School Blog

Free Health & Wellbeing Day supporting Mental Health Awareness Week

A great, free event for parents and carers. Pop along and explore the stalls to gain ideas and support for your own mental health and the mental health of your family members. 

Tuesday 16th May 202310:00 – 15:00
Healthy Hub Stevenage, Stevenage Arts and Leisure Centre

Join Hertfordshire Talking Therapies for a fact-filled day of stalls and workshops hosted by local charities and services including: 

• NHS Talking Therapies
• Mind in Mid-Herts
• Triangle Community Gardens
• Healthy Hub Stevenage, Stevenage Arts & Leisure Centre

• Holistic Health At Home
• Newleaf Recovery and wellbeing College
• The Living Room
• Foodshed/Babyshed
• Pixie & Pickles Therapy Ponies!

Free Health & Wellbeing Day supporting Mental Health Awareness Week

A great, free event for parents and carers. Pop along and explore the stalls to gain ideas and support for your own mental health and the mental health of your family members. 

Tuesday 16th May 202310:00 – 15:00
Healthy Hub Stevenage, Stevenage Arts and Leisure Centre

Join Hertfordshire Talking Therapies for a fact-filled day of stalls and workshops hosted by local charities and services including: 

• NHS Talking Therapies
• Mind in Mid-Herts
• Triangle Community Gardens
• Healthy Hub Stevenage, Stevenage Arts & Leisure Centre

• Holistic Health At Home
• Newleaf Recovery and wellbeing College
• The Living Room
• Foodshed/Babyshed
• Pixie & Pickles Therapy Ponies!

The Parenting When Separated programme is a practical and positive evidence-based course for parents who are preparing for, going through or have gone through a separation or divorce.

It is a six-week course that highlights practical steps parents can take to help their children cope and thrive, as well as coping successfully themselves.

The course commences on Tuesday 13^th June and will be held from 10.00am - 12.30pm at The Shephall Centre, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG2 9XR.   Parents can request if they prefer to access the course online or in person on the referral form.

Course details

The course consists of six group sessions for up to 12 parents, each session will last 2 hours 30 minutes with a 15 minute break. We will meet all parents for an individual introductory meeting prior to the group starting to discuss your goals for the course.

How to register

You can be referred by a professional or parents can self-refer https://surveys.hertfordshire.gov.uk/s/5SHI7N/

The Stevenage Mental Health Support Team (MHST) are running an on-line workshop on Friday 19th May from 10.00 - 11.00am for parent/carers needing support with emotion based school avoidence (EBSA).  Click here to book your place.

Looking for new books to read at bedtime to support your child's emotional development and wellbeing?

The 'Sandbox' website has a lovely section called 'Kai's corner' which is full of book recommendations for children aged 5-8 and 9-12. 

Follow the link and scroll down to find it:

https://sandbox.mindler.co.uk/theresourcezone/?#lp-pom-block-655

Each book has a short description so you know what aspect of wellbeing and mental health the text focuses on. Why not see which texts are available at your local library? 

Some examples of the themes are: 

• A book about things getting better with time and not being afraid to ask for help
• A book about a hedgehog who limits himself because of worry and how he learns to manage those worries
• A book about grief and healing following the death of Kai's dad

The HENRY programme helps families to learn how to keep their families healthy and provides everything you need to help your child get off to a great start.  It is completely FREE for families whose children are 0-5 years old.

The programme runs on-line (1 hour session) or face-to-face (2 hour session - there is a creche available to parents).

Session 1 - Let's get started (what's a healthy person? Goal setting)

Session 2 - Balancing acts (balance of foods and looking after self in terms of 'me' time)

Session 3 - Needs and demands - parenting strategies

Session 4 - Tuning into mealtimes - healthy habits

Session 5 - Time to be active

Session 6 - Eating Healthily - lunchboxes, portions and food labels

Session 7 - Let's focus on feelings (listening and empathy)

Session 8 - The way forward (celebrating what parent has achieve and handing out certificates) 

The mental health team would like to share a great well-being deal we have come across and some of our teachers are already using ✨

If you have never used Balance app, they are offering a free year, full access to new members. It’s a really good guided meditation app to help with relaxation, reduce stress, sleep and other areas. 

When do children develop particular motor skills, such as riding a bicycle or using a pen? 

How can you help your child to develop these skills?

What can you do if your child is struggling with a skill?

The NHS are running on-line sessions for parents or carers of children aged between 4-8 years old who would like to understand more about their child’s motor development and how to support this. 

The session will share information about the typical ages when children develop different motor skills. It will explain how to breakdown an activity such as pulling on a jumper into simple steps to help your child complete this independently. You will also get advice on activities and simple things you can do at home to support your child’s motor development.

Please see attached flier for more details and how to book.