The HET (Holistic Educational Therapy) programme is based on child centered learning. The way schools work is based on the principle that the educational system is a ‘one-size fits all’ approach. It is also designed to fail young people , as is seen in the 2020 exams debacle people. HET turns that approach around and instead of children fitting into the system, it takes the system, turns it round and fits it to the individual child. Many of the online materials which are downloaded from schools are designed to teach national curriculum.
The HET resources are different::-
They fit the national curriculum to the child.
Let’s look at an example:
You are homeschooling your child during lock-down. They are resistant to sitting down and working through their online materials sent by school. You are equally determined that this exactly what they should be doing. The more resistant you both become over that situation, the more it goes towards a situation that nobody wants. So……. Put those materials away and do something together that your child enjoys, Say eating chocolate biscuits. Well, who doesn’t enjoy chocolate biscuits????
But before you can eat them you have to cook them. This is where we match the outcome based evidence ( notes / pictures / vidoes / biscuits etc,) you need to:
Find a recipe; find and source ingredients: Cost it; buy it; plan the timing; measure ingredients; cook it: ask family members to taste and evaluate it. Make it as a small business; research their chocolate biscuits; write an advertisement for it, design a package; cost it.
All of these experiences provide evidence for meeting national curriculum targets in English, Maths, science, art, CDT; IT and you can cross map these outcomes to the national curriculum. Your child has achieved something and doesn’t even know s/he was learning! It just seemed like fun!
For a child who is exhibiting behavioural issues, this is the most constructive approach. In HET we call it TLC – Therapeutic Learning Curriculum.
Here are a list of resources that I have put together over the years and they have been very successful:
The Willow Story was based on a healing tree that was in the sanctuary garden at my Healing Centre in Penn Wolverhampton.. These materials have been adapted to suit different ages.
They were written as a collaboration with writer Michael Smith and the Educational Theatre Company Gazebo based in Wolverhampton, produced it and it travelled around to different schools in the City for anti-bullying week in 2006. I wrote the accompanying educational material materials.
I have included the Willow Materials here that accompany the theatre production. I have also linked the film production made in a school at the time. Please note that it does reference some domestic violence. I have used these materials to provide 1:1 support for children and families who have witnessed domestic violence.
This version has been used with children aged 11+. The production was based on a version of Willow that is included below but aimed at younger children.
The accompanying materials to the production are available on this link:
http://notfromtheschooldesk.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Willow-dvd-materials-1.pdf
Here are the Willow materials for ages 7+ ( or SEN age appropriate)
Please click on link below:
http://notfromtheschooldesk.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/hetties.pdf
These are included in the children’s book ‘HETTIES’ that relates to all the HET Stepping Stone books, linked on the home page.
For the standalone version of Willow and his helpers, Please click the following link:
http://notfromtheschooldesk.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Willowshelpers.pdf
The next set of Willow materials, linked below are aimed at preschoolers and 5+. I have also successfully used them with SEN 16 year olds at pre curriculum learning abilities.
http://notfromtheschooldesk.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/willow-book-compete-V3.pdf
There are a complete set of the HET natural remedies to accompany this pack, available upon request or individual advice can be given on which of the best Bach Flower Remedies ( for emotional management ) which are able to purchased from reputable sources.
The next set of resources are part of a collaboration I did with Artist and author Geoff Francis called ‘The Spirit Of The Game’ – It is the story of a troubled young teenageer who manages to turn his life around after meeting up with the ghost of Sir Stanley Matthews ( arguably our best ever footballer)
I wrote a book of accompanying educational materials which i Incorporated into an educational programme which toured schools around the country complete with my trailer and 40′ X 60′ inlatable football pitch and a wonderful team of HET subject specialists.
I have attached the books and youtube videos from this project
The Spirit of the Game by Geoff Francis:
http://notfromtheschooldesk.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/SpiritoftheGame-editedfinal.pdf
Please note that this book has been included with the author’s permission , providing that it is used for home educating purposes only and not for resale or redistribution in any form.
Also please note that this version of the book is aimed at 11 yrs+ age range. It does contain some mild swear words as would likely be used by young teenagers. I have used this as a feature in my work to discuss the use of swearing in literature and using appropriate language. However I have an expletive deleted version of the book that I am happy to make available o you upon request for a younger or language sensitive reader. Please contact me on:
Here are the accompanying educational materials to the Spirit of The Game, This book provides teaching points and projects across the curriculum on a chapter by chapter basis:
http://notfromtheschooldesk.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/SOGResource.pdf
In Addition to the resources above, there are many resources and case studies downloadable from The main HET website ( this is now archived but still accessible on www.HETwebsite.com
In Particular you may find this page helpful: http://hetwebsite.com/Daisy
Also: http://hetwebsite.com/ecoprojects
Here is another selection of various projects I have produced over the years to support children,YP and their families:
http://notfromtheschooldesk.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/snow-friends-project.pdf
http://notfromtheschooldesk.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/rubymanual.pdf
http://notfromtheschooldesk.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Eco-therapy-aroma-project.pdf
http://notfromtheschooldesk.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/ECO-Projectstart.pdf
http://notfromtheschooldesk.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/cooperative.pdf
http://notfromtheschooldesk.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Chocolate.pdf
http://notfromtheschooldesk.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/AROMATHERAPY-PROJECT.pdf
I hope this resources have at least got you started in thinking outside of the educational system, classroom thinking box.
Each outcome of these projects / resources can be cross referenced to the national curriculum framework and evidenced along the way. This is the exact opposite to how schools teach national curriculum, in starting with the criteria and working back to the child. My approach is starting with the child and referencing the outcomes of their interests and learning, which is designed around them to the criteria within the national curriculum.
Please contact me for help and suggestions in designing learning projects around your child, mapping the outcomes of your home learning as evidence for national curriculum, providing support for SEN, Mental health & behavioural issues. I can be contacted on :
or tel: 07970 052047
This page gives you an overview as to how I used this approach within an accreditation system. There are many different accreditation systems available and of course the outcomes of this approach are able to be referenced within the national curriculum framework.