Case Studies

 

 

Setting

Mainstream Primary

Age

Year 4

Duration

4 weeks

Snapshot

Engagement

BEFORE

Regularly leaving the classroom, refusing written work and becoming distressed during independent tasks. Initial score: At Risk

WHAT THE
SNAPSHOT
SHOWED

Cognitive overload, anxiety around making mistakes and difficulties with executive functioning.

WHAT
CHANGED

Staff understood the distress as cognitive overload, not avoidance — tasks were broken into manageable steps, movement was woven into the day.

OUTCOME

At Risk → Potential Risk

REFLECTION

“Understanding the overload made all the difference.”

IMPACT
STATEMENT

Remaining in class for longer periods, attempting work more independently and requiring fewer adult prompts.

 

 

Setting

Primary School

Age

Primary aged

Duration

4 weeks

Snapshot

Wellbeing

BEFORE

Frequent stomach aches and headaches, with daily medical room visits. Initial score: At Risk

WHAT THE
SNAPSHOT
SHOWED

Anxiety and uncertainty affecting emotional wellbeing and feelings of safety.

WHAT
CHANGED

Staff understood body telling story — predictable routines and daily emotional check-ins gave certainty and safe way to be heard.

OUTCOME

At Risk → No Risk

REFLECTION

“Everything changed when we listened to her nervous system.”

IMPACT
STATEMENT

Attendance improved and medical room visits reduced considerably.

 

 

Setting

Specialist School

Age

School aged

Duration

4 weeks

Snapshot

Transition

BEFORE

Refusing to enter school building following holidays. Initial score: At Risk

WHAT THE
SNAPSHOT
SHOWED

Anxiety around uncertainty and change preventing successful transitions.

WHAT
CHANGED

Gradual transition plan paired with sensory tools and safe-person brought back to safety.

OUTCOME

At Risk → Potential Risk

REFLECTION

“Patience and planning made return possible.”

IMPACT
STATEMENT

Attending daily, entering school with significantly reduced distress.

 

 

Setting

Alternative Provision

Age

Secondary aged

Duration

2 weeks

Snapshot

Regulation

BEFORE

Regularly damaging property and becoming verbally aggressive with expectations. Initial score: At Risk

WHAT THE
SNAPSHOT
SHOWED

Sensory overwhelm, nervous system activation and low trust in adults.

WHAT
CHANGED

Staff read behaviour as nervous system in survival — environment adapted, demands reduced, language shifted.

OUTCOME

At Risk → Potential Risk

REFLECTION

“Finally understanding what they needed changed everything.”

IMPACT
STATEMENT

Incidents reduced significantly; young person seeking support before crisis point.

 

 

Setting

SEMH Provision

Age

Primary aged

Duration

4 weeks

Snapshot

Regulation

BEFORE

Frequently entering school in heightened state and struggling to settle. Initial score: At Risk

WHAT THE
SNAPSHOT
SHOWED

Child needed movement and sensory input before accessing learning.

WHAT
CHANGED

Staff recognised dysregulation — movement and sensory input built into start of every day.

OUTCOME

At Risk → Potential Risk

REFLECTION

“Movement first, learning second made all the difference.”

IMPACT
STATEMENT

Morning incidents reduced and engagement during first lesson improved significantly.

Setting

Residential Care

Age

Teenage

Duration

4 weeks

Snapshot

Regulation

BEFORE

Frequent conflict with staff during daily routines. Initial score: At Risk

WHAT THE
SNAPSHOT
SHOWED

Expectations introduced when young person already dysregulated.

WHAT
CHANGED

Staff focused on co-regulation before problem-solving — regulation first, expectations second.

OUTCOME

At Risk → Potential Risk

REFLECTION

“Regulation first changed our whole approach.”

IMPACT
STATEMENT

Relationships improved and frequency of confrontations reduced substantially.