Training Programmes

Information on all of the below programmes can by obtained by contacting Archways on 01 457 6433 or by accessing the Archways website on www.archways.ie.

There are a number of training programmes within the Incredible Years series aimed at parents of young children as well as primary school teachers and children themselves (see Image below).

However, three programmes will form the central focus of interest in the Incredible Years Ireland Study, each of which is described below.

BASIC Preschool/Early School Years Parent Training programme

The BASIC Parent Training programme aims to improve the skills and strategies of parents, particularly those who find their child’s behaviour difficult or challenging. Parent competences are developed in the area of positive communication (e.g. using praise instead of criticism), limit-setting, problem-solving and anger-management. Parents are also encouraged to develop support networks.

Find out more about Parent Programmes from Archways website: http://www.archways.ie/just_for_parents/overview/

Teacher Classroom Management (TCM) programme

The Teacher Classroom Management (TCM) programme is a 5-day programme delivered once a month over 5 months and designed to help teachers better manage problem behaviour in the classroom. This training allows teachers to return to the classroom to implement and test the strategies they have acquired and, in many cases, this training reinforces the very positive work that is already happening.  It is designed for teachers of children aged 4-10 years but can also be used to provide training for school counsellors, psychologists, teaching assistants and any school personnel working with young children.  As with the other programmes, it can be used as either a general prevention programme for all teachers in a school or a more intense  programme for teachers with a high proportion of disruptive pupils in their classroom.  It is delivered in groups of 15-20 teachers.

The rationale for the TCM programme is that children who are disruptive at home are likely to be disruptive at school and may elicit the same negative patterns from teachers that they have experienced from their parents.  In addition, they may be excluded by their peers.  Children cannot flourish in such an environment and their behavioural problems may be compounded by academic under-achievement.

The TCM programme aims to improve the skills and strategies of teachers, particularly those who have pupils in their classroom with difficult or challenging behaviours.  The specific focus of the teacher programme is on further developing proactive teacher strategies.  It emphasizes:

A whole school approach is favoured since the generalization of The Incredible Years principles across the whole school environment is very reinforcing for the child with behavioural difficulties. The consistency of approach among school staff, parents and other professionals towards the child’s behaviour is what makes a real difference.

Find out more about Teacher Programmes from Archways website: http://www.archways.ie/just_for_teachers/overview/

The Small Group Dinosaur programme

The Dinosaur Social Skills and Problem Solving curriculum is a child training curriculum that strengthens children's social, emotional and academic competencies such as understanding and communicating feelings, using effective problem solving strategies, managing anger, practicing friendship and conversational skills, as well as appropriate classroom behaviours. The programme can be used either as a prevention or treatment intervention. The prevention or ‘Dinosaur in The Classroom Programme’ is for children aged 4-8 years whose behaviour is deemed ‘normal’ and aims to improve their social and emotional competency, including their problem-solving skills. This is delivered to children in groups of 6 to 10.  The treatment programme is for children aged 3-10 years who are ‘at risk’ or are already clinically diagnosed as having a conduct disorder; this is delivered to children in groups of 6 only.  This programme is best delivered in a Junior Primary or Pre-school setting.

Find out about Child Programmes from Archways website: http://www.archways.ie/just_for_children/overview/

Information on all of the above programmes can by obtained by contacting Archways on 01 457 6433 or by accessing the Archways website on www.archways.ie.