# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Welcome to our
March 2022 E- Bulletin

EHCP Taster Session

Tuesday 8 March 2022 1.30pm- 2.30pm

Join Wolverhampton Information, Advice and Support service for a friendly and informative session discussing:

- Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans.

- The EHC needs assessment process and how to request, what is included in an EHCP.

- What happens during and after the assessment process.

Book your free place here.

Coffee & Chat

Thursday 31 March 2022 10.30am- 11.30am

Bring your cuppa and your questions!

Join our friendly team for an informal Q&A session and general chat on anything related to SEND.
Book your free place here.

Wolverhampton Podcast in
National Awards

Teens from Wolverhampton's Tettenhall Wood Special School have been making waves with their sports podcast.

The Tettenhall Wood School Sports Podcast launched in May 2021 and is hosted by students. The podcast was established with the intention of teaching students key skills such as communication and social skills, increasing their confidence and so much more. They also wanted to promote the amazing things autistic individuals can achieve and be positive advocates for autism within our local and wider community.

Each week student's interview famous sportsmen and women and talk to them about their career. Some of their amazing guests include Sir Clive Woodward, Nasser Hussain, Joe Hart, Matt Le Tissier, Marnus Labuschagne, Will Greenwood and they will soon be chatting with TV presenter and autism advocate Paddy McGuinness. Episodes are available to listen to here.

Their podcast is currently entered into the global Sports Podcast Award in the 'Best Equality and Social Impact' category. Voting closes on 6 March. To vote visit: Home | Sports Podcast Awards

Call: 0800 008 6516

Text: 07800 002 222

WhatsApp: 07983 394 077

Email: sanctuary@base25.org

Independent Travel Training

Is your child needing support in travelling independently to school, college and within the local community? Young people aged 11- 19 years can receive free independent travel training from the Wolverhampton Travel Assist team.

The one to one bespoke training programme will teach them to travel a specific route on their own in a safe and responsible way. It will cover anything the young person needs to learn to travel safely on their own including problem solving, personal safety, road safety and appropriate behaviour. The support gradually phased out until the individual feels confident and competent to do the journey alone.

Find out more any apply for the programme here.

Wolverhampton Household
Support Fund

Is your family struggling this winter with essential household costs, food and transport?

Until the 31 March 2022 Wolverhampton vulnerable households can access vital funds to support them over the coming months as the country continues its recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

The fund is available for those who are considered not eligible for public funds and can help with provisions such as food, energy, water, transport, internet access, clothing and housing costs in exceptional circumstances.

Find out if you are eligible and how access support here.

Uncharted:

Cineworld Autism
Friendly Screening

On Sunday 6 March, Cineworld Cinema in Bentley Bridge Wednesfield will be hosting an Autism Friendly screening of the latest action packed blockbuster release 'Uncharted'.

During the film lighting will be kept on during the screening, volume levels will be reduced and there will be no advertisements or trailers. Seating will not be allocated. Customers will be allowed to bring in their own food.

View the trailer and purchase your 11.00am tickets here.

The Da Vinci Code:
Grand Theatre

On 10 March the Grand Theatre Wolverhampton will be hosting an inclusive BSL performance of Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code.

To book access seating contact remyl@grandtheatre.co.uk / Tel: 01902 573320

Kidz to Adultz: Disability
Support Exhibition Coventry

On Thursday 17 March Kidz to Adultz is hosting a FREE exhibition in Coventry, totally dedicated to children and young adults up to 25 years with disabilities and additional needs, their parents, carers and all the professionals who support and work with them.

Chat with knowledgeable specialists in their fields, try out equipment & products and connect to services and support organisations that can support you.

Register for the free event here.

Cerebra Free
Postal Library

Cerebra offers a library postal service where families can access sensory toys, equipment, communication aids and children's books.

The service is free for anyone in the UK caring for a child with a brain condition and is easy to use.

There are also books for adults on a range of topics relating to brain conditions and additional needs.

Find out more and to apply here.

Confidence building
programme for 16- 25's

The National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi) is offering a programme to support young people with additional needs aged 16-25 years across England with confidence building and motivation for the future.

This free virtual service is available throughout the year and is designed for young people who are experiencing anxiety, isolation and who have limited or no plans for the future post COVID-19. Young people, family members or professionals can make a request for support here.

