Knowledge Transfer Partnership raises awareness of mental health issues

A Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) through The University of Northampton is helping the National Association of Independent Schools and Non-maintained Special Schools (NASS).

The KTP is helping to develop training materials for their teachers and support staff.

The new web-based resources are being created to help raise awareness amongst education practitioners of mental health issues for children with severe and complex special educational needs (SEN). The resource will help staff identify when signs of distress might indicate a more serious mental health problem and sign-post how staff access specialist support.

Through the KTP, NASS can access The University of Northampton's academic expertise and a wealth of cutting-edge resources. A specialist team, including SEN experts Mrs Maria Howley and Ms Ann Fergusson from the School of Education, will be on hand throughout the contract to advise on the project and help to supervise a graduate who has been placed within the charity to deliver the agreed activity.

We are a very small not-for-profit organisation with limited staff resources and the KTP has allowed us to look at delivering a piece of work that we really didn't think was going to be possible through traditional funding routes.

Claire Dorer, CEO of NASS

As a charity covering England and Wales, NASS works with special schools in the voluntary and private sectors to benefit and advance the education of young people with special educational needs and aims to provide the maximum opportunity for them to participate fully in all aspects of life.

The resources will be essential in assisting teaching staff to identify mental health issues in children with complex special educational needs such as severe learning difficulties, autism spectrum conditions and speech, language and communication difficulties.

Claire Dorer

The University of Northampton arranges and manages KTPs to add expertise, innovation and value to organisations from a broad range of business sectors including public sector bodies and private businesses as well as not-for-profit organisations.

KTP is a UK-wide programme which enables businesses and organisations to benefit from the skills of academic staff and graduates.

The partnership with NASS demonstrates the benefits of knowledge transfer between the University and not-for-profit organisations and will most certainly help them in their mission.

Barri Stirrup, KTP Co-ordinator at the University

There are opportunities for a KTP partnership with The University of Northampton and not-for-profit and other value driven organisations including social enterprises, charities, co-operatives and mutuals.