The Senior Mental Health Lead champions efforts to promote and support mental health and wellbeing, bringing about strategic change to deliver an effective whole school approach.

Emotional Well-being Practitioner

Clare is a 'Emotional Well-being Practitioner.' She is a mother of two school age children and has spent many years working in the field of Mental Well-Being. In addition to being a qualified nurse, she has also undertaken further training which allows her to diversify in her work. Clare believes passionately in supporting people of all ages to be at ease with their needs, reaching out for support and education to gain skills to manage their well-being in our ever evolving world.

As an Emotional Well-being Practitioner, Clare is qualified to offer a safe, warm and open space for our pupils. Within this space, pupils will be encouraged to value their own voice and be heard with empathy and a non-judgmental approach. Clare may use age appropriate tools and play to support the pupils' emotional literacy skills, supporting them to articulate their needs in such a way which enables them to be better understood. Clare will not be able to promise the child total confidentiality, as this may inhibit the additional support which they may deserve, however she will promote safety and inclusion in all aspects of her work.

Navigator

The Navigator works for BCP council and works in partnership with your child’s school, to ensure you have tailored support to meet the needs of your family, to achieve the best outcomes for your child. 

“Our dedication is to ensure there is the right service, right time, right child, right outcome.” 

Services we offer 

·       Direct work with children at school. 

·       Delivering parenting programs. 

·       1-1 parenting support.

·       Targeted group sessions for families. 

·       Support to identify and access services. 

·       Support with your child accessing school. 

·       Supporting the relationship between school and families. 

·       Drop-in sessions. 

At Heatherlands, our school navigator is Helen. Please speak to one of 'The Arc' team if you would like any further information or support from the navigator.

Play Therapy

Esther is a trainee play therapist who is supporting children at Heatherlands Primary School by helping young minds process big emotions through the sessions.

What is Play Therapy?

Play is the language of children and the way they make sense of the world. Play therapy is an opportunity for your child to communicate through play at their own level and pace, without having to answer questions or verbally explain what is troubling them. In a calm and safe play room, they meet one-to-one with a therapist and choose from a selection of toys, games, art and craft materials. The play therapist is led by the child, watching and listening to the stories they tell, joining in the play and gently supporting, without judgement the expression of feelings.

At Heatherlands, your child is initially offered 10 sessions with Esther, a fully qualified counsellor and trainee play therapist with 11 years experience working with children. Changes and progress are reviewed mid-point with parents/carers and teachers and additional sessions offered, if agreed this would be in the best interest of your child.

How can Play Therapy help my child?

Play therapy helps children understand muddled feelings and upsetting experiences that they haven’t yet processed and may have difficulty putting into words. It’s empowering for the child, helping them make sense of their past and present in order to cope better with the future. The benefits of play therapy can be general, eg. reduced anxiety and stronger self-esteem, or more specific, such as focussed concentration at school and improved relationships with family and friends.

The Therapeutic Relationship and Confidentiality

Central to Play Therapy is the trusting, non-judgemental relationship between child and therapist. The child is accepted unconditionally and feels safe and understood. Specific details of what they say and do are not disclosed unless there is a safeguarding concern. This confidentiality agreement is essential, to build and maintain the child’s trust and feelings of safety with the therapist.

Visit https://www.bapt.info/play-therapy/info-children/ for child-friendly ways to chat about play therapy and answer questions your child may have.

Trick Box

As part of our school well-being approach, we are using Trick Box, which is a fun and effective personal development programme to help children: -
-    build confidence
-    manage emotions and anxiety
-    develop communication skills
-    make positive choice about actions
-    coach themselves through challenges.

Children across the school will be introduced to 24 ‘tricks’ and a simple self-coaching model called Letter Box, designed to give them positive habits for life. The tricks will help the children to build their confidence and communication skills, manage emotions and find solutions to challenges.They will be practising the tricks at school.

Parenting Courses

During the Spring term 2023 our school navigator and pastoral lead lead two separate 6 week parenting courses at school - Building Positive Relationships and Parenting Journey. Here is the feedback from parents about the course: -

"Honest Course without Judgement."

"A fantastic program of listening and engaging together as a group - feeling listened to and valued. Thank you for highlighting how we can all change a small thing to make a big difference."

"Very confident and approachable, clear communication with lots of personal references."

"Thank you Charlotte for a lovely fun course. You made it funny and it was nice for us to laugh as well as you teaching us how to change the way we deal with situations more positively."

"The course has allowed discussion regarding our children's behaviour in a safety and open space to share thoughts and know we aren't all alone. It has reminded us the great parents we are dealing with challenges."

Contact the school 'Arc' team to find out more and we can complete a referral for the next course.

Parent Feedback from Stress Workshop

Feedback from workshop held autumn term 2019: -

"This course helped to remind me of the mindful ways I can take care of myself and how to adopt it for my children."

"This course has been very helpful to take time out for myself, to refocus on my own stresses and my children's, to find ways in a non-judgemental and confidential environment to change negative ways into more positive ones."

"I would highly recommend this course to any Mum and Dad. This will give you a 'step back' from situations that you have to deal with on a day to day basis. The workshop has given me 'strategies' to be able to cope with scenarios and be my own coach."

"A fun course full of small tricks that you can easily fit into life that really work. We are so lucky to have this on offer at our children's school. A proper course with a holistic approach. I really feel the benefit for myself and my family. The teachers were lovely. A lovely opportunity to take time for myself."

"Thoroughly enjoyed the course. Thank you."

Play Therapy

At Heatherlands, we have a play therapist supporting some of the children in school from January 2022.

What is Play Therapy?

Play is the language of children and the way they make sense of the world. Play therapy is an opportunity for your child to communicate through play at their own level and pace, without having to answer questions or verbally explain what is troubling them. In a calm and safe play room, they meet one-to-one with a therapist and choose from a selection of toys, games, art and craft materials. The play therapist is led by the child, watching and listening to the stories they tell, joining in the play and gently supporting, without judgement the expression of feelings.

At Heatherlands, your child is initially offered 10 sessions with Esther, a fully qualified counsellor and trainee play therapist with 11 years experience working with children. Changes and progress are reviewed mid-point with parents/carers and teachers and additional sessions offered, if agreed this would be in the best interest of your child.

How can Play Therapy help my child?

Play therapy helps children understand muddled feelings and upsetting    experiences that they haven’t yet processed and may have difficulty putting into words. It’s empowering for the child, helping them make sense of their past and present in order to cope better with the future. The benefits of play therapy can be general, eg. reduced anxiety and stronger self-esteem, or more specific, such as focussed concentration at school and improved relationships with family and friends.

The Therapeutic Relationship and Confidentiality

Central to Play Therapy is the trusting, non-judgemental relationship between child and therapist. The child is accepted unconditionally and feels safe and understood. Specific details of what they say and do are not disclosed unless there is a safeguarding concern. This confidentiality agreement is essential, to build and maintain the child’s trust and feelings of safety with the therapist.

Visit https://www.bapt.info/play-therapy/info-children/ for child-friendly ways to chat about play therapy and answer questions your child may have.

Transition Support

http://familylives.org.uk/