Free Guide For Disability Support

Are you new to the world of special education needs and/ or disability? Has your child just started to present as requiring additional support or received a recent condition diagnosis?

Contact for Disabled Children welcomes families to order their free 92 page helpful guide. This all-in-one book provides families with all of the essential information in one place - no matter where carers are in their journey. Click here to order your free guide.

Child Trust Funds Withdrawal

New proposals are underway to allow families with disabled children to withdraw up to £2,500 from Child Trust Funds or junior ISAs without first needing court permission.

This attempt will help to reduce the financial burden for parents and guardians with vulnerable children. Click here to read the full article.

Be- Well checklist
for challenging behaviour

Cerebra welcomes parents, carers and professionals to download their free Be-Well Checklist. It aims to reduce challenging behaviour and improve the wellbeing of people with severe learning disability and complex needs.

The Be-Well Checklist can be used to work out why someone is showing a behaviour or might be distressed, angry, upset or appear to have very low mood. It can help make sure the right things are discussed and the next steps are jointly agreed. Download their digital copy or request a printable copy here.

Sense activity report for children with complex needs

It is estimated that over 1 million children and young people in England live with a disability, complex needs or life limiting conditions. Read the latest report release by Sense on 'Understanding the physical activity needs of families who have children with complex disabilities'.

The report highlights key findings and recommendations for all sports providers to consider when delivering sport and physical activity for children with complex disabilities and showcases their 'Sense, Active Together' three year programme that will engage and support over 2,500 people with complex disabilities to become active. Find out more here.

Parent & carer virtual support:
Toilet Training a child with SEND

All children learn to use the potty or toilet at a different stage in their life. Most children start to show an interest in moving on to a potty or toilet at about two years old. Children with additional needs may not be ready to start until they are older. This workshop will help you to understand when they are ready and how to start.

Join Contact for Disabled Children on 23 March for their virtual training session providing advice and strategies for parents on how to toilet train a child with additional needs. Understand what it means to be toilet trained, how to know if your child is ready and how you can prepare them and establish a plan. Register for the free virtual event here.

Wolves IASS Survey

The views of our parents, carers and young people is of paramount importance to us. It lets us know what is working as well as highlighting areas for improvement.

The survey takes approximately five minutes and we would be so grateful if you could complete it. You can access the survey at the following link: Wolverhampton IASS Survey - City of Wolverhampton Council - Citizen Space

Share Your News

We aim to share uplifting stories and good news events from around our wonderful Wolverhampton area!

If you run services or activities for children with a Special Educational Need or Disability or support their families, we would love to hear from you!

Also, if you have a happy news story or wish to celebrate the great work of an organisation, please email ias.service@wolverhampton.gov.uk. Please attach a photo or videos and a short blurb to feature.

We send out the e-bulletin monthly around the first Monday of the month, so we would appreciate this being sent to us by the middle of the previous week.

Our next e-bulletin will be shared on 1st April so please send any inserts by 29th March.

@wolvesiass

@wolvesiass

@wolves.iass

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Welcome to our March 2022 E- Bulletin Join Wolverhampton Information, Advice and Support service for a friendly and informative session discussing: - Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans. - The EHC needs assessment process and how to request, what is included in an EHCP. - What happens during and after the assessment process.

# data[].attributes.body
Understanding Male Body Image & Mental Health | Optimale

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Understanding Male Body Image & Mental Health | Optimale

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
MEN'S HEALTH & WELLBEING

CHAPTER 01

An introduction to male body image

How we view our bodies is often a hot topic of debate. With so much pressure to look and present ourselves in a certain way, it's natural that a lot of men find themselves feeling insecure about their bodies.

In a world where image is becoming increasingly important, it can be tough to come to terms with a part of your body which you feel isn't "attractive" by the regular standards of beauty. If that's the case, it's unlikely your mental health has suffered at least partially as a result.

If you can relate to this, you're definitely not alone. Poor mental health as a result of bad body image affects millions of people every year. In this guide, we're going to assess what you can do to combat that feeling, with a focus on accepting and mentally overcoming the low self-esteem which can be triggered by feeling bad about your body.

Male body image statistics

It's no secret that a lot of people feel bad about their body in one way or another. But just how does that translate into numbers? Unfortunately, research by the Mental Health Foundation found that as many as 28% of men aged over 18 have felt anxiety relating to body image issues.

