What - if anything - is your child's school doing to support mental health and wellbeing during lockdown?

[Upsidedownfrown]

I mean more for those children who are not currently in school. My eldest is in y7 and he/I have had a call from his tutor to check in with everything and make sure he's happy he can access the work, they've set up a Google classroom which is focused on mental health and wellbeing, they have an app where they want your child at least once a week to go on and just rate how they're feeling from a range of smiley/sad faces (I assume if it was very sad most of the time they would call) with the option of explaining why they chose the smiley.

My younger children's primary school seems to be doing nothing though. No contact from teacher except generalised comments or work feedback on teams (which my youngest can barely access anyway as it's impossible to differentiate work for his dyslexia).

Just wondering what any other schools have put in place for children who may be struggling a bit with their emotions?

(And before anyone jumps on, yes I am their parent, I look after them perfectly well but sometimes help, reassurance or even a chat is better coming from a teacher or such like)

[Upsidedownfrown]

Oh and I don't want this to be a teacher bashing thread. I work in a school though not as a teacher. I'm just curious as to what other schools care doing

[Candyflosscookie]

Absolutely nothing. DS pastoral care hasn't been in touch once (despite him having some trouble with the well known bully of the year this year) and there's nothing on the school site or emails.

[TheCountessofFitzdotterel]

Nothing

[onemouseplace]

Some wishy washy mindfulness worksheets which we've mostly been totally ignoring as we haven't got the energy after doing the core subjects.

Starting to get calls from teachers now, not for all DC though. I'd love a call from someone from SLT to ask how we are getting on as a family though.

[GinnyStrupac]

Nothing at all.

[Ohlordysugarandspice]

We ask our pupils to do 6 short tasks everyday. One of them is a wellbeing task and we make suggestions such as playing with Lego, watching a favourite film, going for a walk/bikeride etc.

We have sent ELSA tasks and stories about lockdown. We have sent social stories to some pupils with SEND. We phone every week or 2 and ring vulnerable or struggling pupils/families more often.

We've offered a day or so of respite with our key worker pupils if needed.

We've hand delivered some home learning packs so we can chat/wave from a safe distance.

We've set fun competitions and certificates are delivered for taking part.

We're awarding work done.

We're building up banks of activities, ideas and resources for when children come back to school.

[Comefromaway]

Ds is Year 11 so has technically left school but he had a welfare check phone call from his form tutor. We have also had a couple of phone calls from the SEN departments and a call to check what his plans are for September. He's had various emails about challenges, yoga and other stuff on offer but he's quite content to sit in the spare bedroom working on his music.

Dd has a full timetable of lessons along with a daily registration session and various other online workshops, mental health talks etc. Also a weekly zoom assembly and it is emphasised that if anyone is struggling, please get in touch.

[Pipandmum]

The form tutor met up with the kids on Team every week over Easter break and then talked to each child individually. Just checking in, asking what they were up to and how they were feeling. Head of year joined in once or twice too. Now they have full day online lessons and there is staff on hand if they have any worries. Communication has been very good throughout which really helps. They also did a video of how the reception area now looks and where they will wash their hands and what the new layout of the classrooms are - I think this helped the younger ones heading back.

[pinkazing]

We get a phone call once a week. They are there, but unless it was serious I wouldn’t contact them as I know they are all busy working and looking after families. I have strongly suggested via a friend teacher that when they come back these children will need help and support to build their confidence again. This has been such a dramatic time. We all need to be working to help them understand and overcome any issues that have arisen. Home and school working together

[happypotamus]

Nothing (primary school). DC1's teacher (year 4) phoned once and spoke to her about what she had done on her birthday as well as how she was getting on with the work set. (unhelpfully, DC didn't tell her that I don't know how to upload the work on the learning platform to 'hand it in'. I assume but don't know that they get positive feedback for handing work in). DC2 is in Reception. I had a text from the school saying her teacher would call the next day a few weeks ago. I was at work the next day but my phone didn't tell me of any missed calls but it doesn't always. They are keyworker children though who have been in school 2-3 days a week every week, so maybe staff would have noticed a big change in their mental wellbeing?

[NewYearNewTwatName]

big Fat Zero.

I think we got an email a month ago, about being aware the our DC may struggle MH.
no shit sherlock.....

[justasyouare]

Year 10 state school here. Weekly calls from school to check how we are all coping. There is a well-being newsletter every week which is actually lovely and has links for support.
They have set up a group for any pupils struggling which I’m not sure how will work but it’s for support with anything they are struggling with.
Emails when the pupils are doing well.
Surveys on what the school could do better/ what is working.
Continued reminders to get in touch with any problems, whether they be mental health, not understanding work, needing a laptop.
We are extremely impressed and feel very lucky.

