Mental Wellbeing

Anxiety is probably one of the most common manifestations of poor mental health among children in the UK. Anxiety is often identified as an intense uneasiness, worry or fear.

It is important to remember that it is completely normal for children to feel anxious about something because it is different, new or not a part of their usual experience. Sometimes, children can have the feeling of anxiety & don’t even know exactly why that is. This can then result in children blaming something as the reason, when it isn’t that at all.

In fact, a little bit of anxiety can actually be helpful. For example, feeling anxious before a race or test can make us feel more alert & improve our performance.

Persistent feelings of anxiety however, can be distracting and exhausting for a child & could be signs of something a little more serious.

Please let us know if your child has feelings of anxiety as we may be able to help & stop things from becoming more serious or upsetting for your child.

You may also want to access the Worry – Pupil Information Leaflet that could be a starting point to discussing how your child is feeling.

Dr Claire Ogielda, Clinical psychologist from the CAMHs Healthy Minds Team, led a parent briefing to give advice on how to support your anxious child. The following resources may be useful:

Parent/Carer Anxiety Workshop

Worry Intro

Worry - Pupil Info Leaflet

Supporting the Emotional Health and Wellbeing of Children and Young People

This event has affected us all and the Educational Psychology service have suggested some resources to help children talk about their feelings & experiences.

Covid-19 Tips for Families

My Lockdown Experience

My Lockdown Journal

About My Feelings

Covid-19 Survival Guide

Complex Needs

Issues with sleep can also be a source of mental ill health for children & can be a surprisingly common factor when it comes to difficulties with overall well being.

Sleep is particularly important for children, because during sleep:

• Growth hormones are released
• The immune system strengthens, helping a child’s body to fight off illness
• The brain makes sense of the day’s events
• Memory and concentration functions are increased
• Our bodies rest
• Emotional well being is restored.

If you feel that sleep may be an issue for your child, then please download the Parent Sleep Information guide below as well as visit the following websites.

Sleep Information for Parents

www.thechildrenssleepcharity.org.uk

https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/mast

https://sleepcouncil.org.uk/

www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Childrenssleep

As a school, we understand that the move to any new class as well as secondary school can cause a lot of anxiety for children. As a result, we hold our TASS Passport Day where all children ‘travel’ up to their new classes in order to spend the day with their new teacher & do lots of lovely ‘getting to know you’ activities. We find that this takes the worry out of change & actually serves to get children excited about their new learning environment & adults that they will be working with.

For our very youngest children, we also offer three Parent & Child Workshops in the July before they start, in order that parents & carers, as well as their children, can come in & experience what it is like school so that it can be talked about over the summer weeks leading up to starting. This, & the New to FS2 Parents’ Evening, held in June after being offered a place, also help to settle the anxieties of parents too!

For our oldest children coming to the end of primary school,  we understand a this change can be the most challenging of all & again try to take the anxiety out of this as much as possible. As a result, we do lots of preparatory work on what that change will mean as well as have visits to, as well as visitors from,  the main feeder schools. We also do a full hand over of information (academic, social, Special Educational Needs information, etc.) in order that secondary school staff know everything necessary to ensure that the move can be a real success for those that we are sending their way. As part of this information, we also talk about friendship groups & who your child gets on best with. Some of our most vulnerable children, may even be offered further opportunities to visit with special days & bonding opportunities.

As parents & carers, you can of course help your child with their anxieties by visiting the open evenings that the secondary puts on.  This will not only help in your final choice of school, but will also serve to get your child excited about all of the amazing things that the secondary school can offer.

To help your child with the transition to secondary school, you may also find the following information & resources helpful:

https://youngminds.org.uk/resources/school-resources/find-your-feet-transitioning-to-secondary-school/