The study went on to highlight that around one in five men experience some form of negative thought as a result of body image, with the stats showing:

But this is far from the only survey to highlight just how much of a factor poor body image is becoming for men. Charity the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) teamed up with Instagram to reveal a number of shocking figures about how men viewed themselves.

Their report found:

Source: CALM

Interestingly, 39% claimed that they felt there was a wider pressure from society to have the "perfect" body. This says a lot about the increasing pressure from outside forces to achieve potentially unrealistic standards of beauty.

Beauty standards are constantly shifting and evolving. What's considered conventionally attractive in the 2020s isn't what people a hundred years ago would have seen as appealing. Here's a brief evolution of how male body image has changed throughout the past decades and even centuries.

Male body image and mental health

It's hard to quantifiably measure how much of an impact body image can have on a person. And, in truth, it will vary greatly between individuals. Sadly, there are quite a few ways in which having a poor outlook on your own body can damage how you see yourself as a whole. Some of the best examples are:

Feelings of inadequacy

It's only natural if you're comparing yourself with unrealistic standards of beauty that you're going to feel second rate. Very few men have the "perfect body", but when you see them plastered all over billboards, on TV adverts and all across social media, you can be forgiven for thinking it's the norm. This can leave you feeling like you're not good enough.

Lack of confidence across other aspects of life

The lack of confidence which comes from these feelings of inadequacy is bound to impact other areas of your life. Whether it's trouble with dating, not feeling confident enough in yourself to excel at work, or even just feeling insecure when you go out to a social event, it can have a huge impact.

Embarrassment and anxiety

If there's a particular part of your body which you feel bad about, you may experience some form of anxiety when you leave the house. It could even be the case that you try to hide this perceived flaw from the wider world. This is bound to leave you feeling down, as well as not quite at home in your own body.

Wider mental and physical health issues

Severe feelings of depression about your body can lead to extreme mental and physical issues. Suicidal thoughts are not totally uncommon, while issues pertaining to weight might result in you developing unhealthy eating habits. Both will have a detrimental impact on you.

CHAPTER 02

Male body image issues

We've discussed how having a low opinion of your own body might impact your mental health. But what are the main pain points for those suffering? Let's now explore in more detail just what kinds of issues men of the 21st century are facing.

Common male insecurities

Men are a lot more conscious of their bodies and overall appearance than at most points in the past. This manifests into a number of insecurities, all of which can impact people differently. Some of the most common problems men have to face is:

A lack of muscles

While they've risen and fallen in regards to appeal over the decades, having muscles has always been seen as a largely positive thing in the eyes of the aesthetic world. A lot of men worry whether their body is bulky enough, or that they'll be perceived as weak in the eyes of prospective sexual partners.

Too much (or too little) fat or flab

The dad-bod has made having some flab acceptable - but where is the line? Even though it's perhaps less of a pressing issue than at some points in the past, a lot of men still worry they are over or even underweight. Manxiety found that this was actually the biggest insecurity for men, with as many as 46% worried about some form of weight gain.

Hair loss

Men also tend to feel insecure about losing their hair. It's not uncommon for men to feel less than themselves when losing their locks, potentially even robbing them of a part of what helps define them. While there are now procedures in place to help combat male pattern baldness, they tend to be incredibly expensive - and often need regular maintenance.

Height

How tall you are is another pain point for a lot of men. And while there is very little to be done to control this, it doesn't stop a lot of guys from worrying that they aren't tall enough to be seen as desirable.

Feeling effeminate or unmasculine

For some men, insecurity might stem from a feeling of not ticking all the boxes for what it "means to be a man". While this is an outdated and backwards mentality, it's still something a lot of men struggle with. This could mean a lack of general bulk, the inability to grow facial hair or even having physical traits which are more closely associated with women.

Gynaecomastia

Another area of concern for men is Gynaecomastia - colloquially known as "man boobs". This condition is often caused by higher levels of oestrogen in the body (often during puberty), resulting in the development of excess breast tissue. The condition is most common in teenage boys and older men, and in extreme cases may need to be removed by surgery.

The influence of social media

While the prevalence of social media has done a lot of good for the world, it can't be denied that it sometimes has a negative impact. Comparing ourselves to people we don't know on a personal level is a slippery slope, especially when even their lives may be exaggerated or not as they appear.

