SEND / Pastoral Support
Our Pastoral Lead, Mrs Mattholie, aims to support children and their families emotional well-being and mental health needs.
Our Pastoral and Parental Engagement Officer, Miss Lilly Michael, aims to support children and their families emotional well-being and mental health needs.
At Parkside we feel it is equally as important to support our parents, carers and families as it is to nurture our students. Parental engagement is one of the most powerful levers we have in improving outcomes for children.
As a school, this service is to provide a listening ear and support to enable parents and carers to talk through concerns and have someone to listen to and be able to explore options and develop coping strategies with.
This can be done through meetings, where we can bring in additional support if needed, and also signpost you to services that would be best suited. Miss Lilly Michael is available (by appointment) every day to all parents and carers who feel they need to discuss any worries they have or to ask for advice. This can be in relation to their child, family or other personal circumstances. Please call 0208 387 3000 (Opt 3).
Lilly Michael
Pastoral and Parental Engagement Officer
Praise: whenever you find the chance – it works wonders for your child’s confidence and self-esteem.
Respect: your child’s individuality and within safe limits let them become their own person.
Encourage: your child’s curiosity and learning – including answering endless questions!
Be consistent: it really is important the rules stay the same otherwise it gets too confusing.
Quality time: it is essential to spend time with your child to bond and build relationships.
Positive diversion: always think of a positive that you can relate to the situation to give them something to work towards.
Morning Toast:
In partnership with Wenzels Bakery, Parkside has a whole school approach and is able to respond and support our most vulnerable families by offering morning toast at the start of the day to every pupil.
Foodbank:
To support our families and the wider community, Parkside has partnered with a local charity and hosts an on-site foodbank. Located in our KS2 building, WD6 is open every Wednesday and Friday, 3.15pm to our families and from 3.30pm onwards to the wider community.
Parkside is able to provide Food Bank e-vouchers for Trussell’s Trust Foodbank located at St Teresa’s Church, 291 Shenley Road, Borehamwood, WD6 1TG and open Monday 12.30pm-3pm and Thursday 10am-12.30pm. Please contact the office for more information.
Fuelbank:
Parkside is able to refer families to Trussell’s Trust Fuelbank to help with support payment of energy bills. Please contact the office for more information.
Workshops for children
Counselling
Kooth is funded to provide free online counselling to 10 to 25 year old’s with a GP in Hertfordshire. Kooth’s counsellors and therapists are available until 10pm, 365 days a year. Users can also talk to other young people anonymously on the moderated forums whenever they like and keep an online journal.
Click here to visit the Kooth website.
Abuse: Keeping your children safe
With the help of our friendly dinosaur Pantosaurus, talking PANTS is a simple way to teach your child how to stay safe from abuse. Please click on the link to find further helpful information and parent guides on how to teach your children how to stay safe.
Visit the website here: NSPCC Let’s talk PANTS
School Health
You can refer your child to the School Nursing service for a range of different health issues. Please see the leaflet below for further details.
School Nursing parent/carers and school referral form
Health for Kids website – child friendly information, activities and games
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Please see some information below in how to help your children feel good and improve their mental health and wellbeing. Please emphasise the five ways to wellbeing, as we will be in school!
SEND Information and support for parents/carers in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire SEND Local Offer
Kids Hub – information and support for parents and carers
Reading, writing and spelling difficulties
Autism
ADD-vance – Autism and ADHD trust supporting families in Hertfordshire
Speech and Language Difficulties
Please come back for updates throughout the terms and let us know if you would like any particular information shared!
NHS Mental Health Support Team – Parkside Hub
The NHS MHST aims to deliver evidence-based interventions for mild-to-moderate mental health issues and support the schools’ Mental Health Lead to develop a whole school approach.
What we offer:
One to one support:
- Helping your Child with Fears and Worries: A guided self-help intervention for parents/carers of anxious children aged 11 and under. – Promoting Positive Behaviour: A self-help parenting intervention for mild to moderate behavioural difficulties (children aged 11 and under).
Group support:
- Group work is an option for individuals who are experiencing similar difficulties with their mental health and well-being.
- Group work to children who would benefit from support with understanding emotions, low mood, transitions, or friendships. – Group work to parent/carers of primary age children whose child/young person may be experiencing fears and worries.
Whole school approach:
- We deliver workshops, assemblies, staff training and attend setting events.
- Our team aims to embed supportive mental health practices into educational settings by working collaboratively with educational staff to provide the best care for children/young people.
If you wish to access support, please speak to your Designated Mental Health Lead, or another trusted staff member. The DMHL can then make a referral to our service or signpost you to appropriate support.
The Mental Health Support Team is not an emergency service and is unable to provide urgent or crisis care. If a child or young person is in crisis, you should:
- Call Freephone 0800 6444 101 (Single Point of Access (SPA) 24/7 Mental Health Helpline)
- NHS 111 and select option 2 for mental health service.
- If they are seriously ill or injured, dial 999 for the emergency services or attend A&E
