The Invisible Backpack Package
The Invisible Backpack is a free CPD package for schools and settings to deliver to their staff, either on their INSET days or during meetings.
The Invisible Backpack Package focuses on the importance of developing a relational approach in our work with babies, children, and young people.
The package is divided up into three parts. Each is approximately 2-hours in length.
Part 1: Consolidating Understanding
Aims:
- To explain the importance of a relational approach in supporting babies, children, and young people.
- To introduce the Invisible Backpack metaphor.
- To consolidate understanding of research and evidence relating to the impact of early relationships and childhood experiences.
- To explore the relationship between needs and behaviours using the metaphor.
Part 2: Approach & Environments
Aims:
- To learn about the journey of other schools and settings to develop their relational way of working: ethos, approach and environments.
- To reflect upon your own setting’s relational approach and environments.
- To consider how your setting’s approach and environments support babies/children/young people who have a fuller or overflowing invisible backpack.
- To identify strengths in your practice and provision and what you can improve upon.
Part 3: Strategies & Action Planning
Aims:
- To reflect upon your own setting’s strategies and interventions.
- To identify strengths in your practice and provision and what you can improve upon.
- To begin to develop a whole school action plan with clearly identified areas for development under the following headings: knowledge and understanding; approach; environments; and strategies.
Objectives:
By the end of this package, you will have:
- Explored the Invisible Backpack metaphor and supporting research about the impact of experiences upon childhood development.
- Reflected upon your understanding, approach, environment, and strategies.
- Identified strengths and what you can improve upon (‘even better if…’).
BEC will provide online support for your facilitator/s in the form of pre-delivery and post-delivery meetings.
Materials provided:
- Guidance booklet for facilitator(s)
- Session plans
- Presentation slides
- Training videos
- Additional printed materials and resources
Every participating school will have access to their own individual Padlet page where all the resources are housed.
BEC is looking for schools/settings to:
- Deliver the package and provide feedback to inform future development.
- Contribute examples of effective relational practice to be included in Part 2 and/or Part 3.
If your school/setting is interested in delivering the package, please contact BEC to arrange an initial meeting: BECommunity@barnardos.org.uk