an increasing number of primary aged children found difficulty with processing and retaining information, communicating and relating to others. They had issues with maintaining attention and being still, using avoidance behaviour and anger to express their frustration.

So we developed EBO for Schools to inspire, excite and motivate these children and provide a vehicle for change.

Led by video-game-style presentation, children learn to use energetic, specific developmental activities to address their issues.

This comprehensive streamed program,  works at the foundation level of  human neurodevelopment to enhance a child’s learning capability.

Our expertise lies in enabling children with challenges to life and learning to overcome developmental disadvantages and succeed. Many have developmental diagnoses such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia and dyspraxia, but even more have no diagnosis.

Using  inspirational, motivating video-game presentation, this active program is delivered online, over two terms, through  an exciting story-line. It’s much more than just energetic and fun. Children and teachers love it.

Designed primarily to help the many children with challenges in mainstream schools, our physically-active program, EBO for Schools, serves two main purposes:

•  to improve children’s balance, co-ordination and team skills.
• to enhance brain organisation, including speed of processing, attention, handwriting, reading, emotional well-being and more.

Thus improving their learning and their lives.

If you are looking for something new to fulfil the requirements of the PE and Sport Premium for your primary aged pupils and to fully engage them at an appropriate developmental level, please read on. The bonus is that it’s designed to benefit their learning too.

• EBO for Schools can begin at any time. It’s your choice, so you have the flexibility at your fingertips that is needed in these uncertain times.

How do we do that?

By applying the neuro-developmental knowledge and skills that we, at BrainChild,  have developed and used successfully with individual children and families, groups and schools over the last 15 years. Now it’s time for all children in schools to have the opportunity to benefit from this unique, exciting, streamed program.

Children with Challenges

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 being still, relating to others, communicating or co-operating. Does this show as frustration, refusal, meltdown, aggression or withdrawal?

It would be unusual if you answer NO. EBO for Schools is here for you.

These challenges are just some of the features of an immature brain and there are many more.

It’s time to turn this challenge into an opportunity.

What does EBO for Schools look like?

Here is a taster…..click Fullscreen.

EBO for Schools is streamed to your school laptop for projection. Supported by staff training videos and a Teacher’s Manual, it is easy to use.

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 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 adverse childhood experiences. It’s particularly relevant for looked-after and adopted children, but a surprisingly large number of children can be affected by  issues during pregnancy, or during their birth process or early management, which often remain unrecognised.

EBO for Schools is here to reach and help more children who have a whole range of neurodevelopmental issues, including those with diagnoses of ASD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD. Even more children have unrecognised developmental issues, but no clear diagnostic label.

Teachers can spot them. EBO is designed to help them.

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 issues show as difficulties with co-ordination, learning to communicate, reading, writing, attention, being 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, for example, but many more children have developmental issues that are  not formally acknowledged or fully understood.

Teacher’s stress levels are increasing. Help them to help their children. The whole class can benefit.

The behaviours are  the result of immature brain function. This affects how the child behaves and learns. Children who find life difficult, whether with writing, reading, processing, social interaction or who easily enter into reactive behaviour such as meltdown, aggression, hostility or running away,  are struggling with immature neurodevelopment.

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

A 2012 study revealed 1 in 16 of children in the UK have a diagnosed disability. Over half of these are neurodevelopmental (Jones, L, 2012. The Lancet; 380 (9845): 899–907).

The trend is worldwide. In the United States, 1 in 6 children had a developmental disability in 2005. The overall trend increased by 6–15% each year from 2002 to 2010. (http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2011/05/19/peds.2010-2989).

In response, Viv Hailwood at BrainChild has developed the streamed, 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!

Staff

The training videos are suitable for whole staff training. Each teacher or teaching assistant (HLTA) 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 real-time game scoring.

Children

A few minutes of  video develops the next step in the storyline and supports each activity within each of the levels. The partner and team activities encourage collaboration. 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?

The program is designed for whole class use in primary schools, but many of our schools have used it initially with nurture groups and children with identified special needs. The only problem there is that many children that are not identified may miss out on enhancing their brain organisation.

EBO is eligible for funding through:

• PE and Sport Premium.
• Pupil Premium

It is designed for  Y1-Y4  (P2-P5 in Scotland), although older children also love it and benefit!

 

Q: How is EBO different from other programs?

A: EBO for Schools works on the foundation level of brain function.

A child’s developing brain needs a good start.

Adverse childhood experiences are now acknowledged as brain changing. EBO works at the earliest level, with brain function present even before birth. Thanks to the plasticity of the brain, it is able to re-organise.

Change your children’s challenges into an opportunity.  

Feedback from 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.”

What next?

We can provide a Zoom meeting for the staff in your school, to help you see what EBO is all about. Or  invite representatives from other schools near you to benefit from our current group discount offers. Call us to arrange a day and time at your convenience.