Social, Emotional and Mental Health.
As a school we are passionate about nurturing our pupils and parents/carers to support them.
Children and young people may experience a wide range of social and emotional difficulties which manifest themselves in many ways. These may include becoming withdrawn or isolated, as well as displaying challenging, disruptive or disturbing behaviour. These behaviours may reflect underlying mental health difficulties such as anxiety or depression, self-harming, substance misuse, eating disorders or physical symptoms that are medically unexplained. Other children and young people may have disorders such as attention deficit disorder, attention deficit hyperactive disorder or attachment disorder.
As a school we have ensured that Social, Emotional and Mental Health is at the heart of our school. We aim to support children in recognising their emotions and develop strategies to regulate their emotions and have a toolkit of calming activities which support children as individuals. Each classroom has a calm corner, to enable children to have the time and space to regulate their emotions and practice de-escalation strategies to ensure that they are ‘Ready to Learn’. We have dedicated staff who have accessed a range of training opportunities to embed interventions such as ELSA and Forest School.
Hopefully you will find the links below helpful, however if you feel that you need a more personalised support plan, please email the school admin account – info@littlemoor.oldham.sch.uk and we will respond to you with additional support.
Below are a range of links which have been created by CAHMS to support children and parents/carers.
coronavirus guide for families
Family guide about Coronavirus
Self-Care-Kit-COVID-19 The Little book of Mindfulness
Well-being activities
Creating a routine:
Our Feelings diary:
Feelings chart:
Coping Toolbox:
Dealing with change:
Staying Connected:
Worry Jar
https://www.partnershipforchildren.org.uk/uploads/Files/PDFs/Resilience%20Activities/Worry%20Jar.pdf
Ways to feel better:
SEN resources visuals to support children and emotions
https://www.partnershipforchildren.org.uk/uploads/Files/Zippy’s%20Friends%20SNS%20sample.pdf
Resilience Building activities
Feelings
Communication
What makes a good friend
Dealing with Anger
Change and Loss
3 Maintaining positive relationships (click on this link)
Keep Calm Kit
These are challenging times. With everyone being instructed to stay at home during the COVID-19 crisis, this can be a particularly stressful time for young children, their parents and carers. With that in mind, we want to help make your time at home as creative, rewarding and stress-free as possible.
Healthy Lifestyle Support
Below are some fantastic resources and tips to support maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle during these uncertain times.
Supporting Challenging Behaviour
During this difficult time, we understand that some children are struggling to manage their feeling and emotions, which can result in challenging behaviour.
Parents – Thinking about Challenging Behaviour
During this difficult time, we understand that many children & parents/carers may struggle with their emotional health and wellbeing.
Below are a range of Social Stories which may support children in understanding Coronavirus.
“This word is the reason that you’re not going to school. It is the reason you can’t go outside very often or visit your friends … But what is it and why is everyone talking about it?”
“The word is coronavirus.”
Please click the link below to read a short Social Story to share with your children to help them understand what’s happening with the Coronavirus and why we’re all doing some pretty unusual things at the moment!
Iain S Thomas has also made this excellent story free for everyone to read. It explains what’s going on and also has some excellent ideas for everyone to try. Please click on the link below to read the story.
Find a larger copy of the Coping Calendar Coping Calendar. It’s full of practical ideas to deal with the anxiety brought on by isolation.
Below are some Mindfulness website links. Hopefully, you can use these to help your children and loved ones a little more calm and relaxed.
Big Life Kids Mindfulness – https://biglifejournal-uk.co.uk/pages/podcast
Calming Activities – https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SEL-Home-Learning-Packet-supports-Social-Emotional-Learning-5326481
There are also a range of fantastic app’s which are available for children and parents to access:
Apps:
Calm Harm—to support those who feel the urge to self harm
Stay Alive—Suicide prevention app, helping users stay safe
MindShift—to support teens and young people manage anxiety symptoms
Catch It—A mood-recording app. Great to recognise/understand triggers
Moodtrack—Another mood-recording app. Using graphs/visual aids.
Daylio-Mood-recording app with diary function that requires no typing/writing
BBC Own it—App designed to help children stay safe and positive online
Headspace—Mindfulness app
Smiling Mind—Meditation/breathing exercises app
Chill Panda—Encourages use of breathing techniques to worry less (iphone only)
Silvercloud—8 week course to help manage stress/anxiety/depression (16+)
MeeTwo—Forum for teens to discuss issues with professionals/other teens
Google: Every Mind Matters NHS—expert advice and practical tips
Kooth.com
Website: www.kooth.com
Info: Free, safe and anonymous online counselling and support for young people.
Mon-Fri 12pm-10pm, Sat-Sun 6pm-10pm. Sign up anonymously, all that is required is a post code and log-in information.
Mind
Website: www.mind.org.uk
Info: The national Mind charity website has a lot of detailed information about mental health and wellbeing. Information varies from descriptions of different mental health conditions to stories from everyday people about how they cope with their mental health. It aims to help and support everyone to learn and understand all aspects of mental health, so people don’t feel so alone.
Young Minds
Website: www.youngminds.org.uk
Info: A UK based charity (separate to Mind) focussed on improving the lives of young people through better mental health support. The website is young-person friendly and contains information about different signs/symptoms young people could experience along with advice/guidance on how to manage difficulties such as bullying, exam-stress, grief, eating problems and self harm. There is a parental support section of the website as well as information on medication for young people with mental health difficulties.
Phone: 0808 802 5544 (Parents Helpline) / 8258 (Crisis messaging service via text)