> School accreditation
School accreditation
Togetherness accredited schools work to improve emotional health for children, their families and the whole school community
Our accredited schools embed the Solihull Approach model across their offer to support staff, pupils and their whole community through increased knowledge of childhood development and emotional health. Training for staff equips them with an understanding of the evidence–based approach designed to read behaviours, understand childhood development and nurture relationships for emotional wellbeing.
Beyond training and support for staff, Togetherness accredited schools embed the principles across their work, developing their teaching curriculums, enhancing their pastoral support inside and outside the classroom, and working with parents to extend the benefits of emotional health education.
Awards criteria
Three tiers of accreditation recognise a school’s commitment to emotional health across a range of assessment criteria developed by Togetherness. Application and awarding, including framed certification, is free for schools.
At a glance
| Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| • At least 80% of staff have completed the 2-Day Foundation training or the Whole School Emotional Health Programme to include staff from all departments. • 30% of staff have completed at least one of the Advanced trainings. Trained staff use the Solihull Approach model in their practice and attend at least three ‘Work discussion sessions’ per year. • The school actively shares Togetherness online learning pathways and content with parents and the professional community through school channels at least once per term. The Togetherness team produce newsletters for use in Local Authorities where the online learning pathways are pre-paid and free to parents. • The school delivers Togetherness workshops and parents can access the ‘Understanding your child’ face-to-face pathway. | • At least 60% of staff have completed the 2-Day Foundation training or the Whole School Emotional Health Programme to include staff from all departments. • 20% of staff have completed at least one of the Advanced trainings. Trained staff use the Solihull Approach model in their practice and attend at least two ‘Work discussion sessions’ per year. • The school actively shares Togetherness online learning pathways and content with parents and the professional community through school channels at least once per term. The Togetherness team produce newsletters for use in Local Authorities where the online learning pathways are pre-paid and free to parents. • The school delivers Togetherness workshops or parents can access the ‘Understanding your child’ face-to-face pathway. | • At least 50% of staff have completed the 2-Day Foundation training or the Whole School Emotional Health Programme to include staff from all departments. • One member of staff has completed at least one of the Advanced trainings. • Trained staff use the Solihull Approach model in their practice and attend at least one ‘Work discussion sessions’ per year. • The school actively shares Togetherness online learning pathways and content with parents and the professional community through school channels at least once per term. The Togetherness team produce newsletters for use in Local Authorities where the online learning pathways are pre-paid and free to parents. |
In detail
Accredited school tiers
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Three tiers of accreditation to recognise a school’s commitment to emotional health support across their provision.
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Togetherness training
Gold
Gold accreditation criteria and requirements
Gold-accredited schools celebrate embedding Togetherness across its whole community and within day-to-day school business. The impacts are felt across the culture of the school and are evident in the behaviour of pupils, staff, and parents, as well as the emotional wellbeing and prospects of the children.
Togetherness recognises gold-standard schools as those that have embedded the principles and framework across all areas of school life developed over a period of at least 3 years. Gold schools ensure staff have access to Togetherness Training, and, for mainstream settings, they would ensure that 80% or more of the school staff (across all areas) have participated in the 2-Day Foundation training or have been involved in Whole School Emotional Health Programme. For specialist schools, this may be lower as a percentage, providing evidence that the other criteria are met, given the higher staff requirements.
Leadership commitment and support
Furthermore, the schools’ leadership teams embrace Togetherness and support the ongoing offer to train staff and offer reflective supervision. Typically, Togetherness champions in the school will ensure regular reconnect sessions and CPD, with staff also engaging in advanced training (around 30% of staff would be trained in advanced or specialist training). This ensures that the principles of Togetherness are lived throughout the school’s day-to-day engagements.
Implementation across school practices
Gold-accredited schools evidence the use of the Solihull Approach model embedded in their practice, which may include recognition of school values, reflective sessions throughout the year, inclusion in staff inductions, refresher offers, inclusion in pupil behaviour support plans and reflective supervision for coaching and staff development.
Community engagement and family involvement
The schools clearly embrace Togetherness across their whole community, ensuring families are also aware of what this means in the school and are encouraged to engage in school-organised sessions and the online learning pathways and resources offered on our website.
Silver
Silver accreditation criteria and requirements
Silver-accredited schools demonstrate a commitment to embedding Togetherness across their whole community and within day-to-day school business. The impacts are felt across the culture of the school and evident in the behaviour of pupils, staff and parents, as well as the emotional wellbeing and prospects of the children.
Togetherness recognises silver standard schools as those that have embedded the principles and framework across all areas of school life developed over more than one year. Silver schools ensure staff have access to Togetherness Training and, for mainstream schools, they would ensure that 60% or more of the school staff (across all areas) have participated in the 2-Day Foundation training or have been involved in Whole School Emotional Health Programme. For specialist schools, this may be lower as a percentage, providing evidence that the other criteria are met, given the higher staff requirements.
Leadership commitment and support
Furthermore, the schools’ leadership teams embrace Togetherness and support the ongoing offer to train staff and offer reflective supervision. Typically, staff will also engage in advanced training (around 20% of staff would be trained in advanced or specialist training).
Implementation across school practices
Silver-accredited schools are working to embed the principles of Togetherness throughout the school’s day-to-day engagements. They use the Solihull Approach model to shape behaviour support plans, values frameworks, or even curriculum sessions. They also commit to supporting reflective sessions throughout the year, staff coaching, and further developing a culture that champions containment and understands reciprocity.
Community engagement and family involvement
The schools clearly embrace Togetherness across their community, ensuring families are also aware of what this means in the school and are encouraged to engage in school-organised sessions and the online learning pathways and resources offered on our website.
Bronze
Bronze accreditation criteria and requirements
Bronze-accredited schools demonstrate a commitment to embedding Togetherness across their whole community and within day-to-day school business. The schools are working to enhance the wellbeing of their Whole School community and seek to embed Togetherness as part of their mission and values to prioritise emotional health.
Togetherness recognises bronze standard schools as those who have embraced the training and model with clear plans to embed the principles and framework across all areas of school life. Bronze schools ensure staff have access to Togetherness Training and, for mainstream schools, they would ensure that at least 50% of school staff (across all areas) have participated in the 2-Day Foundation training or have been involved in Whole School Emotional Health Programme. For specialist schools, this may be lower as a percentage, providing evidence that the other criteria are met, given the higher staff requirements.
Leadership commitment and support
Furthermore, the schools’ leadership teams embrace Togetherness and support the ongoing offer to train staff and use learning to shape school practice. Typically, staff will also engage in or be prepared to follow advanced training.
Implementation across school practices
Bronze-accredited schools are working to embed the principles of Togetherness throughout the school’s day-to-day engagements. They use the Solihull Approach model to shape behaviour support plans, values frameworks, or even curriculum sessions. They also commit to supporting reflective sessions throughout the year, staff coaching, and further developing a culture that champions containment and understands reciprocity.
Community engagement and family involvement
The schools clearly embrace Togetherness across their community, ensuring families are also aware of what this means in the school and are encouraged to engage in learning, either through school-organised sessions or signposting the online learning pathways and resources offered on our website.
School testimonies
St Nicholas School, Canterbury
Our first Gold Accredited school talks about the difference the Solihull Approach model has made to their community and school culture.
Mount St Michael’s and Slemish College
Two schools from Northern Ireland talk about their experiences of implementing Togetherness and the Solihull Approach model within their teachings.