Our vision is to ensure that all our pupils, regardless of their background or circumstances should have a happy and fulfilled childhood where they belong, grow and succeed so that they enter adulthood ready, willing and able to achieve their highest potential. Our school will be a welcoming environment to empower all our stake holders with a clear understanding about the importance of their mental health and equip them with resources and strategies to support. We aim to seek and provide quality training for staff and to gain the Well Being Award from Optimus Education.
We aim to develop our pupils’ knowledge, skills and attributes that they need to manage the critical opportunities, challenges and responsibilities they will face as they grow into adults. We aim to continue the journey of understanding themselves, their sense of self and to build on their confidence and self-esteem. We also aim to continue to promote the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle and physical and mental wellbeing, especially after the effects of the national lockdown. We understand that every child is unique and no two children learn in exactly the same way, that is why we are continually reflecting our practice and seek out opportunities for alternative methods of learning.
for support for parent and carers with young people
Qwell is a free, anonymous online counselling and emotional wellbeing service for adults aged over 26 years of age. Residents can now receive counselling sessions from qualified counsellors via an online chat-based platform. Chats can either be accessed through a drop-in service or pre-booked sessions from any connected device. The site is open 24 hours a day; one-to-one counselling sessions with a qualified counsellor are available from 12-noon until 10pm on weekdays, and from 6pm until 10pm on weekends. Those using Qwell are also be able to take advantage of a range of self-help tools from reading and contributing to articles, peer to peer support via online discussion boards as well as journals and goal trackers.
for support with adults
for support for children
General information relevant to children and young people’s wellbeing and mental health
These resources are dedicated to children and young people’s general mental health and wellbeing, with a particular focus on mindfulness with developing coping skills in young people.
- Students Against Depression* is a website offering advice, information, guidance and resources to those affected by low mood, depression and suicidal thinking.
- SafeSpot* is an iPhone and Android app that promotes positive mental wellbeing in children and young people and has been designed to help children and young people with their coping skills.
- MindEd’s* advice and resources for families on supporting children’s mental health.
- BBC’s wellbeing resources for families.
- Young Minds: a letter about how I’m feeling: worksheet to help pupils express their feelings and understand what may have triggered them. For use with pupils in school or at home.
- NHS:*Mental Health Helplines for Urgent Help – NHS 24-hour advice and support for you, your child, your parent or someone you care for. Help is available to speak to a mental health professional.
- NHS IAPT:* free online NHS adult psychological therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), for common problems involving stress, anxiety and depression. IAPT services can be accessed either through a self-referral by contacting your Local IAPT or via your GP.
- Cruse Bereavement Care:* Coronavirus, Bereavement and Grief online information, advice and support. Helpline: 0808 808 1677.
- Centre for Mental Health:* Supporting Mental Health during Covid-19: a brief guide
- Public Health England Every Mind Matters:* Looking After Your Mental Health Resources aims to support everyone to feel more confident in taking action to look after their mental health and wellbeing by promoting a range of self-care actions.
- Public Health England:* Every Mind Matters Self-Care Tool when you complete the 5 ‘Survey’ questions, a ‘Mind Plan’ is generated, with signposting options to many useful resources.
- Anna Freud: self-care strategies for young people* feeling low or anxious and self-care tips for parents and carers.*
Covid-19 specific children and young people’s wellbeing and mental health support
For young people who feel particularly overwhelmed and troubled by Covid-19, these resources are helpful ways to manage anxiety around the pandemic, with helpful tools on homeschooling and self-care during lockdown.
- A downloadable guide from the Children’s Commissioner for children and young people about the coronavirus, including proactive advice to support mental wellbeing.
- The Think Ninja* app educates 10–18-year-olds about mental health, emotional wellbeing and provide skills young people can use to build resilience and stay well. It has been adapted to Covid-19 to bring self-help knowledge and skills to those who may be experiencing increased anxiety and stress during the crisis.
- The Rise Above website aims to build resilience and support good mental health in young people aged 10 to 16. The content has been adapted to Covid-19 and includes new mental health content based on insights from young people on remote schooling.
- The Every Mind Matters* website aims to support everyone, including children and young people, to feel more confident in taking action to look after their mental health and wellbeing by promoting a range of self-care actions. It has been adapted to include advice and support about mental health issues that may have arisen because of the pandemic.
- The Young Minds website* – provides online information on COVID-19 and mental health support to children and young people.
Mental health support for parents, carers, and school or college staff
Keeping in mind that parents, carers and school staff can often be impacted by children’s mental health, we have provided some select resources that can help adults better support children, and also find the help that they themselves might need.
- Public Health England advice* for parents and carers on looking after the mental health and wellbeing of children or young people during the Covid-19 outbreak.
- Online wellbeing resources for home education - a list of mental wellbeing resources designed to provide guidance on how to support the wellbeing of children and young people being educated remotely.
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If you need to make confidential contact with either Mrs Specht or Miss Evans, you can email them on support@middlepark.co.uk
