In the hot weather...

Please make sure you have lots of drinking water, a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses. Stay in the shade as much as possible. Children love to run about and have lots of energy, but in these extreme temperatures it's best to take the time to slow down.

If you start to feel very hot and unwell, please let someone know, so we can cool you as quickly as possible.

Note to parents; We are encouraging children to drink and fill up their bottles throughout the day. There is a safety plan in place to keep us all safe and well, which includes staying inside, out of the sun and leaving earlier on days with extreme weather conditions.

Mrs McCarthy's role in school

Mrs McCarthy is our Learning Mentor, supporting children with their behaviour, confidence and personal development so they can be the very best version of themselves. As a trained ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant), she also provides tailored emotional support for pupils who need a little extra help

Her work is based around Maslow's Hierarchy of Human Need. These are the things that we all need to grow from baby to adult.

Physiological needs.... drink, food, warmth, shelter, sleep.

Safety and Security.... protection, security, feeling safe and able to cope.

Love and Belonging....being loved, valued, friendships.

Esteem.... achievement, status, responsibility, feeling good about themselves, recognition, attention and appreciation. 

Self Actualisation.....personal growth, fulfilment, talents, abilities, chances to experiment.

She uses special play techniques in her work. PACE (playfulness, acceptance, curiosity, empathy) is used often.

The child is at the heart of all Mrs McCarthy's work. 

Young Minds

Young Minds is a website with lots of support available for children and young people.

The Childline website is a great source of information and support for your wellbeing, as well as offering mindfulness ideas and ways to relax.

Childline link

Did you know that reading is an excellent way of relaxing? Reading is so good for your wellbeing and mental health. Grab yourself a good book and enjoy!

How do we try to keep our mental health well?

Talk to someone you trust.

Relax

Enjoy hobbies. 

Go outside.

Exercise more.

Sing, dance.

Watch a movie.

Reading a good book.

Eat well.

Get lots of sleep.

Summer is here and we need to keep our skin healthy. Use a high factor sun cream and stay in the shade if you can. Drink lots of water to stop dehydration. Wear a hat and sunglasses!

We have moved into the new Southglade Building. The new ELSA room is situated upstairs near to the library. I will still be running my timetable and checking worry boxes, just like before. And as always, if you need a chat or are worried about anything, just ask to see me.

Mrs McCarthy

At Southglade Primary, wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do — we want every child and adult to feel physically healthy, mentally strong, and supported whenever they need it.

Mrs McCarthy's role in school

Mrs McCarthy is our Learning Mentor, supporting children with their behaviour, confidence and personal development so they can be the very best version of themselves. As a trained ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant), she also provides tailored emotional support for pupils who need a little extra help

Her work is based around Maslow's Hierarchy of Human Need. These are the things that we all need to grow from baby to adult.

Physiological needs.... drink, food, warmth, shelter, sleep.

Safety and Security.... protection, security, feeling safe and able to cope.

Love and Belonging....being loved, valued, friendships.

Esteem.... achievement, status, responsibility, feeling good about themselves, recognition, attention and appreciation. 

Self Actualisation.....personal growth, fulfilment, talents, abilities, chances to experiment.

She uses special play techniques in her work. PACE (playfulness, acceptance, curiosity, empathy) is used often.

The child is at the heart of all Mrs McCarthy's work. 

What does Mrs McCarthy do?

Mrs McCarthy is a Learning Mentor and ELSA. She takes referrals from teachers, support staff, parents and sometimes students ask for help themselves.

Her sessions can be where children  talk about their worries, emotions or any problems they may want to discuss. She also likes to use a therapeutic approach and uses PACE to support her work. PACE stands for PLAYFULNESS, ACCEPTENCE, CURIOSITY and EMPATHY.  Mrs McCarthy will also use an emotion coaching style when working with children. She is trauma informed, which means she understands what trauma can do to a child and the way they behave and think. She will always look for strategies to help the child's wellbeing and mental health. She works closely with the Head teacher, Senior Leadership Team, Safeguarding Team,  SENCO,  MHST (MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT TEAM) and across school from Nursery to Year 6.

February 9th to 15th is Children's Mental Health Week.

At Southglade we take everyone's mental health seriously and Children's mental health is extremely important to us. 

If you think you might need some support with your mental health, you can ask for support by speaking to a trusted adult or asking to see Mrs McCarthy, who is a mental health first aider in school.

There will be exciting activities this week. These can be downloaded from Place2Be's Children's Mental Health Week - Official site 

The theme is This is my place

What are the 8 indicators for wellbeing?

Stay safe

Be active

Be nurtured

Stay healthy

Keep learning

Be respected

Be responsible

Be involved/included

Are you safe? Do you feel active enough? Do you feel nurtured by grown ups? Are you healthy? Are you achieving and learning? Do you show respect and get it back? Are you responsible and taking care? Are you involved and included in everything you want to be?

If you want to talk about improving your wellbeing, ask Mrs McCarthy for a chat.

Do remember if you are in KS2, your classroom has a Worry Box.

