Gateway Psychology

29/07/2025

🧠💛 What is LEAPlets all about? 💛🧠

LEAPlets is a fun, supportive 11-week group programme for children aged 2-6 and their parents or carers. It’s designed especially for little ones who’ve experienced early life challenges or developmental trauma.

Through movement, play, and connection - in a real gymnastics space! - we help children build the sensorimotor foundations they need to feel safe, secure, and confident in their bodies and relationships.

✨ Small groups
✨ Hands-on weekly sessions
✨ Led by experienced therapists using the BUSS Model
✨ Based locally in Stoke-on-Trent

Parents often say LEAPlets gave them a new way to bond with their child - and tools they use long after the sessions end.

📅 New groups starting soon – spaces are limited!
📩 Message us or click here to learn more: https://www.gateway-psychology.co.uk/services/group-interventions/leaplets/

28/07/2025

🧠 Supporting children with FASD or suspected alcohol exposure in utero - a space for connection, reflection and practical tools.

Every child has their own way of experiencing the world. For children with FASD, or where there’s been suspected alcohol exposure in utero, that path can look a little different.

This September, we’re hosting a two-day, in-person course in Stoke-on-Trent for parents and carers. Led by experienced clinicians, it offers time to reflect, share, and explore approaches that help children feel safe, connected and understood.

🗓️ 22 & 29 September 2025
🕘 9:30am–3:00pm
📍 Gateway Psychology, Stoke-on-Trent

Safe, Seen, Supported is a two-day, in-person therapeutic parenting intervention for parents and carers of children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). This specialised FASD training offers expert guidance, practical strategies, and a supportive space to help you navigate the unique challen...

26/07/2025

Let’s act now to restore stability, uphold professional standards, and safeguard access to therapeutic support for those who need it most. 💜

Gateway is a member of the Consortium of Adoption Support Agencies (CASA), and we fully support their response to the Adoption England Options Appraisal - particularly in light of the recent, deeply concerning cuts to the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF).

The cuts were introduced without adequate consultation and risk assessment, undermining years of progress in adoption support:

• The Fair Access Limit has been reduced from £5,000 to £3,000 per child, per year
• Specialist assessment funding (£2,500) must now come from this reduced cap
• Match-funding for children with exceptional needs has been completely removed

These changes will significantly restrict access to therapeutic support for children and families who need it most.

📣 CASA’s response to the Adoption England Options Appraisal calls for a transparent, collaborative approach to future reform - one that listens to the voices of families, providers, and professionals across the sector.

We urge decision-makers to engage meaningfully with this feedback and ensure that any future model for adoption support is built on fairness, sustainability, and genuine partnership.

📝 Read the full CASA response here:
https://www.casa-uk.org/casa-provider-response-to-the-asgsf-cuts-and-future-reform/

25/07/2025

🧠 Want to feel more confident supporting pupils who have experienced trauma?

On 24 September, we’re running a one-day online training for school staff who want to build trauma-informed classrooms - spaces that feel safe, calm and supportive for every pupil.

Led by psychologists with deep expertise in trauma and early adversity, this course is packed with real-world strategies you can use straight away.

We’ll explore how trauma affects learning and behaviour - and how you can respond in ways that truly help.

🕘 9:30–16:00 | 💻 Online | £230 + VAT
Teachers, TAs, SENCOs and leaders are all welcome.

📲 Book here: https://www.gateway-psychology.co.uk/event/trauma-informed-classrooms-sept-2025/

24/07/2025

🧠 eTR-UST: A trusted therapeutic parenting course for adoptive parents, kinship carers & SGO carers

Caring for a child who has experienced trauma, abuse or neglect can bring experiences that others don’t always see or fully understand.

eTR-UST is an established, 8-week therapeutic parenting programme that’s supported hundreds of families across the UK. It’s designed to help you make sense of your child’s experiences and respond with connection, confidence and calm.

✔️ Practical tools rooted in trauma theory
✔️ A safe space to reflect, share and learn
✔️ Run by experienced clinical psychologists and therapists
✔️ Funded in most cases by the ASGSF

⭐ “The presenter made everyone feel comfortable. She was knowledgeable, experienced, and helped everyone understand each week’s topic.”
⭐ “We learnt so much from each session… it will certainly make a difference in our approach to our children.”

