In school support

Pastoral Team

At River Primary school, we are fortunate to have two Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSAs), who form our pastoral team and can support pupils with their emotional wellbeing and provide additional support, in the form of individual or group work, depending on their need and staff availability.

Mrs Clarke and Miss Atkins are both fully qualified ELSAs who can support children in understanding their emotions, being able to recognise them and manage them in positive ways. 

Emotional wellbeing is the foundation for successful learning. In EYFS and key stage 1, ELSAs and school staff use the colour monsters, to help children understand feelings they experience throughout the day. In key stage 2, we use the emojis that link in with the colour monster.

The link below takes you to the ELSA support webpage, where you can find a range of resources, some free and others for a small fee: ELSA Support Resources

Kent Family Hubs:

Find your local Hub for support for families with children from 0-19 years old, or 25 years old for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). 

Local Kent Family Hubs

Dover Buckland Family Hub

An upcoming offer is the 10-week course for parents called, Togetherness – Understanding your child. The course explores

• Tuning Into Children
• Exploring Feelings
• Parenting Styles
• Communication

It's aimed at families with children ages 3-11 years. You can sign up for this course on the link below. 

Togetherness- Understanding you Child

Supporting your child at home

Please find details below of online support and resources for children's mental health and anxiety:

Kent Resilience Hub 

You may find yourself looking for ways that you can help your child to feel better and become more resilient. This includes ways to better manage the ups and downs that life can bring. The hub has also brought together information on other places you can look for support if you feel you need more than the hub can offer. Support is available for children, parents and professionals. Kent Resilience Hub

Kent Children’s and Young People’s single point of access (SPA) 

If you're concerned about a young person’s mental health and are not sure what help is needed, Single point of Access can direct you to the appropriate support options available. You can contact them by calling them on (SPA) 0800 011 3474  https://www.nelft.nhs.uk/what-is-cypmhs

Kent School Health Kent School Health Website

The service offers support with:

• Day and night-time wetting and soiling

• Children and teen's sleep

• Children and teen's behaviour

• Children and teen's healthy lifestyle

• Puberty and growing up.

• Emotional wellbeing- counselling services.

• If your child is not attending school.

The Contented Child

The Contented Child provides courses for parents and school staff: The Contented Child

Every mind Matters

Please read below for tips in supporting your child's mental health and a link to the Every Mind Matters Website:  Every Mind Matters website

Kooth: Mental health support for children aged 10-25 years  

Support can be accessed by signing up free online or by texting. Children can gain access to Kooth counsellors. They offer text support, online resources and strategy. There is a Kooth podcast available. All information is available at www.kooth.com  

Release the pressure

www.releasethepressure.uk Mental health support in Kent and Medway, for any age, for both children and adults.  They're available 24/7 and can be accessed by texting: 85258

Young Minds

Young Minds Website Young Minds supports children and young people’s mental health, by helping them understand themselves and by providing support to parents who want to help someone who is struggling.

There is a free parents helpline, open from 9.30am to 6pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. On Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays you can still contact from 9:30am until 4pm. 0808 802 5544. Chat online option available.

Mood Spark 

Mood Spark Website Mental health resources, strategies and links to extra online support. A website created by young people, for young people to explore. Resources range from primary- secondary age.

The BeYou Project- LGBTQ+

The BeYou Project Website A welcoming, inclusive and safe space for support and advice around sexual and gender identity. Support starts from ages 8-25 years.

Beat- Eating Disorder Support

Beat Website National organisation offering information and online support.