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Pupil Health and Wellbeing

Pupil health and wellbeing is of paramount importance at Castle Newham. Our aim is to provide a supportive and caring environment with a broad and balanced curriculum, both of which help to build children’s self-confidence, sense of identity, communication skills and resilience – all key elements of good health and wellbeing.

At Castle Newnham there is a range of support in place for those pupils who may be concerned about their own or others’ health and well-being, including mental health. Personal, Social, Health, Citizenship and Economic (PSHCE) education is taught to support our pupils as they move through the school. Click here to view more information on ‘Personal Development’.

Pastoral Care

The pupils’ form teacher is the first port of call for pupils, parents or carers. Talking to this key member of staff can get you the in-school help that is needed.

Our Pupil & Family support team is also on hand to talk to individuals and their families in order to provide further support. The team can find help from outside agencies if further support is needed. For more information on the Pupil & Family Support Team, please click here.

Our school nurse, Judith Joyce, attends the North site weekly. Pupils have the opportunity to ‘drop in’ to see her to discuss any health and wellbeing concerns. The school nurse also offers one to one support to pupils in need of further help and works closely with our Pupil/Family support team.

 

Dealing with Exam Stress

Young Minds have launched advice for parents about supporting their children.

Tips include:

  • Encourage your child to take revision breaks and find a balance between studying and doing things they find enjoyable and relaxing.
  • Make sure they are eating and drinking at regular intervals.
  • Reassure them – reinforce that you are and will be proud of them no matter what happens.
  • Remain positive and hopeful!
  • Let them know their feelings are valid and normal, but also offer support and solutions where possible.
  • Anxiety is often worse at night and this means it is useful to encourage good bedtime routine

You can find out more here: https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/for-parents/parents-guide-to-support-a-z/parents-guide-to-support-exam-time/

Revision is a priority for thousands of students. Exam anxiety is reportedly at record levels and to help address this, BBC Bitesize has launched a new website following the results of questioning students as to what resources would help them. The answer was short, shareable videos from young people who had recently taken exams and this has led to the launch of bbc.co.uk/mindset – described as ‘smart advice from exam survivors’.

The science of stress:

https://www.ted.com/talks/kelly_mcgonigal_how_to_make_stress_your_friend

 

The Five Ways to Mental Well-being 

 

This a is a national initiative aimed at teaching pupils about things they can do to look after their mental health.  More information about the Five Ways to Well-being can be found at:
This video show the benefits of ‘giving to others’

 

Dealing with a Bereavement
  • CHUMS

https://childbereavementuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/6a-Guidance-for-parents-and-carers.pdf

  • Family Lives
  • Compassionate Friends

https://www.tcf.org.uk/

  • NHS Moodzone

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/coping-with-bereavement/

  • Grief Encounter

Making Me

We have been fortunate to work with a local charity on how we can better support children with managing their feelings and emotions. You may have heard your child discuss ‘Casey the Caterpillar’ or made reference their ‘phone/shield of resilience’ recently. These are tools developed by the Mind Map team and have supported us in school with teaching how to talk about and manage feelings. Please click here to be directed to the ‘Making Me’ website for further information.

External Organisations and Useful Websites

  •  Bedford Borough Council

Activities for Young People and Health and Wellbeing

http://www.bedford.gov.uk/leisure_and_culture/sports_development.aspx

  • ChildLine
Childline is available to help anyone under 19 in the UK with any issue – no matter how big or small. You can talk about anything and trained counsellors are there to support you. Childline is free, confidential and available any time, day or night.Call them on 0800 1111 or www.childline.org.uk
  • Chums

Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Services for Children and Young People

http://chums.uk.com/bedfordshire-services/

  •  Bedford Open Door

This is a charity providing FREE and confidential counselling for young people.   Counselling is provided by a team of fully trained, experienced and friendly volunteer counsellors.

http://www.bedfordopendoor.org.uk/

  •  Young Minds

Young Minds is leading the fight for a future where all young minds are supported and empowered, whatever the challenges. Their website aims to get the best possible mental health support for those in need.

https://youngminds.org.uk

  • MindEd

MindEd is a free educational resource on children and young people’s mental health for all adults.

https://www.minded.org.uk/

  • Smiling Minds

Smiling Mind offers a unique web and app-based tool developed by psychologists and educators to help bring balance into people’s lives.

https://www.smilingmind.com.au/smiling-mind-app/

  • Aquarius

Aquarius strives to help people overcome the harms caused by alcohol, drugs and gambling.

http://aquarius.org.uk/family-support/

  • Talk to Frank

This organisation offers friendly and confidential advice on drugs.

www.talktofrank.com

  • Young Carers

Offering local support for young carers.

http://www.carersinbeds.org.uk/

  • Relate

A charity entirely devoted to building stronger relationships and offering support for relationship issues.

http://relatebedsandluton.org.uk/

  • Bedfordshire Mental Health Support team

Beds MHST