MYTIME is a charity with an educational approach in working with young carers. They provide young carers with the tools to combat loneliness and through the School Support Programme will connect them with other young carers, increase their visibility in school and make sure their peers understand their roles.

MYTIME will provide our school with teachers who will work collaboratively with us and embed a support programme that works for each individual carer. By recognizing the need for support allows young carers to achieve academic success and support both their mental and physical health. Young carers are given a voice about how they think they would benefit most.

Schools are perfectly placed to provide support for young carers, due to the depth of relationships that exist between students and their teachers, school relationships with families and the role they play at the heart of their communities.

If you think that your child may be classed as a young carer, please make contact with our school office so that we can offer you will more information.

It is mental health awareness week from 15th to 21st May, with a focus on anxiety. To raise awareness within school, we are going to share a range of breathing techniques over the week to embed strategies to combat feeling of anxiety. The children will also be encouraged to share their own techniques they use with others at school and at home. During the week in our PSHE sessions, we will be focusing on who, what and where we feel safe, calm and happy, and how we can lower our anxiety. 

Mental Health Awareness Week: Mental Health Awareness Week 2023 | Mental Health Foundation

Please see the bottom of this page for a range of calming techniques that we will be using with the children throughout the week.

Please see below for a number of resources that could be helpful in supporting children understand the current conflict in Ukraine:

Help for teachers and families to talk to pupils about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and how to help them avoid misinformation. - The Education Hub (blog.gov.uk)

Home - CBBC Newsround

Supporting children to manage anxiety over war, conflict and crises | BPS

These are downloadable books, please always look through first before reading them with your child to make sure they are appropriate.

• A back to school story from ELSA support:
• Coronavirus – A book for Children illustrated by Axel Scheffler
• Nurse Dotty
• Good Days in Unusual Times – Anna Freud Organisation
• What is Coronavirus? Facts for Kids

The following links offer advice, support and useful information for parents and carers for children’s wellbeing during the coronavirus outbreak

Talking to children about coronavirus

• Coronavirus helpline for parents and carers run by Dorset County Council’s Educational Psychology Service

• Tips for parents and carers during Covid-19 school closures – Save the Children co-written booklet:

• Young minds Starting a conversation with your child

Support and advice about family and school life 

• Advice from Young Minds if your child is anxious about returning to school

• NSPCC advice for children and families about coronavirus including returning to school

• Mental Health Foundation: Tips for parents and caregivers – preparing your child to return to school

• CAHMS Dorset: Back to School Advice

• Advice From Young Minds

• Managing the transition to home schooling, advice from UCL

• Coronavirus helpline for parents and carers run by Dorset County Council’s Educational Psychology Service

• Supporting Children's Wellbeing 

Useful strategies and activities to promote wellbeing and positive mental health.

• Grown-ups - for parents and carers - CBeebies - BBC

• NHS every mind matters

• MindEd

• Steps 2 Wellbeing

• How to improve your mental wellbeing

• Government guidance for households with possible coronavirus

• NHS information: Advice for everyone about Coronavirus

• Dorset County Council coronavirus support for families

• Government guidance for parents and carers about educational settings  (During Covid19)

• Dorset County Council – council tax, employment, financial support

• Home (bcpcouncil.gov.uk) 

• Therapy for Parents

• Action for Children- Parenting Support Services

• NSPCC Support for Parents

• Parent Talk- Action for Children 

Food bank information

Foodbank | support in Dorset | Help and Kindness listings for 'Foodbank' in Dorset

Get Help - Bournemouth Foodbank

http://www.poolefamilyinformationdirectory.com/kb5/poole/fis/service.page?id=MXyHak8NREA

Food Bank+ - Faithworks (faithworkswessex.org.uk) (Poole and Christchurch)

www.actionfraud.police.uk/news 

Please contact the school for any more information.

• Thinkuknow – for advice from the National Crime Agency to stay safe online
• Internet matters – for support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online
• UK Safer Internet Centre
• SWGfl Safer Internet Facts

Click on the link below to see our school E-Safety policy and curriculum

• GOSH Power of Play Activities Hub
• BBC Bitesize
• The Oak National Academy (online classes)

•  Breathing, mindfulness and meditation exercises for children

https://copingskillsforkids.com/deep-breathing-exercises-for-kids

https://biglifejournal.com/blogs/blog/5-fun-mindfulness-activities-children-breathing-exercises

https://www.headspace.com/meditation/kids

• TED-Ed Earth School

• CBeebies Games

• PE with Joe
• Cosmic Kids Yoga
• GoNoodle

Please see below a list of resources that we are using within school to help the children with calming and self-regulation:

• Feelings Pictures
• 54321 Grounding
• Star Breathing
• Breathing Exercises
• Calming Strategies
• Coping Skills
• Calming Strategies Poster
• Check in with Yourself
• Feelings Thermometer
• Size of the Problem
• Growth Mindset
• Box Breathing
• Rainbow Breathing
• Shape Breathing