It is silver and has glitter on the lid. Mrs McCarthy checks it every week. So if you have a worry and would like a chat with Mrs McCarthy, then write it down, along with your name and Mrs McCarthy can speak with you.

 In times when we need support...

These are useful numbers, websites and people who can help

The Samaritans call 116 123

childline call 0800 1111   www.childline.org.uk

young minds 0800 802 5544   www.youngminds.org.uk

winston's wish   www.winstonswish.org   08088 020 021

Children often ask me, How do I help myself, when I am angry?

Well, we all get angry sometimes. Every one of us, it's part of being a human being.  Some anger is normal. However, if it is getting in the way of your friendships, school work and family life, then maybe it's time to try a few strategies.

Take deep breaths and really concentrate on each breath.

Go for a walk.

Do something you enjoy, like listening to music, playing a game, colouring, a puzzle.

Do some exercise.

Read a book or magazine.

Talk to someone.

Write down your thoughts.

Thump a cushion.

Have a relaxing bath or shower.

Use a fidget toy.

Go to a safe, quiet space and chill out or sleep.

In school, ask for some time out, maybe with an adult or on your own somewhere safe.

It's whatever works for you!  

Mrs McCarthy

Children's Mental Health Week

My top tips are

*Do some exercise

*Help others...it feels good!

*Learn something new

*Notice what is around you...look up!

*Connect with others in a positive way...talk, laugh together, smile (it's catching)

*Do something that you enjoy and you know it makes you happy.

Mrs McCarthy

We are learning about The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. We are aiming to be a school that respects the rights of children. This means we will be learning about children's rights and acting on them. This will hopefully lead to an award for Southglade School, which is very exciting.

Top tips for good wellbeing.

1. Get lots of sleep. Rest well every night.

2. Eat well. Lots of fruit and vegetables. Milk is important when you are growing. Try to keep sugary foods as treats. A balanced diet is best.

3. Look around you! Go for a walk. Take in your surroundings. Breathe in the air.

4. Exercise. That walk will do you good. We all need to be more active.

5. Drink water!

If you are struggling with any of these things, ask to speak with me or another trusted adult.

Mrs McCarthy

Just a reminder of some useful numbers and websites.

Childline  phone free  0800 1111

www.childline.org.uk

Young minds   0800 802 5544

www.youngminds.org.uk

NottAlone  0808 196 3779

www.nottalone.org.uk

What is BIO club?

By Invitation Only.

A lunchtime provision ran by Mrs McCarthy and other support staff, to provide a safe, fun environment inside at lunchtime. Not everyone enjoys the hustle and bustle of the playground or the loud dining hall. That's where another place to be helps to support those children who find that part of the day stressful. There are games to play, colouring, imaginary play and on a Friday music. 

At Southglade we take mental health seriously everyday.

Here are some numbers and websites to support.

CAMHS crisis team 0808 1963779

text SHOUT to 85258 for a conversation with a trained volunteer.

NottAlone  www.nottalone.org.uk

Urgent help 0808 1963779

Samaritans 116123

childline 0800 1111

www.childline.org.uk

CALM  www.thecalmzone.net

young minds 0800 8025544

www.youngminds.org.uk

What is ELSA?

Some of you may have heard that I am an ELSA. You may also be thinking... What is ELSA?

ELSA stands for Emotional Literacy Support Assistant. Which means someone who cares about your emotional wellbeing and can help with understanding and controlling emotions. We all have emotions, that's what makes us human! However sometimes, they can become a bit much to cope with, especially if you are struggling with angry feelings, or feelings of anxiety. I can work with children who are struggling to understand their feelings and help them to find strategies to regulate themselves. I can also support if someone has died.

Speak to myself or your teacher/ TA if you feel you may need ELSA support.

Mrs McCarthy

Well-Being Vision Statement

‘Wellbeing and mental health are at the heart of our school and our community. We believe having a mentally healthy community is about working together through the challenges and sharing the celebrations; feeling supported, heard, accepted, valued and empowered.’

At Southglade Primary School we will promote, develop and prepare healthy learners for life. We are committed to making it our mission to promote resilience, positive wellbeing and mental health for all our pupils, staff, parents and community. We understand wellbeing to be a state of being comfortable, healthy and happy. We aim to drive this message forward, and to ensure that mental health and well-being is “everyone’s business” across the whole school community. We will strive to create an environment that has a whole school approach, in providing excellent mental health support, understanding and intervention. We will put Wellbeing at the heart of our school to ensure successful learning, and commit to our policies reflecting this practise.

Here are some useful numbers and websites.

Childline free on 0800 1111   www.childline.org.uk

CALM (campaign against living miserably)     www.thecalmzone.net

Young Minds free 0800 802 5544 weekdays 9.30-4pm   www.youngminds.org.uk

Samaritans   116123

In school,   Mrs McCarthy is also a mental health first aider. Mrs Thomas is the Mental Health lead. If you would like a chat about anything regarding your wellbeing or mental health, we are always here to listen.  You can approach any staff member and they will point you in the right direction for the appropriate support.

Childline.

