@TeacherToolkit
Ross Morrison McGill founded @TeacherToolkit in 2007, and today, he is one of the ‘most followed educators’on social media in the world. In 2015, he was nominated as one of the ‘500 Most Influential People in Britain’ by The Sunday Times as a result of…
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Could understanding attachment theory change the way you respond to student behaviour?
I’ve discovered a powerful, school-based training programme that allows teachers to support students’ emotional needs – and retrain as therapists – without leaving the classroom.
A deeper reason behind behaviour
I remember attending many safeguarding meetings throughout my career where, sometimes, the discussion shifted to a student’s refusal to engage. I always knew the issue wasn’t defiance, but something deeper that few behaviour policies could fix.
Emotional barriers to learning are on the rise. In England alone, one-third of students do not reach expected standards by the end of primary school. Among disadvantaged students, the figure is nearly one-half. Meanwhile, referrals to mental health services continue to surge – 35% up in one year alone—leaving many children without timely support.
Teachers see these issues first-hand. Behavioural challenges, anxiety, poor self-esteem, and trauma affect students’ ability to learn, yet classroom teachers often lack the training or resources to respond therapeutically. Traditional SEND pathways and CAMHS services are overstretched.
What if you could train, and still teach, and use your passion to understand the emotional world behind every student’s behaviour?
Train while teaching
Educational Psychotherapy is a unique school-based mental health intervention that can support some of these issues, blending psychological theory with teaching practice to help students overcome emotional and behavioural barriers to learning.
Developed by Irene Caspari, this approach focuses on building students’ emotional resilience and academic self-belief through therapeutic relationships in familiar learning settings. Sign up to express an interest, visit: Caspari.org.uk/Teacher-Toolkit
The Advanced Diploma in Educational Psychotherapy is offered exclusively by the Caspari Foundation. It is:
- a UKCP-accredited, Level 7 qualification for teachers and school staff.
- a four-year, part-time course that begins with the one-year Certificate in Therapeutic Teaching.
- This initial stage is online, making it ideal for teachers exploring a new career path without leaving the classroom.
- Three years include in-person clinical training, personal psychotherapy, supervision, and placements
- It is designed to equip teachers with the knowledge and therapeutic skills needed to work one-to-one with students in school or specialist settings.
Results from a 2024 survey of students and members, conducted by external consultants Meridian West, suggested that 88% of Caspari-trained teachers reported a significant improvement in their ability to support student wellbeing, and 69% said it improved their career prospects.
Where could this qualification lead?
The qualification opens doors to roles in CAMHS, adoption support, schools, and private practice. Teachers can start by enrolling in the one-year Certificate in Therapeutic Teaching. This part–time, online course runs on weekday evenings, with one in-person Saturday per term. It introduces key psychological theories such as attachment, trauma, and reflective practice – offering immediately transferable strategies for the classroom.
The Advanced Diploma offers teachers a new, accredited career path rooted in school settings.
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