This can be a real problem for a number of reasons:

It's too easy to compare

With so many posts and images readily available to view, it's easier than ever for a man to compare himself with someone he sees online. This is a far cry from the pre-social media age, when the occasional movie star and your close circle of friends was the only regular comparison to be made.

We get an inaccurate depiction of what "normal" is

People only tend to post images on social channels that make them (and their lifestyles) look attractive and appealing. This isn't an accurate portrayal of their, or anyone else's, reality. As such, it's all too easy to forget the snapshot we're being given isn't actually what a normal person looks like.

It's hard to escape

We tend to use social channels as the primary means of communication with our friends and family. That makes them particularly hard to avoid, even if they are having a negative impact on us. It's only natural we'll check out our news feed while we're doing that - in the process exposing ourselves to these unrealistic beauty standards.

The inability to cut social media out of your life is a particular problem if you find yourself struggling. If that's the case for you, some of the best advice is to:

Be selective with your feed

Thankfully you should be able to pick and choose who and what you want to follow. That means you can actively choose to avoid looking at "influencers" and celebrities, who are more likely to post the kind of content which might trigger feelings of inadequacy.

Remind yourself what you are good at

If you do happen to see someone or something which you can't compete with, just remind yourself you're good at plenty of other things. Your second cousin might have just won a football tournament, but can he compete with you at tennis? Probably not.

Remember it's the internet

At the end of the day the best advice is to always remember how strange a place the internet actually is. Reality and what you'll find on the net are often very different, so try not to invest too much thought into it.

Male body image as a teen or young adult

Puberty is a rough time for anyone. Your body goes through a myriad of changes, leaving you feeling exhausted, irritable and potentially insecure in your own skin. Understandably, this has the potential to result in poor body image.

Teens will often find parts about themselves they don't like, and can develop dangerous thinking patterns, such as: :

My body is not perfect and that means I am not good enough

If I had a perfect body all my problems would go away

I would be loved by everyone if my body was better

My size and weight are not acceptable unless they are a specific number

The natural by-product of this is a heightened sense of insecurity and low self-esteem. If you're the parent, guardian or family member of a teen who's struggling, there are steps you can take to make their own body image issues a little bit easier to manage:

Encourage different-sized role models

With so many young people growing up to idolise influencers with unrealistic body shapes, it's perhaps no surprise that teens are finding themselves unhappy with how they look. Make sure to point them towards icons who are larger, smaller and less conventionally attractive than what they see on social channels.

Focus on health over image

A great way to encourage a better body image is to teach them that their health is a priority over whatever the latest aesthetic trend is. Teach them how to eat right, exercise properly and what to avoid. The natural by-product will be a happier, fitter and self-confident teen.

Be open about your past experiences

A lot of people at one time or another have felt insecure about the way they look. Open up to your teen about any negative experiences you might have had with your own body image. They'll appreciate the frankness of the chat, while also learning that their concerns are both valid and able to be overcome in time.

Don't shame your own body

Children are very impressionable. They'll pick up on the criticism you levy at yourself, and inherit these potentially unhealthy views on what it means to look good. It's your job to promote a healthy body image, not pull yourself apart in front of them over one tiny blemish or perceived fault.

CHAPTER 03

Improving your body image

With a stronger understanding of the root causes of poor self body image, it's time to address ways in which you can go about improving your self-esteem. While it certainly won't be an overnight fix, there are a number of steps anyone conscious about how they look or feel can use to overcome a poor self image.

Ways to improve your body image

Despite being related to what you perceive as a physical "problem", countering poor body image is largely a mental battle. Let's take a closer look at some of the techniques you can employ to fight back and get on top of your issues.

Practise positive mental thinking

Did you know it's actually possible to teach your brain how to think more positively? While it won't be an overnight fix, you can get into healthier mental habits by doing any of the following:

Writing down things you like about yourself in a weekly diary

Repeating positive affirmations on a daily basis

Sitting and thinking about why you're grateful for your body

Eating right and keeping yourself in good physical condition

The more you practice these handy tricks, the more easily you'll find your thought patterns shifting down positive rather than negative paths.

Find non-physical traits you're proud of

Looks really aren't everything. If you're seriously struggling to find anything positive to say about yourself, consider all the amazing other traits which make you a fantastic individual. That means stuff like your intelligence, practical skills, caring nature, sense of humour, creativity, work ethic or ingenuity.