The Childline site is great for browsing, finding things to do (including free games) and getting advice. Take a look at the link below.

Whenever you are feeling anxious or extremely upset, one way you can help yourself is by using an emergency bag or box. Fill it with things that you know will help you. Sometimes it is called a self soothe box. 

I recommend things that stimulate the senses.

*things to see or watch for example a phone or tablet to watch a movie or a fun video. Stay away from things that upset you. You could read a book or magazine. Look at old photographs.

*things to hear for example music playlist. Listen to the birds or water running from a stream. An audio story.

* things to feel for example a soft blanket, comfy clothes, a teddy, comforting materials.

*things to smell for example favourite perfumes, perfume oil on a tissue, a parents scarf.

*things to taste for example some chocolate, favourite crisps, comfort food.

The fantastic ELSA site has great ideas for lifting a low mood.

www.elsa-support.co.uk 

We all have stress. Some stress is good stress, it makes us get things done! For example, if you have a task to finish, the good stress makes you get on and finish it.

However, sometimes we have stress that is not good for us. Sometimes we can't control the bad stresses of life. These can build up and makes us unhappy. That's when we have to find things that make us happy to get rid of that bad stress. For example, listening to music, reading, going for a walk, doing sports we enjoy and talking to someone. Anything that relieves the stress. Take a look at the document below. It shows a stress bucket, sometimes called a stress container. As it gets full, the tap releases some of that bad stress. Have a think what you could do to release the bad stresses.

Who is the ELSA at Southglade Primary School?

My name is Mrs McCarthy. I am the ELSA at Southglade. I have been trained by Educational Psychologists to be able to offer interventions to children who might need support with their emotions.

Interventions include

Anger management, bereavement support, anxiety worries, confidence and self esteem and friendship worries.

Sessions are confidential unless I feel a child is unsafe or I need to liaise with parents, carers or teachers. The child usually has a target that we can work on together, for example , a child with anger may try to use a learned strategy, like breathing, instead of losing their temper. 

I love my ELSA role as well as my Learning Mentor role. I am always happy to answer any questions about ELSA and can be contacted at school by email julia.mccarthy@southglade.nottingham.sch.uk

Here are some useful contacts if you need support.

Place 2 Be          place2be.org.uk

Young minds       youngminds.org.uk

Calm                   thecalmzone.net

Childline           free number       08001111

Samaritans       free number        116123

kooth                kooth.com

me and my mind             meandmymind.nhs.uk 

papyrus hope line uk       papyrus-uk.org         

Remember every day try to ...

*Exercise

*Help others (it makes you feel good)

*Learn something new

*Notice what is around you. Look up!

*Connect with others. Call, write, message safely.

Sleep

Getting enough, quality sleep is so important for all of us. Children need sleep to be able to concentrate on their work. When we don't get enough sleep we often feel grumpy, tired, irritable and sometimes our mood can be very low.

Here are some top tips for a good night's sleep...

*Try to have a good routine.

*Go to bed at a reasonable time

* Have a bath or shower and relax in your night wear, or something comfortable.

*Try a nice warm drink. Something like drinking chocolate or warm milk.

* Make sure the lighting in your room is not bright and when sleeping try to have a dark room.

*Listen to some relaxing music. Nothing that is going to make you want to dance!

*Read a book or a magazine in bed. Something fun...not scary.

*AVOID DEVICES! They stimulate your brain and will keep you awake.

*Try some gentle stretches before bed.

*Listen to an app....rainfall, birds, gentle relaxation music.

Below is a video , It's called Yoga for kids. Yoga can be very relaxing and it's worth a try before getting ready for bed.

Mrs McCarthy has top tips for staying well.

Every single day try too...

*Exercise. This could include a daily walk, jog, game of football in the garden, skipping,  online class.

*Learn something new. Look for online courses, read a book about a new subject, google a subject or person.

*Notice.  Look around you! There are things you have never seen. Look up! (mindfulness)

*Connect. Call a friend or family member. Email, text,  do it safely! Speak to the people you live with,

*Help  Helping others makes you feel good and gives you a happy feeling. Try it.

Here are some useful places to turn to, if you need to talk or need support with your mental health.

Child line 0800 1111

youngminds.org.uk

Samaritans 116123 or text 07725909090

kooth.com

calm helpline 0800 585858 (campaign against living miserably)

HOPE line uk 0800 0684141 papyrus-uk.org

As always, you can contact Mrs McCarthy   julia.mccarthy@southglade.nottingham.sch.uk

Hi,

Below is a link to a CAMHS YouTube channel. There are videos on there for primary aged children and secondary. I would like to recommend watching the lady Sarah, who has long dark hair. She reminds me of me! I think she talks in a way that you will understand, as I hope I do (I try). Hope you give them a watch. I really like the one about worry.

Mrs McCarthy. 

Hello Everyone,

Please take some time to go to our bereavement page below. If you feel you might need some support right now, there are some websites to visit that may help. Also some activities to try.

Mrs M.

See the links

 Check out the links for some great advice on anxiety and worries about illness or if someone you know has died. Mrs M.