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SUMO Explained
Stop Understand Move On
SUMO4Schools Secondary is part of the SUMO4Schools programme which provide resources and training that facilitate wellbeing, promote positive behaviour and develop creativity, thinking and learning skills in schools. It is an innovative and creative programme that can be delivered within a cross-curricular context to engage and motivate students!
What does SUMO deliver?
SUMO delivers skills for life – and helps pupils develop emotional literacy that will help them deal with the challenges of the future. The way in which SUMO can help is summarised by the acronym CRAMS:
C – How to accept and manage Change in our lives and how to build and maintain Confidence to deal with the challenges in life.
R – Building better and lasting Relationships with our families and friends.
A – Developing a resilient Attitude to life and learning to deal with set-backs.
M – Improve and maintain Motivation for ourselves and those around us.
S – Learning to cope with Stress and turning stressful situations into positive ones.
SUMO - The Six Principles
The SUMO4Schools Secondary programme is based around 6 SUMO principles. Each principle is introduced and developed through a series of lesson resources and is supported by a range of SUMO material. The lessons progress through each principle allowing for Assessment For Learning and personalised learning to take place. The principles are explored using interactive and creative lessons that are powerful and practical, memorable and meaningful. Each principle has relevance for secondary school students who are facing significant choices that will affect the rest of their lives.
1. Change Your T-shirt encourages pupils to take responsibility for their own life. It asks them to consider different aspects of their life and reflect on how their decisions shape the perspectives they have. The aims of the sessions are to empower pupils through recognising that their choices are significant, encourage pupils to stop blaming others for what happens and understand that they all have multiple intelligences and potential.
2. Develop Fruity Thinking explores how the way our thinking affects our potential to achieve. Negative thinking invariably leads to negative results while positive thinking will lead to positive outcomes. The lessons introduce the TEAR model; Thinking > Emotions > Actions > Results. It asks the question 'what influences your thinking?' and encourages pupils to develop a level of self awareness where by their actions are less reactionary and more response orientated. The aims of the session are for pupils to identify those thoughts which limit their potential and change them to positive empowering thoughts.
3. Hippo Time is OK helps pupils understand how setbacks affect them and how to recover from them. The sessions aim to develop emotional intelligence by exploring emotions and how they need to be managed. The sessions aim to provide strategies for encountering and overcoming problems and setbacks while recognising that we all need to wallow a little… we just need to be careful how long it lasts.
4. Remember the Beachball introduces the social aspects of SUMO4Schools Secondary. The principle helps pupils explore their own experiences and reflect on what has shaped their worldview. The lessons develop collaborative and co-operative learning while supporting global citizenship. The aim of the session is to explore why other people's perspectives may be valid even though they are different from our own. It encourages us to seek to understand other people's world view.
5. Learn Latin introduces the idea that change comes through action. New thinking on its own will lead nowhere it must be matched by action. Carpe Diem - seize the day encourages pupils to act upon their beliefs and rise to the challenges that face them. The sessions look at the factors which hinder action and provide strategies for moving forward. The aim of the unit is to move pupils from saying 'I wish I had!' to 'I am glad I did!'
6. Ditch Doris Day (or dare to dream) challenges pupils to think about holistic success and set goals. It encourages them to create their own future rather than leave it to chance. The sessions seek to equip pupils with tools to help with goal setting and confidence building; the aim being to empower pupils with self belief to reach their full potential. It challenges the pupils to ask the question 'what future do you want and how are you going to get it?' and also 'How can I make a difference in the lives of others?'
These principles form the basis for creative lessons that engage and empower pupils and teachers alike. We have had the privilege of being able to help and empower many, many pupils and teachers… get in touch to discuss how we can help you too!
SUMO success! What people say…
With the world being an ever changing place children, now more than ever, need greater resilience, self-belief and confidence in their own abilities if they are to reach their potential. SUMO provides all that and more. It is the foundation to well-being and self-learning, providing a platform for children and staff to reflect and grow, learn and interact, enjoy and achieve.
