Wellbeing

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The wellbeing of our children, staff and families is at the heart of what we do at Alpington. We want our school to be a place where “every light can shine” and everyone knows that they are valued for who they are and what they can become. We believe that you do not have to choose between children’s wellbeing and high academic aspirations. When children are happy, confident and safe, they are able to give their best to the work side of school and the results follow!

Below is a diagram which shows our plan in action. The outside layers show the things that are in place to promote the mental health and wellbeing of all. As the layers go in, they create a protective bubble around those at the centre who require more focussed and expert support.

Claire Cookson is our Pupil and Parent support advisor. She is here to help with all kinds of issues – big and small! You can contact her on psa@alpington.norfolk.sch.uk . Claire works on Friday mornings.

Claire supports individuals and groups of children with Drawing and Talking Therapy. This can be because children are dealing with big issues or feelings, at home or at school, because they need a bit of support with friendships or managing emotions, or simply because they are a bit fragile at the moment or need some TLC! You can refer your child to see Claire, or their teacher might recommend it. We will always ask you before the sessions start. It is nothing to worry about. Lots and lots of children see Claire for all kinds of reasons during their time at Alpington.

Claire has a website for services she offers outside of school. Click here for more information.

Mrs Godbold runs our nurture sessions. These could be for individuals or groups of children who need some support with their wellbeing, friendships or feelings. The groups are adapted to meet the needs of the children – crafting, gardening, drawing and colouring and lots of opportunities to talk, share and build friendships. Some children will take part in regular nurture groups each week, but Mrs Godbold also scoops up children who are a bit fragile or have had a wobble for whatever reason for a one off chat or activity.

Claire has put together a Padlet of ideas, links and websites to help with a whole range of issues around wellbeing for children and their families. We will update it from time to time. Click here!

Dear Parents

I’m pleased to be introducing a weekly wellbeing section in the school newsletter.

Each week I’ll offer simple ideas and strategies to support emotional wellbeing and resilience for children and the wider school community.

If there’s anything you’d particularly like me to cover, please feel free to get in touch – I’d like this space to be shaped by what matters most to our school.

Rather than New Year’s resolutions, I choose a word for the year. This year, my word is “acceptance.” For me, that means letting go of the need to control and learning to go with the flow.

This idea of acceptance will gently run through our weekly wellbeing focus – helping children (and adults) to accept their feelings, understand that not every day will be easy, and know that they don’t have to get everything right all the time.

With best wishes to you all,

Claire Cookson

Newsletter 1

Dear Parents

Thank you all for the lovely, warm welcome I’ve received from the Alpington Primary community. As promised in the previous newsletter, here’s my very first entry for the newsletter wellbeing section – and one of my all-time favourite strategies: The “Do-Over.”

I’ll happily put my hands up and admit that I sometimes fall into the trap of over-explaining when I’m asked to help sort out a small niggle or disagreement. Enter the do-over – a simple but powerful antidote! It does take a tiny bit of preparation: let your family know that instead of getting pulled into a back-and-forth, you can calmly ask (in your very best, kindest voice) for a “do-over.”

This gives the other person a second chance to say what they meant – perhaps with kinder words, a gentler tone, or friendlier body language. And here’s the best bit: you can give yourself a do-over too, if you notice your response isn’t helping the situation as much as you’d like it to!

Wishing you all a lovely, relaxed weekend –

Claire Cookson (Pupil and Parent Support Adviser - psa@alpington.norfolk.sch.uk).

Newsletter 2

Dear Parents

I hope that if your family has tried the “do-over” strategy over the past week, you’ve found it helpful in stopping small issues from turning into bigger ones.

Today, I want to share another of my favourite strategies – one I still use, even though my daughters are now young adults. Like the do-over, it’s all about making family life a little easier and avoiding that familiar thought of, “It’s quicker if I just do it myself.”

Initially, this one does take a bit of setting up. For example, if you ask your child to clear the dining table after a meal, and it often ends up half done, try tidying it together until it’s completely finished. Then let your child know the table has been “reset”, and that this is what it should look like when you ask them to reset it after a meal.

Having that clear picture really helps children understand what’s expected. Plus, after the initial setup, it’s quick and easy to say, “Please can you reset the [insert task here!]”.  And if something gets missed later (maybe a rogue sauce bottle), try to resist fixing it yourself. Instead, gently let your child know the table needs a full reset and give them another chance to finish the job. I’m now going to go and “reset” my dishwasher!!

Best wishes, Claire Cookson

(Pupil and Parent Support Adviser - psa@alpington.norfolk.sch.uk).

Just One Norfolk – A range of contacts and resources to help support both children’s and adult’s emotional health

Stress Busters – Save the Children have put together a pack of drama-based relaxation exercises to help children relieve stress

This website has links to really useful information for adults on a whole range of mental health issues.

https://web.ntw.nhs.uk/selfhelp/