If you are thinking a year ahead, sow a seed.
If you are thinking ten years ahead, plant a tree.
If you are thinking a hundred years ahead, educate children.
KUAN TZU, Chinese Poet
TESS is a therapeutic and educational service for children and young people experiencing both general and complex educational, emotional or behavioural difficulties.
We provide safe, child friendly interventions in which young people can explore, grow and engage with their learning with a professionally qualified practitioner who is trained and experienced to work specifically with young people.
We respect and recognise the complex emotional and social issues that can affect young people and understand how these issues can become barriers to learning and development. With this in mind we strive to use a child-centred approach in which the young person is the director of their own process and feels valued regardless of their beliefs, cultural heritage, ethnicity, race, religion, sexuality or age.
We believe young people have all the strength and resources they need to make the necessary changes in their lives, and are simply unaware of how to utilise them. The role of the practitioner is to help explore and build on these resources, and to facilitate change through promoting choice and responsibility.
We don't believe that the child is ever the problem; we believe that the behaviour is the problem! By separating the young person from their behaviour we are able to help rebuild the self-esteem and confidence young people need to achieve their full and amazing potential.
Finally, TESS isn't just for young people who struggle with learning or who have personal issues. We can help turn a good student into an excellent student, improving all aspects of learning and performance, at school, in life and in all they do.
Nothing you do for children is ever wasted. They seem not to notice us, hovering, avoiding our eyes, and they seldom offer thanks, but what we do for them is never wasted.
GARRISON KEILLER
