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    • Emotional Health and Wellbeing

    Mental Health and Wellbeing

    Happy, settled children learn best. At Sparken Hill Academy, we recognise how important positive mental health is for every pupil, and we make sure every child has someone to turn to.

    As set out in our Pupil Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy, all our staff are alert to early signs that a child may be feeling stressed, anxious or worried. The disruption of recent years, including the loss of social opportunities for many children, continues to affect some pupils, and we are fully committed to closing that gap.

    Our dedicated Community Team works closely with parents, carers and pupils to offer timely, appropriate pastoral and wellbeing support.

    Our Emotional Pathway of Support

    We follow an Emotional Pathway of Support, so that every child gets the right help at the right time, before emotional difficulties grow to a level that harms their wellbeing. Support steps up as a child needs more.

    Step 1 · Every child

    Everyday wellbeing

    Built into every school day.

    • A PSHE curriculum that supports health and wellbeing
    • Daily Take 5 calm breathing sessions in every class
    • The Worry Box and Worry Line
    • Light-touch check-ins with Claire, our ELSA
    Step 2 · Extra support

    Early help

    When a child needs a little more.

    • The Community Team, available throughout the day
    • Support through bereavement, family separation or friendship difficulties
    • Baking, arts and crafts, the school farm and our sensory room
    • A six-week ELSA programme
    Step 3 · Specialist

    Play Therapy

    With Zoe, our accredited therapist from Bright Start Play Therapy.

    • Weekly, hour-long sessions
    • Short-term or long-term support
    • Child-led play to build self-esteem, confidence and emotional wellbeing

    Who can help

    • Karen GardinerSenior Mental Health Lead and Senior Family Support WorkerLeads our wellbeing work and makes sure early interventions are in place. Karen works with Miss Bridges, our PSHE Co-ordinator, on a curriculum that supports children's health and wellbeing.
    • ClaireEmotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA)Helps children feel heard, reassured and valued. You will find her on the Foundation gates every morning, come rain or shine!
    • ZoePlay Therapist, Bright Start Play TherapyOur accredited therapist, offering weekly one-hour Play Therapy sessions.

    Our non-teaching Community Team (Karen, Helen, Claire and Deb) is available throughout the day for any pupil who needs to talk straight away.

    Ways children can share a worry

    No worry is too small.

    Our ELSA: Claire

    Claire is a familiar face to every child. She is regularly seen in and out of classrooms, perched on the sofas in the corridors, or even walking the goats with children! Claire offers two levels of support:

    Light-touch check-ins

    A quick check-in, a smile or a wave can make all the difference to a child's day.

    How to ask: just let Claire know at the Foundation gates if you would like her to check in with your child.

    Six-week ELSA programme

    Intensive one-to-one sessions over six weeks. Child-led activities and quiet time give your child a safe, non-judgemental space to share their worries.

    How to ask: Claire needs your written consent before sessions begin, and she will update you once they are complete.

    My son is like a brand new child. Play Therapy has boosted his confidence and he is making friends wherever he goes. He is always smiling. I can't recommend Zoe and Bright Start Play Therapy enough!

    A parent, about Bright Start Play Therapy

    Could your child benefit from support?

    Please speak to any member of staff, or catch Claire at the Foundation gates any morning. We will talk through what might help and find the right support for your child.

    Take 5: find out more about our Take 5 sessions using the link below.

     

     

    1. Bereavement Policy.pdf
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    2. Emotional Well Being Pathway .pdf
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    3. Mental Health Policy
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    PASTORAL SUPPORT

    Parent Well Being Newsletters

    1. Summer Term Well Being Newsletter.pdf
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    2. Parent Well Being Newsletter Spring .pdf
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    3. Parent Well Being Newsletter Summer .pdf
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    4. Parent Well Being Newsletter Spring .pdf
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    5. Parent Well Being Newsletter. Summer .pdf
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    6. Parent Well Being Newsletter Autumn .pdf
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    Supporting your child's mental health

    1. youngminds-mental-illness-family leaflet.pdf
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    2. talking child mental health for parents.pdf
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    3. coping with low mood.pdf
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    1. Supporting mental health in the return to school leaflet.pdf
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    NEW Website supporting good Mental Health for all.

    https://nottalone.org.uk/

    Mermaids - Support for Gender Diverse children, young people and their families.

    https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/

    Centre Place in Worksop - Support for 11-25 year olds inc mental health and LGBTQ+ 

    https://www.centreplace.org.uk/

    Mind  - LGBTQ+ and mental health support

    https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/lgbtqia-mental-health/lgbtqia-mental-health-support/

    Place2be NEW website for Parents/Carers to help with all mental health worries that children may have.

    https://parentingsmart.place2be.org.uk/

    Childline - Going back to school - great advice for children and parents/carers on how to support any worries you may have.

    https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/school-college-and-work/school-college/school/

    NSPCC -

    https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/away-from-home/at-school/#cornavirus

    Parentzone -online help and advice during and post lockdown to support well-being

    https://parentzone.org.uk/home

    NHS - Every Mind Matters - help and advice for the adults to feel better!

    https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/

    NHS - Change 4 Life - help and advice for the whole family!.

    https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters

    BBC BITESIZE - Six Ways Parent/Carers can help children with lockdown.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/znxyvk7

    Action for Happiness - Website full of ideas and activities for adults and children alike to promote well-being

    https://www.actionforhappiness.org/

    MIND - Mental Health support and advice for Adults and Children and Young People

    https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/for-children-and-young-people/

    Action for Children - Advice, Signposting and resources for Adults and Children and Young People

    https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/support-for-parents/children-s-mental-health/how-can-you-help-with-children-and-young-peoples-mental-health/mental-health-resources-and-information/

    COVID 19 RESOURCE SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES 

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    Take5 at Sparken Hill

    We place a huge emphasis on the mental health and well being of our students and staff. As such, we work very closely with our friends at "Each Amazing Breath" to develop "Take 5" mindfulness every day.

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    Take Five is a safe, universal, resilience and capacity building skill set focussed on breathing, grounding and awareness. Take Five has been developed by Each Amazing Breath  and involves mindful resilience practices that take between thirty seconds and five minutes and can be practiced anywhere.

    "Take Five at School" is a trauma-smart resilience-building programme based on breathing, grounding and awareness, which is used in classrooms and on the playground. Pupils throughout school from FSU-Y6 take part in short breathing practices of 1 ½ minutes approximately (led either by an adult or by specially trained Take Five Breathing Ambassadors) to calm, relax and focus them ready for learning.

    Sparken Hill children have embraced Take 5 breathing as a part of school life. At the start of the day, after break and lunch and anytime when needed, the breathing ambassadors lead the rest of the class to help mindfulness and concentration.

    During the current situation we are encouraging the use of Virtual Take 5 - Passwords have been send to parents (and remain the same for each virtual session). If you cannot remember this, please email homelearning@sparkenhill.com 

    Enjoy!!

    1. Flyer 8B Virtual Take Five Promotional Flyer 16.06.20.pdf
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    2. Flyer 7B Virtual Take Five Primary Promotional Flyer 08.06.20.pdf
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    3. Flyer 6B Virtual Take Five Promotiuonal Flyer 03.06.20.pdf
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    4. Flyer 5B Virtual Take Five Primary Promotional Flyer 20.05.2020.pdf
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    5. Flyer 4B Virtual Take Five Primary Promotional Flyer 14.05.2020.pdf
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    6. Flyer 3B Virtual Taker Five is Here 07.05.20.pdf
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    7. Flyer 2B Virtual Take Five Primary Promotional 30.04.2020.pdf
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    1. Play Therapy Leaflet.pdf
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