Wellbeing

At The Icknield Primary School, we place mental health and wellbeing at the core of our ethos. Evidence shows that a co-ordinated approach to improved pupil emotional health and wellbeing leads to to readiness to learn.

Below you will find a number of resources that may be useful when looking for support with children’s mental health and wellbeing.

The Relate children’s counselling service is available for children between the ages of five and ten. Children’s counselling might be offered to a child struggling with things like stress or anxiety, family change like a parental divorce, or academic pressure, lack of confidence, friendship issues/bullying, school transition. www.relate.org.uk/centre/cambridgeshire/services/childrens-counselling

Blue Smile work in schools across Cambridgeshire providing specialist counselling and arts based therapy to young people. They have a mission to inspire happier children to lead brighter futures. Their support can include psychoeducational groupwork including managing big feelings, managing change, moving on up (year 6 transition) and survive and thrive (year 7 after transition). www.bluesmileproject.org

Mindful Explorers run mindfulness sessions for children and parents in Cambridge providing engaging and creative mindfulness sessions that help students develop essential skills for their wellbeing. Through these sessions children learn to cultivate calmness, focus and emotional resilience. They are designed to support their mental health, enhance concentration and foster a positive and peaceful classroom. The sessions are also fun, gentle and tailored to the age of each group. www.themindfulexplorers.co.uk
Cambridge Acorn Project offers therapeutic services to children, young people and families who have experienced trauma and face financial hardship, giving them the chance to talk about anything which may be troubling or worrying. www.cambridgeacornproject.org.uk
Parent Support Line
This is a useful resource to direct families and schools to the support that is available in Cambridgeshire. It also has an extensive Services and Support Directory. Click Here for more information
Childline exists to help anyone under 19 in the UK with any issue they’re going through. Whether it’s something big or small, their trained counsellors are here to support you. Childline is free, confidential and available any time, day or night.
www.childline.org.uk
www.childline.org.uk/toolbox/
Phone: 0800 1111

Resources to support parents talking to children about well-being

www.keep-your-head.com
This is a website run by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Children and Young People Mental Health team, for young people, parents/carers, teachers and professionals. It contains information on keeping well, self-help and local support services.
www.familylives.org
A website aimed at parents with advice and videos on a range of topics. It has clear links to other organisations and support. It also offers on line parenting courses as well as a confidential helpline.
www.youngminds.org.uk
This covers a range of topics such as anger, bereavement, and sleep problems with shared experiences for children and young people to relate to. It also has advice for parents and a helpline.
You’re Never too Young to talk about Mental Health
Talking to my Child

Useful Books for Children

What to do when you worry too much – Kids guide to overcoming anxiety by Dawn Huebner and Bonnie Matthews.
The Huge bag of worries by Virginia Ironside
No Worries! An Activity book for young people who sometimes feel anxious or stressed by Katie Abey
Hello Happy! Mindful Kids – an activity book for young people who sometimes feel sad or angry by Katie Abey
How are you feeling today? By Molly Potter
Have you filled a bucket today? A guide to daily happiness for kids by Carol McCloud
Starving the Anxiety Gremlin for children aged 5-9 by Kate Collins- Donnelly.
Other Titles include – Starving the Anger Gremlin, Starving the Stress Gremlin.