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Wellbeing and Family Support at The Schools of Woolton Hill
Miss Hawkins
Miss Fritz
Family Support Workers
Miss Hawkins and Mrs Fritz have started in their additional roles as our Family Support Workers, across the Federation. They will be able to help you in a number of ways. They can give advice on improving children's behaviour in the home, supporting when children are reluctant to come into school and can also help improve school attendance.
If you have a worry about a barrier to your child's learning, then please do reach out to Miss Hawkins and Mrs Fritz. They will usually be on the gate at the Juniors on a Tuesday after school. Alternatively, you can email either office and ask our Family Support Workers to make contact (you don't need to say why).
As a Federation we are here to support you and your child as best we can within our cohesive team. I am personally delighted to be able to offer advice and support to better your child experience on their educational journey.
Any further questions, please do not hesitate to email the admin team or speak to your child’s class teacher, who will make a referral.
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Understanding and coping with the feelings of ourselves and others.
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Developing high self-esteem and positive interactions with others.
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Being emotionally literate helps children focus better on their learning.
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Recognising emotions.
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Self- esteem.
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Social and friendship skills.
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Anger management.
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Loss and bereavement.
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Your child will be referred for ELSA by their class teacher
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Parents can talk to their child’s teacher if they have concerns about their child and feel ELSA time could be supportive
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We always seek parental permission before starting ELSA work
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You are also able to make your own referrals or contact admin with any concerns
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Your child will receive an invitation from me, inviting them to join me for a session
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Sessions will last approximately 20-30mins, dependent on individual needs
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Sessions may be individual or in groups and tailored to the child’s specific needs
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Sessions are fun and may include elements of role-play, crafts, puppets, games or stories
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Sessions are confidential, strategies and ways to support at home can be shared as necessary
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Sessions are focused around allowing the child to talk and express in a safe space
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Progress will be reviewed on a half termly basis. This will be relayed to Miss Knapp
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A waiting list will operate and ELSA support will be allocated on a needs basis
By informing your ELSA, via admin or your class teacher, of any changes at home that may impact the well-being of your child, however small they may be:
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Changes to family dynamics; partners, new baby, job loss, new job
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Unwell family member
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House move
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Bereavements of family or even pets
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Exposure to news or TV that may cause worries and concerns
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Age related concerns such as puberty
Emotional Literacy Support Assistant
My name is Miss Openshaw, some of you have already made my acquaintance and for those that have not, I look forward to meeting you. I am the Emotional Literacy Support Assistant.
ELSA is an acronym for Emotional Literacy Support Assistant. An ELSA is a member of staff who is trained to support children in the development of their emotional literacy. ELSA is an initiative developed and supported by educational psychologists. It recognises that children learn better and are happier in school if their emotional needs are met. It is important to note that ELSAs are not there to fix children’s problems. What they do is provide emotional support to those who need it. ELSAs aim to establish a warm, respectful relationship with a pupil and to provide a reflective space where children are able to share honestly their thoughts and feelings.
ELSA operates across both Infant and Junior schools.
Acorns
At Woolton Hill Junior school we run a Social and Emotional Learning group called ‘Acorns’. This group is based on nurture principles and follows Life learning as a curriculum for social and emotional learning.
The group is a planned intervention for children in Key Stage 2, the group caters for between 6-8 children who meet the groups’ criteria for additional social and emotional intervention.
The group runs for two afternoons weekly in a separate classroom which is designed specifically with small group nurture activities in mind. The group is led by two experienced Teaching Assistants, who have experience of the Key Stage 2 curriculum, have received training from Primary Behaviour Support (PBS) and are nurture group trained.
The group has a self-contained classroom setting with kitchen facilities, access to outdoor learning space and close access to toilet facilities. The room provides space for a group carpet space, group activities, play areas, outside play area, quiet area and an area for quiet reflection away from others if a child needs to address emotional or behavioural difficulties.
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With the Primary Behaviour Service, you can be confident in the knowledge that you are best prepared to manage challenging behaviour and seek positive solutions for pupils, promoting positive behaviour and emotional wellbeing CLICK HERE
Works with young people who are experiencing difficulties with their mental health. (accessible for our families/children as the Woolton Hill GP surgery is a West Berkshire service) CLICK HERE
West Berkshire (accessible for our families/children as the Woolton Hill GP surgery is a West Berkshire service). A free service which accepts referrals for children and young people in West Berkshire. The Emotional Health Triage Service helps children and young people (under 19 years old) and their families in West Berkshire. As part of the triage process, a multi-agency panel discusses more complex referrals. Each case is then referred or signposted to the most appropriate local service to meet their needs. CLICK HERE
We provide specialist support for Berkshire Families who have Children + Young People with Special Needs CLICK HERE
We’re here to support your child. This includes providing you with the information you need to help them too. Our confidential telephone line is a free way for parents and carers in Hampshire to access information from Educational Psychologists CLICK HERE
Looking after your family's wellbeing is very important. Families all need some help from time to time due to life changes or events. As a parent or carer, you can take small steps to help your child's wellbeing as well as your own. You can do this by starting with the basics. Using the back to basics approach can empower you to take control of the 5 Ways to Wellbeing CLICK HERE
he Good Mental Health Handbook, created by Hampshire CAMHS is a guide to support parents/carers living with children who have mental health challenges. It has good information about ADHD and Autism along with other mental health challenges. CLICK HERE
Hampshire offer a number of parenting courses detailed on the attached referral form, SOS is a quick route into accessing more help for your family. Parents can self refer by completing the attached form and return to school or by speaking to our Family Support Workers. CLICK HERE FOR REFERRAL FORM
Additional support
Parents sometimes need to seek advice and support from outside of school and we would recommend these services for parents to explore: