SEEds service - Group problem solving meetings

This is part of the SEEdS (Social, Emotional and Educational Support) service aimed at providing support to the adults who are caring for and supporting children who are looked after by Herefordshire Council.

What is a group problem solving (GPS) meeting?

A group problem solving (GPS) meeting is a multi-professional meeting led by an Educational Psychologist, aimed at problem-solving around the difficulties being experienced by a child* in school. A GPS meeting is usually around 1.5 hours long and involves school staff, social workers, virtual school education officers, carers, parents and others involved with a child who is looked after by the local authority. Occasionally a GPS meeting might be held for a non-looked after child, under specific circumstances. The GPS meeting is usually held separately to a PEP or CLA review.

What is the purpose of a GPS meeting?

A GPS meeting aims to identify the most helpful strategies for supporting a child in their education setting. The GPS meeting considers the possible influencing factors in a child's life, identifies their strengths and difficulties, what their presenting behaviours might be communicating, what skills they need to develop, and sets out strategies for adults to support them to succeed in education. Strategies for home may also be discussed where appropriate. One of the aims of the GPS meeting is to reduce incidents of suspension or exclusion from school, and to promote inclusion.

What happens at a GPS meeting?

The adults who know the child best meet together, usually in person but sometimes virtually, to discuss:

  • Their background, important events in their life and their current situation
  • Their strengths, likes and things that people love and admire about them
  • What difficulties the child and/or adults are experiencing
  • Why the child's behaviours might occur and what they might be communicating
  • What skills the child might need support to develop
  • Support strategies to move forward

The underpinning principles in a GPS meeting are that all behaviour has a function or is communicating something, and that learning new skills is key. Often when adults understand this, they are able to support the child more effectively.

Does the GPS meeting include strategies?

An integral part of the GPS meeting is to draw up a support plan with strategies agreed for the child. Most behaviours develop over time and take time to change, so often support strategies will need to be in place for at least a few weeks before change is seen. We ask schools to agree not to use suspension or exclusion with a child who has had a GPS meeting, until the agreed strategies have been implemented, for at least 4 to 6 weeks.

Are the agreed strategies reviewed?

The strategies agreed at the GPS meeting are usually reviewed at the child's next Personal Education Plan (PEP) review. If this is due more than 6 weeks after the GPS meeting, a separate GPS review meeting is held. The effectiveness of the strategies is discussed and further action is considered.

Will there be a record of the meeting?

A record of the GPS meeting is written up by the Educational Psychologist following the meeting and forms part of the child's support plan. It is added to the child's PEP on Welfare Call and is uploaded to Mosaic.

How are the child's views incorporated into the GPS meeting?

The child does not attend the GPS meeting. The Educational Psychologist will usually meet the child before the meeting to gather their views, or will gather their views via other adults who know them well, if meeting in person is not possible or appropriate. Sometimes adults who know the child well are asked to complete a pupil views sheet with them before the meeting. These adults will also bring their knowledge of the child's views to the GPS meeting.

For further information about Virtual School Educational Psychology GPS meetings please contact Amanda Cotton, Virtual School Senior Educational Psychologist at Amanda.Cotton@herefordshire.gov.uk

*'Child' refers to any child or young person aged 3 to 18.