Having an app to track wellbeing is great (and we offer a brilliant one, more details here: https://pages.classcharts.com/wellbeing/ ) but gathering data is no use unless we are going to put something in place to support the identified issues.
Here is a suggestion of useful Wellbeing opportunities you might want to dip in to.
Inclusive Solutions – Colin and Elliott Newton
‘Never have parents been required to directly educate their children as now in the nightmare pandemic! How can parents do this safely without causing major emotional conflict and lasting damage to young learners?’
New Covid-19 inspired series delivered by Colin and Elliot Newton, using the Zoom platform. We want to directly support and inform parents and carers and so indirectly benefit the children and young people with the greatest needs. Parenting is hard enough but supporting learning, hope and self image in these times has never been harder! Please share with anyone who might benefit…
The webinars are focused on trying to parent, encourage, support and include children and young people at this difficult time. Engage and learn in the comfort of your own setting as we explore a range of challenges. The content of the sessions will aim to allow safe sharing of experiences, provide fresh insights as well as practical strategies. The sessions will be very easy to understand and will share wisdom of those present as well as provide some guiding ideas.
Unable to make the time and date? You can access a replay if you enrol – we will send a link by email.
Dates are as follows…
January (11am-12pm) – Cost, pay what you can.
19th – Principles for supporting your own child’s learning at home during Lockdown
20th – Ideas for interrupting the isolation of children and young people in lockdown
25th – Race and Friendship – How to be a better friend
26th – Maintaining hope and positivity for your child or young person in Lockdown
Check out their website (https://inclusive-solutions.com/blog/webinars-january-2021-parents-and-carers-in-lockdown ) for further information and how to book.
My Mood Stars – Wendy White
Using My Mood Stars for Emotional Development
Wendy made My Mood Stars because she wanted to help all children talk about and understand their feelings. Many children struggle to understand how their behaviour links to emotions. She created something tactile that little fingers can squeeze, throw and have fun with in their classroom.
A My Mood Stars kit is a simple way to put social and emotional learning at the heart of the early years curriculum. It is an inclusive and unthreatening way to get children talking.
Order your stars here.
Wendy’s website (https://www.wendywoo.uk/blog/ ) has some excellent blog posts about expressing feelings.
Mindscreen experience® Case Study Offer – Gav Devereux
Insightful & Practical Pupil Wellbeing Resource for SENCos
Your expertise as a SENCo is in more demand than ever before. You’re probably juggling increasing numbers of pupils who are struggling with their self-confidence in the face of uncertainty and anxiety. If you’re asking yourself how you can help pupils with SEMH and would like free access to the full Mindscreen experience® for up to 20 students and 4 teachers to complete a case study Gav will be delighted to hear from you.
For your pupils, Mindscreen’s enlightening assessments and engaging lesson plans boost mental-courage through building self-awareness and self-belief.
If you are interested in taking part in the free trial and can spare 30 minutes to discover more, just book an initial Google video meeting and demo with Gav here.
Visit https://www.mindscreen.com or check out this video & discover if Mindscreen’s resources may be a fit for you, your pupils, and your school. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zimId5IPTG4&t
iSpace
The iSpace Wellbeing and #iWonder Curriculums offer an exciting whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing. The curriculums provide an age appropriate framework including who and how to ask for help, and a common language, which encourage conversations about mental, emotional, social and physical health to become part of everyday school and home life.
Teacher workload is at a minimum as the lessons are ready to use and available to view online or print, ensuring teachers can focus on engaging and supporting students, doing what they do best, rather than administration.
Recent research of 300 pupils who have used it through the pandemic revealed significant improvements in understanding emotions, managing relationships and knowing who and how to ask for help. The whole school approach, which runs across KS1, KS2 and KS3 engages pupils, teachers and parents – and 100% of teachers reported improvements in the mental health of their pupils⁵.
The company recently made a significant change in adopting a 100% free access model for schools indefinitely after receiving significant philanthropic and corporate investment. Teacher training is also provided free of charge and available on-line.
iSpace Wellbeing was founded by Paula Talman a Director of Compliance, Health and Welfare in Education with an Msc in Nursing Science and 25 years experience in child development and mental health.
https://www.ispacewellbeing.com/
Some useful links…
You might also want to prepare for Children’s Mental Health Week from 1st – 7th February. There are lots of free resources to help you organise a successful week even during lockdown. Lorraine Peterson has collated plenty of sources of information to support you with this. https://lpec.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Mental-Health-Resources-List-Back-to-School-3rd-lockdown.pdf