Try to avoid comparisons

It's easier said than done, but it's best to try avoiding comparing yourself to anyone - including your friends and family. You are your own man, and how anyone else acts or behaves should not define that. This is a good attitude to have not just for your looks, but in every aspect of life.

Recognise and identify the root of negative thoughts

Where are the critical thoughts you're having about yourself coming from? Once you're able to work out what the trigger for thinking poorly of yourself is, there's a good opportunity to work towards cutting it out of your life altogether. If it's something you can't fully remove, you'll still be able to work on resolving it.

Taking care of your body

While it's good to accept the skin you're in, it would be wrong to suggest getting healthier or fitter is ever a bad thing. It can make you feel better about yourself mentally, while also having a hugely positive impact on your physical health. Some of the best advice for taking better care of yourself includes:

A healthy diet

While it's understandable to want to snack on things you find tasty, good body image starts with managing and maintaining a decent base-level of health. Find out what's good for you, then consider creating a diet plan which sees you balance all the right kinds of nutrients. You don't have to be robotically strict, but it's handy to have a rough guide to stick to. You'll find a lot of healthy food can be just as delicious.

Get enough sleep

Our bodies need sleep. It's how we naturally recharge and find the energy to go about our day. Setting yourself a specific bedtime can help to ensure you're getting enough to stay balanced. How much sleep you need at night will depend on your age, so make sure to find this out first before creating any kind of sleeping plan.

Talk to a doctor for guidance

Everyone has different requirements. If you're really unsure what's best for your body, a wise move is to speak to a medical professional. They'll be able to guide you through what you should and shouldn't be doing to achieve optimal health. This is a good place to start if you've struggled with taking care of yourself in the past.

Getting help for body image issues

If you're really struggling to process and come to terms with your body image problems, there are organisations you can turn to for additional support. These communities are there to help guide you through any trouble you're having, and are often run by people who have been affected by the same problems you're facing in the past.

This organisation are dedicated to providing young people with a full guide and support network for all challenges relating to sex, relationships and their bodies. You can make the most of their informative range of blogs, directly reach out to a member of their team for support, and even volunteer and fundraise alongside them.

This group exists to provide people from all walks of life with support for any mental health problems they may be facing. They have a variety of resources to browse, as well as some tailored specifically to people suffering as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

This campaign has been created with the express intent of reminding people that it's okay to love the skin they're in - even if it doesn't comply with what we see on social media and television. Their ultimate aim is to change how we perceive the perfect body type, transforming from the idealistic image to one that is actually healthy for the human frame.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

While not an organisation, turning to a trained professional for CBT is a great way to battle any demons you may be facing. This kind of therapy helps to retrain how your mind thinks, framing things in a more positive and palatable light. This is far from a quick fix though, with a lot of training required to master it.

CHAPTER 04

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Understanding Male Body Image & Mental Health | Optimale

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
MEN'S HEALTH & WELLBEING CHAPTER 01 How we view our bodies is often a hot topic of debate. With so much pressure to look and present ourselves in a certain way, it's natural that a lot of men find themselves feeling insecure about their bodies.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Educational Psychology Service is offering a free remote consultation service to parents/carers living in Wolverhampton and also to parents/carers of children or young people in the care of Wolverhampton Local Authority.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.

# data[].attributes.body
Text service offered to 11-19 year olds by Wolverhampton NHS School Nursing Service

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
ChatHealth is a new NHS text messaging service for young people across Wolverhampton.

11-19 year olds can text a school nurse on 07507 332 631 to get confidential advice and support for a range of health and wellbeing issues, including:

Anxiety, emotions and anger

Bullying

Family issues and friendships

Sexual health and contraception

Smoking, alcohol and drugs

Sleep

School nurses can also put young people in touch with other local NHS or support services that can help.

ChatHealth works by messages being sent to a dedicated number - 07507 332 631 - which are delivered to a secure website. Messages are read by a school nurse who then starts a text conversation with the young person. All texts receive an automatic message explaining where to get help if their question or concern is urgent, and when they can expect a response.

ChatHealth is available 9.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday (except bank holidays). We aim to respond to texts within 24 hours. If your text is received outside of these hours, we will aim to respond on the next working day.

For medical help and advice outside of these hours, users are advised to call their GP, visit an NHS Walk-in Centre or call 111, or dial 999 or visit A&E if it is an emergency.

To raise awareness of the new service, we have developed a range of promotional materials. Please download any of the following materials to help promote ChatHealth through your organisation or across your network.