The course is open to:
– Adoptive parents
– Special guardians (SGOs)
– Kinship carers

💻 Delivered live via Zoom
🗓️ Starts 1 October 2025 (8 weekly sessions)
⏰ Morning or evening groups available
📅 Apply by 3 September 2025

📲 Find out more or register your interest: https://www.gateway-psychology.co.uk/training/tr-ust-and-etr-ust/

Speak to your social worker about funding through the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund.

22/07/2025

LEAPlets is back this September!

We’re looking forward to welcoming a new group of children (ages 2–6) and their parents/carers to our next LEAPlets programme.

This 11-week group supports early development by strengthening attachment and building the foundation sensorimotor systems children need for emotional regulation, movement, and learning.

With a qualified BUSS group leader and trained practitioners, LEAPlets offers hands-on strategies and individualised support in a fun, nurturing environment.

📅 Starting September - spaces are limited!
📩 Get in touch to learn more or make a referral https://www.gateway-psychology.co.uk/services/group-interventions/leaplets/

17/07/2025

A request from Action against ASGSF changes:

PARENT/CARER SURVEY

https://forms.gle/sSKwqjeDEmVXQksv9

How have the delays, changes and cuts to the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) impacted your children and your family? What does the future hold?

This is a chance to have your say.

Deadline is Monday 21st July but the sooner you complete it the better as it will inform ongoing discussions between our campaign and the sector.

We will be feeding these results back across the sector and of course to you all.

The more of you that complete it, the more meaningful the data. It should take you 5-10 minutes to complete and it could really inform the way forward.

Please do share with any parent/carer WhatsApp groups, Facebook and social media groups. Email it to those you know have been affected but don’t use social media etc etc.

15/07/2025

📣 Attention Staffordshire Schools and Education Settings! 🏫✨

Did you know that Gateway Psychology is an approved provider on the IA3213 Staffordshire Children and Young People's Flexible Framework?

We’ve proudly been part of this Framework for some time, supporting children and young people across all eight Staffordshire districts:
📍 Cannock | East Staffordshire | Tamworth | Lichfield | South Staffordshire | Stafford | Newcastle-under-Lyme | Staffordshire Moorlands

Through this Funding framework, we provide specialist psychological services to support children and young people who are struggling to engage with education - whether individually or in group settings. We also work closely with schools, parents, carers, and families to offer tailored support where it’s needed most.

If you're a Staffordshire-based school or education professional, we’d love to explore how we can work together to support the mental health and wellbeing of your students.

💬 Get in touch with us to learn more or to discuss how to access our services

11/07/2025

It's LEAPlets time again!

We are so excited to be hosting another group of children, and their parents/carers, for LEAPlets this September.

LEAPlets is an 11-week group programme designed to support children aged 2-6 and their families in building strong attachment relationships and developing foundation sensorimotor systems - the building blocks for emotional regulation, attention, and learning.

Led by a qualified BUSS group leader and experienced support practitioners, the sessions are fun, practical, and tailored to meet each family’s needs.

💬 “My child has gained confidence in her ability and in general is more focussed when doing physical activities.” - LEAPlets parent

Interested in joining or want to know more?
📅 Starts September 2025
📍 Stoke-on-Trent
📩 Get in touch today to register or refer!

https://www.gateway-psychology.co.uk/services/group-interventions/leaplets/

09/07/2025

We're looking forward to attending the Children in Education: The Bigger Picture organised by the Three Spires Trust! Stay tuned for updates from the day on our Stories!

07/07/2025

☀️ With another heatwave expected later this week (the hottest day is expected on Friday), we’re making sure that anyone visiting us stays as comfortable as possible.

We’ve got chilled water/drinks, fans in our rooms, and icy pops on hand to help you keep cool. If you need anything during your visit, just speak to April at reception - she’s always happy to help.

02/07/2025

🌟 Could your child benefit from extra support with regulation, connection, or feeling safe in their world? 🌟

At Gateway Psychology, we offer the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) - a gentle, evidence-based intervention designed to support emotional regulation, social engagement, and overall wellbeing in children and young people.

Whether your child is experiencing anxiety, sensory sensitivities, or struggles with connection, SSP may be a helpful step forward.

💬 Want to know more? We're happy to chat through how SSP works, what’s involved, and provide a quote tailored to your needs.

📞 Get in touch or learn more on our website:
👉 https://www.gateway-psychology.co.uk/services/children-and-young-people/safe-and-sound-protocol-ssp/