BSEM’s top tips for implementing trauma-informed, strengths-based strategies across your school

As educators, when we commit to an innovation for our school or classroom, we want to ensure that it has the desired impact - whether that be on student outcomes, academic achievement, teacher wellbeing or school culture.

Read about how the Berry Street Education Model (BSEM) approach to implementation can help you move the learning that happens in a training space into sustained real-life application in your school.

A purposeful, planned and participatory approach to implementation is the best way to embed BSEM strategies into daily professional practice.

1. Purposeful

High quality implementation is tied to a strategic improvement agenda and designed to meet a desired school improvement outcome. This allows you to take a strengths-based and solution-focussed approach to your change agenda, with an emphasis on learning and practice development.

BSEM strategy example: The purpose of morning circle, is to ‘prime’ students ready for learning. It sets the scene, creates connections and builds positive emotions, optimising learning conditions for you and your students.

2. Planned

For successful implementation of the BSEM, we recommend planning for at least three years of sustained focus. This includes ongoing professional learning, support for practice development, inducting new staff and embedding the BSEM approach into the school’s policies and processes.

BSEM strategy example: Morning circles are planned for the same time every day across the site and are scaffolded to suite the ages and stages of students in different year levels. Plan regular discussions with your colleagues on how to keep your entrance routines fresh.

3. Participatory

We believe that knowledge is most powerful when developed in a social context.

When we learn alongside other people, co-design our school’s tailored approach, collaboratively problem solve, and draw on the expertise of our peers, we’re better able to meet the specific needs of our community and improve professional practice and wellbeing outcomes for staff and students.

BSEM strategy example: Find ways to make morning circle inclusive for everyone, and design positive primers to meet students where they’re at (lending energy or calm depending on student needs) and to build connection and community in the class and the school more broadly.

Alongside these considerations, BSEM’s approach to implementation follows a developmental continuum, supporting schools and educators to see trauma-informed education as a journey, not a destination.

How our BSEM team can support your school’s implementation

We have a range of options for schools looking for additional support with implementation.

1. Getting started webinar

Our 60-minute ‘Getting Started’ webinar assists school leaders or BSEM implementation teams to identify the first steps of bringing BSEM strategies to life. By considering your schools current position on a trauma-informed continuum, we then identify and drive high-impact strategies.

Please note: Getting Started Webinars can be accessed by new schools who are implementing BSEM.

2. Implementation masterclass

The Implementation Masterclass assists school leaders to implement the Berry Street Education Model. Participants will be guided through a planning process for sustainable whole school change. And because it is BSEM we’ll make sure you have fun too!

Drawing on trauma-informed practice, positive psychology and implementation science, the BSEM Implementation Masterclass

• introduces the BSEM implementation continuum
• guides participants though the BSEM implementation process
• supports leaders to set intentions for whole school change
• delves deeper into practical approaches to whole-school change
• considers whole-school procedures to support professional development
• works on the development of Implementation Action Plans
• explores systems for monitoring change.

This masterclass is delivered as a whole day participatory workshop or through three 90-minute Webinars.

Consultation support

Our team also provides a variety of consultation services in-person or online:

• leadership team consultation: explore BSEM and strategic alignment, program implementation and sustainability, managing staff using BSEM principles.
• teaching and learning consultation: specific areas of the BSEM curriculum, teaching and learning planning, supporting classroom management.
• wellbeing team consultation: Social and Emotional Learning curriculum development, alignment with wellbeing strategy, alignment with Tier 2 or 3 interventions.
• individual teacher consultation: classroom observation, coaching conversations, adapting strategies to different contexts.

Please contact our team if you would like more information about webinars, masterclasses or consultation services using the form below.