(JPG, 762Kb) ChatHealth Poster (including sexual health issues) - print version (PDF, 552Kb)
ChatHealth Poster(excluding sexual health issues) - print version ChatHealth Poster(including sexual health issues) - web version ChatHealth Poster(excluding sexual health issues) - web version ChatHealth Advert for your website ChatHealth Image for use on Twitter ChatHealth Image for use on Instagram
ChatHealth Image for use on TV screen (PDF, 1Mb)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
ChatHealth is a new NHS text messaging service for young people across Wolverhampton. 11-19 year olds can text a school nurse on 07507 332 631 to get confidential advice and support for a range of health and wellbeing issues, including: Anxiety, emotions and anger Bullying Family issues and friendships Sexual health and contraception Smoking, alcohol and drugs Sleep School nurses can also put young people in touch with other local NHS or support services that can help.

# data[].attributes.body
ASD in girls

# data[].attributes.body
Include Me TOO is a national charity supporting disabled children, young people and their families from diverse range of backgrounds.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Include Me TOO is a national charity supporting disabled children, young people and their families from diverse range of backgrounds. Include Me TOO supports and promotes social justice, equality and rights for all disabled children and young people. We provide a range of support including peer support, befriending services, activities and holiday clubs for disabled children, outreach and information and advice to families.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Include Me TOO is a national charity supporting disabled children, young people and their families from diverse range of backgrounds. Include Me TOO supports and promotes social justice, equality and rights for all disabled children and young people.

# data[].attributes.body
Youth club that offers specialist sessions and mentoring for young people with additional needs.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
For the health and wellbeing of our team and prioritising sessions for young people at this challenging time, we are currently operating limited opening hours.

Our phone lines are currently open during session hours (5pm-8.30pm), but for all other queries please use one of the following options:

For Youth Work and session queries, please email
youthworkeronline@thewayyouthzone.org
For Safeguarding, please email
safeguarding@thewayyouthzone.org
For Fundraising queries please email
fundraising@thewayyouthzone.org
For HR and Recruitment, please email
recruitment@thewayyouthzone.org
For Mentoring, please email
thewaymentoring@thewayyouthzone.org
For anything else, please email
info@thewayyouthzone.org
Thank you.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
For the health and wellbeing of our team and prioritising sessions for young people at this challenging time, we are currently operating limited opening hours.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Sensory Inclusion Service will always put children and young people with sensory impairments at the heart of everything we do. We strive to minimise barriers to learning and achievement for children and young people with sensory impairments. We aim to enable them to develop and use the skills they need for life in and beyond education.

assessing their needs

listening to their aspirations

teaching and facilitating them

supporting and working closely with them and their families

working collaboratively with their teachers and support staff

What does the service do?
The Sensory Inclusion Service (SIS) works in Wolverhampton with:

children and young people from 0 to 19 (to 25 under some circumstances, please contact to discuss) with a medically diagnosed hearing or a visual impairment

their families and carers

their schools or early years settings

Here you will find more information on types of and information on .
We do this by:
We follow statutory guidance on duties, policies and procedures relating to Part 3 of the Children and Families Act 2014 and the Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice

The outcomes we strive to achieve include:
Here you will find more information about habilitation. There is a useful video here shoing mobility and orientation skills in use: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-3GlbJ5RMc&feature=youtu.be
What skills or training do our staff have?

Raising expectations and achievements for children and young people with hearing and vision loss.

Increasing awareness of the adaptations to teaching and strategies needed to support young people with hearing and vision loss.

Supporting and empowering families, children and young people to understand and accept the implications of their sensory impairment

Helping children and young people with sensory impairments to become independent learners and be prepared for adult life.

Our teachers have additional training and hold the Mandatory Qualifications for Teachers of Hearing and Visual Impairment (Teacher of the Deaf, QTVI).

We also have specialist Teaching Assistants, an Educational Audiology Lead, a Deaf Tutor and a Registered Habitation Specialist. For more information about the role of a Teacher of the Deaf and QTVI the video links below may help:
How do we keep in touch?
We work with other professionals and organisations and some useful contacts for hearing and visual impairment can be found in our downloads section.
We can provide materials in Braille. How do I give a compliment or make a complaint?

We provide a record of our visit to both parents and settings.

Annual reports and targets and evaluations.

Reports for Education, Health and Care plan reviews.

