At Athelstan Primary School, the emotional health and wellbeing of our pupils is a priority.  We would like to share with you what care we are able to provide for your child.

Here, at Athelstan, we have an amazing team or teaching assistants whose main role is the pastoral care of your children.  The pastoral team may support your child with a variety of issues including; friendship issues, bereavements, family breakdowns, behavioural issues, mental health issues, low self-esteem and anxiety.  If we identify that your child may be struggling or needs some extra support, the pastoral team will spend some time trying to help them.   This may be a one-off chat or a series of support sessions.

Ms Barry (Acting Head teacher and SENCO) and Mrs Ashton are also our trained Senior Mental Health Leads and Child mental Health First Aiders. Mrs Todd and Mrs Fewkes are also trained Child Mental Health First Aiders and are all available to support you and your children. If you would like some support with your child’s mental health or wellbeing, please contact either Ms Barry or Mrs Ashton to discuss how we can support your child further. 

Healthy Minds Support Team

As part of our Healthy Minds project, Maygen Heald, our educational mental health practitioner comes into school for one day a week to support our children. She delivers emotions groups, friendship groups, works with classes on zones of regulation and does 1-1 work with identified children. Maygen also trains children to be peer mentors and has set up activity box monitors. These children are then able to support their peers both in class and at lunchtimes.

Mindfulness

Athelstan also employs Nadege, from Growing Mindful, to come into school and support our children’s mental health. Nadege works with whole classes, small groups and individuals to give them strategies to support their wellbeing. 

How we support children's emotional health

Additional Information for Parents/Carers

Please click on the link below to find a list of helpful services to support your child’s emotional wellbeing.

Emotional Health and Well-Being Resources and Information

Please see below for Emotional Health & Well-Being Resources and Information that may help your child and family.

Supporting the whole family's physical health including extra support along the way

Rising costs of essentials is worrying for all families; schools can signpost families to support such as food banks or community support.

Food bank

Education settings, health visitors, family support, social workers etc, can make a referral.

Food Works

No referral needed; just go along.

Food Works upcycle quality surplus and locally grown ingredients into delicious food and drink in their kitchen. They collect and share surplus food at their market. They develop hyperlocal food production through community growing on their farm. They empower people with skills, knowledge and support in the community.

Community Groceries

No referral needed, just go along. See details on their website. To sign up to be a member at one of our Community Groceries, all you need to do is visit your nearest store (see the ‘Locations’ page to find yours) and let one of our team know it’s your first time. We will then get you a form to fill in and explain all about how the groceries work.

All you need to do bring £5 for your annual membership fee*, and a couple of shopping bags – then start shopping. It’s as simple as that!

Once you’re a member you can come along to the Community Grocery up to three times a week and fill up your basket.

A typical shop can include: 1 Bakery item, 5 Portions of fresh fruit and vegetables, 7 different cans or boxed shelf item, 1 Non food item - eg: toilet roll, sanitary products, soap, toothpaste, wrapping paper etc.

Optional ‘little extras’ can be added to the shop and are all priced separately. You’ll find these on the little extras shelf in the store, as well as in the little extra fridge/freezer.

As well as being able to shop for less, members also get access to a range of courses and one-to-one support sessions free of charge.

The courses running at the moment include:

• What’s cooking? – Come and learn how to feed your family with delicious food on a budget.
• Money course – Ever wanted to be better at managing your money and know how to make simple budgets? Come and find out how.
• Life skills – Come and have fun that will brighten your day and change your life as you learn new life skills.
• Debt advice – Call Christians Against Poverty on 0800 328 0006 (free call) to book an appointment for their free debt help service.
• One-on-one support – Need someone to listen and help? Talk about the challenges your currently facing in confidence with one of our trained counsellors.
• The4Points – Want to know more about faith and Christianity? Come and get your questions answered on our exploring Christianity course

School

We can offer free sanitary wear for your child - please speak to our safeguarding team or pastoral members of staff on the doors in the morning.  

Family Fund

Family Fund supports families raising disabled and seriously ill children and young people. As well as our grants, there are other ways that Family Fund can support you. You can find out about the other support available below.

Our popular grants include washing machines, sensory toys, family breaks, bedding, tablets, furniture, outdoor play equipment, clothing, and computers. We offer grants for many more things too, and are happy for you to contact us with requests for things that you can prove will help meet your child’s additional needs.

Useful Resources 

Click on the links below for some useful information, documents and activities.