[cabbageking]

weekly contact with vulnerable groups, more for some. Any concerns or issues dealt with by school as outside support from SS has been refused. Weekly home learning and ideas and an worship page. Mostly daily updated newsletters although the odd day has been missed. Continuing training for whole school and also individual staff. Emotional trauma, DV, mental health training, coming out of lock down, coercive control for some staff and governors. Provided hot meals, food parcels and vouchers ( which end on June 15).
Dealt with CIN, EHP and CIC issues, DV increases and calls for staff to translate rather than the child. Housing issues and UC benefit applications. Rota for children to access school grounds to exercise even though not in school re obesity and mental well being. Weekly update of risk assessments. Additional food hygiene training for food parcels and delivering some. Updating emergency evca procedures.Personal letters to every child. Increasing forest schools, emotional and well-being work. Staff rota to share support to include checks on those self isolating and shielding.
This is besides getting reports ready and arranging to contact each new Reception starter in September. Ensuring the new SRE has specific mental health support. Chaplaincy team available to support anyone. Additional contact details on website and included in letters to parents. Risk assessment on website as required so parents can see what safety provision is in place. Lessons outside as much as possible. Additional advice considered and shared for BAME individuals. Restraint and behaviour policies updates to reflect social distancing and safety. Pastoral support in place. Hopefully ensuring staff feel safe and this is reflected in our communication with parents.

[StillThatBitch]

Nothing. My DS has had an online sheet today asking him to draw smiley or sad faces, if that's the school's attempt at welfare/mindfulness etc I'm not impressed. We've had just 2 phone calls this entire time and crappy worksheets every now and again.

I do what I can but am split between other DC and wfh. Now when I get the worksheets out he visibly gets stressed (picking lips, nail biting, twitchy) and bursts into tears if he doesn't get it, even though I'm so gentle with him. Luckily he still likes reading, but everything else causes him massive anxiety. I'm very worried and hoping he can go back in school safely soon as I think he needs more than I can give him.

[frozendaisy]

Access to SENS teachers if required, they like an email once a week just to check in.

[pfrench]

Nothing from my child's school other than a video of teachers dancing sometime back after the easter holidays. Oh, I think we had the links to some stuff around easter too, like activities and stuff. Nothing since.

They can't do anything about my child's mental health at a distance, so I really wouldn't want them phoning or anything. I'm a SENCO, I know that CAMHS have no time or option for helping out right now. My child has gone batshit, is clearly not OK.

It's interesting all the things that have been noticed as being a school's responsibility really. Not just educating, but feeding, mental health, outdoor/sports activities. Lots of this stuff is the responsibility of parents and society as a whole, not just an organisation that has them for 13% of their time.

[CarrieBlue]

My child’s mental health and well being is my responsibility, nothing to do with teachers or schools who provide education for my child which I support at home. Teachers are not mental health professionals so can only pass on information or resources or flag concerns to others, just as I am perfectly able to contact any support services myself.

[Upsidedownfrown]

That's really interesting to read. So much variation.

Just to clarify to a couple of pp - I don't expect a school to be responsible for the mental health of my child unless it was something school related in which case I'd hope they would be involved!

I'm just interested in the different approaches that schools are taking.

[flumposie]

My primary aged daughter has had messages over teams chat. I'm a secondary teacher. I've emailed my form and every Monday we register over teams. To be honest most of them dont want to post more than 'hi'. A few post photos of what they've been baking etc. We have been asked to phone everyone of them now and to be honest I think for the majority of them it will be a waste of time. There is only so much I can do as a part time , single parent teacher.The more vulnerable children have support from Heads of year mentors, SLT. As someone pointed out I am not a mental health professional and so the support I can offer is limited.

[megletthesecond]

Primary, a call each week from DD's ELSA support. Although DD has only chosen to speak to her a couple of times. But it's been useful when she's nearly broken me. They've also had fortnightly class video chats.

Secondary. Not good. DS has only had two phone tutor chats in 8 weeks, no video calls at all. I let them know he was stressed and while they sent a nice email back it was just to direct him to the website resources.

[Subordinateclause]

I'm a teacher but in all honesty I've had no mental health training ever so I'm just making it up as I go along. I put up well-being PSHE activities but I genuinely have no idea of they make any difference or not...

[cabbageking]

Subordinateclause
Does your school not have a mental health first-ever yet?

[Subordinateclause]

No. We are a tiny school, we have one full time class teacher.

[Subordinateclause]

Posted too soon. And a couple of part timers. That's it.

[LoafEater]

HS I work at, where my son is also Y11. Form tutors doing an online form group meeting once a week and calling home regularly to speak to me and my son to see how he is.

Fortnightly online year assembly. Year heads calling home regularly. Online fun tasks and competitions set every week. Weekly newsletter sent home with words of encouragement.

All staff attended a 3 hour mandatory online course today on how to help students suffering trauma as a result of c19.

There have been many many home visits, safeguarding alerts etc
We are, I think, a loving school.