SUMO is a must for all organisations with the six principles providing the bedrock for personal and professional inspiration and application in every day life.
Amanda Gould,
Integrated Services Coordinator, CAF Champion / Mentor / Lead Professional,
Northwich Education Improvement Partnership (EIP)
Healthy Schools
Without a doubt, the “i” generation is growing up in a very different world. The challenges of a fast changing and uncertain future create unique pressures for our children and young people. Their need to be equipped to cope with all that life may bring is crucial. SUMO4Schools is an interactive resource that teaches children the coping strategies they need, in a fun and practical way. If Emotional Health and Well Being is a priority you have chosen to develop further on your Healthy Schools Enhancement Journey, then this resource will stimulate reflection and creativity. Above all, children enjoy SUMO and learn to put the principles into action.
Ruth Boulton, Healthy Schools Development Consultant for Cheshire West and Chester
SUMO Super Learning Day - 'Change Your T-Shirt'
SUMO is a good sport. Dreams can come true. The important thing is to focus on them and have a positive attitude. For a job, I now want to go for being a gas engineer or a car mechanic.
Mohsin Jalil,
Year 11, Moor Park Secondary School, Preston, Lancashire
I've absolutely no doubt that your approach can help build resilience and enhance the quality of people's lives, in both medical and educational settings. The clarity and simplicity of your explanations are accessible to everyone and I know many patients who would benefit from adopting this approach.
You use SUMO as a way of having a legitimate and life enhancing conversation with ourselves, forcing us to reflect and aim for what really matters.
Dr Phil Hammond,
GP, Journalist and Broadcaster
SUMO supports the SEAL initiative as well as empowers the pupils with skills to manage their emotions and to work well with others plus develop the confidence and self worth to achieve.
Zoe Perkins,
SEAL and Behaviour & Attendance Consultant
We have found SUMO to be powerful with young people, as it simplifies solution focussed approaches into a catchy and attractive tool kit. Young people relate to SUMO, it builds their confidence in their own potential and enables them to cope better.
Karen Morgen,
Prospects 14-19 Provisions Manager, Gloucestershire
Traditional subjects such as English and Maths are vital, however equally important are skills that develop a more positive attitude to life. Young people need to learn how to raise their aspirations, deal with setbacks and build better relationships with others. The SUMO4Schools programme covers all of this and I hope it makes a real difference to the lives of young people.
Bernard Hogan-Howe,
Chief Constable, Merseyside Police
SUMO has turned me from a prickly hedgehog, where I would be ready to explode at my teachers to a cuddly hamster. I had been through anger management courses, but nothing helped me grasp the anger like SUMO. It's brilliant! My grades have gone up and I'm feeling more positive about my future and going to university now!
Tom,
in year 12
The SUMO principles are so practical and easy to remember. I even started using them at home. Seeing the learners developing their ability to manage their behaviour themselves and raise their aspirations was unique and so empowering for me as a teacher. I would highly recommend others use the programme.
Lucy,
a teacher from a Gloucestershire school
There is very little out there to really help disaffected students. I believe SUMO gave them tools to really help change their lives. For some the timing just before their GCSE’s was great. It seemed to focus their minds, give them a hope and equip them with real tools to stop them from procrastinating.
Jane,
a Head of a Referral Unit
A brilliant day! The fact that so many staff were motivated by understanding the SUMO principles and 'bought in' to the SUMO ethos means that they will not only pass on the practical advice given in the book and presentation, but the ethos will become part of their own behaviour around school and during lessons. A number of staff came to see me after the presentation to tell me how it had inspired them to 'Seize the Day' in their professional life as well as 'Remember the Beachball' in their personal life. SUMO will promote a more positive, motivated, understanding atmosphere around school which I am sure will benefit learning and teaching, and ultimately results.
Darren Pacey, Assistant Head, Norden School, Blackburn