A range of satisfaction survey questionnaires.

Review meetings.

When required interpreters can be arranged for assessments

In the first instance contact the Team Leader Sensory Inclusion Service.

The SIS follows the City of Wolverhampton Council's complaints and compliments procedure. For more information please visit the following links.

Pay us a compliment

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Sensory Inclusion Service (SIS) Vision and Hearing Teams

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Sensory Inclusion Service will always put children and young people with sensory impairments at the heart of everything we do. We strive to minimise barriers to learning and achievement for children and young people with sensory impairments. We aim to enable them to develop and use the skills they need for life in and beyond education.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The children's Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) service is available to all children and young people aged 0 to 16 years old, or up to the age of 19 years if they are in full time education at school or college.

The service is for children with speech, language, communication and/or eating and drinking difficulties.

The aim of the Speech and Language Therapist is to help the child or young person to reach their full potential by providing assessment, diagnosis and intervention through programmes of activities, individual or group therapy and advice and support. We also have a team of Speech and Language Therapy Support Practitioners who work in primary schools throughout Wolverhampton to provide therapy.

The Speech and Language Therapy team works in close partnership with the child, their family and other professionals such as teachers, nursery staff, health visitors and Early Years workers, to promote positive outcomes for all children.

Anyone can refer a child to this service by completing the referral forms. This includes health visitors, GPs, Consultants, teachers and parents.

All Speech and Language Therapists are registered with the Health Professions Council as the national regulatory body and with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.

Please use the links on the left to find out more

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The children's Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) service is available to all children and young people aged 0 to 16 years old, or up to the age of 19 years if they are in full time education at school or college. The service is for children with speech, language, communication and/or eating and drinking difficulties.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Our Occupational Therapists support babies, children and young people who have conditions which affect their physical and functional development.
What does your service do?
We work with children who have neurological, developmental, and orthopaedic conditions who may also have complex long-term medical, social and learning needs. The focus is on maximising a child or young person's physical ability within their everyday activities at home, in education and in their community.

Occupational therapists work together with Physiotherapists to achieve the outcomes outlined here.

Occupational therapists tend to work more on the practical activities of your child's daily living such as bathing; toileting; attention and concentration; school work and handwriting; hand eye coordination and visual perception.

The team identify the best combination of activities and equipment (such as seating), for your child. Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists also work with Speech and Language Therapists on aspects of feeding. Occupational Therapists will see some children individually.

Self-management and independence is an important aspect of the service. Treatment sessions vary greatly depending upon your individual need and include:

Regular assessments where we identify the most appropriate therapy interventions for you. We offer you an individual programme to meet your particular needs involving either individual therapy or specialist group work.

Developing your treatment programme which may include exercises and positioning. We can train other people who help you such as your family (parents, grandparents and brothers and sisters), your respite carer and your teachers to do your exercises and positioning with you if we all agree to do this.

Fine motor skills assessment and advice to support your everyday activities.

Assessment and advice about specialist equipment designed to improve your functional ability and mobility. Social Care (Independent Living Service) provides some specialist equipment for you and some will come from the Health Service. Therapists will make detailed assessment of your need and apply for funding from the correct provider. If an item is required and there is no funding available, your therapist will help you submit applications for funding from charitable organisations.

Contribution to your Education Healthcare Plans, support you at Team Around the Child and other meetings and reports. A Therapist may act as your Keyworker. Occupational Therapists will share their findings with members of the wider team if you and your parents / carers give permission.

Signposting you and your family / carers to helpful activities and to other organisations, including referral to Mobility Services or Orthotics if needed.

Provide training in the Cool kids and Cool characters approach. The training is free to all education settings in Wolverhampton and takes place regularly throughout the year.

Provide online resources for all Wolverhampton schools enabling them to identify appropriate activities which can be built into the school day to support movement, sensory and fine motor activities such as developing handwriting skills.

Our Occupational Therapists specialise in the treatment of children and young people. We follow local and national professional guidelines, and have supportive management training and review structure. Our therapists have had further training in Bobath, neuro-development, sensory integration, orthopaedics. All staff are DBS checked and undertake on-going mandatory training and continuing professional development
What to do if you are unhappy about a decision that the service makes?
All decisions regarding therapy are made in consultation with you and your family or carers. We get the best results when we work closely with the other people who are involved with you, and we aim to plan your treatment in partnership with these people. This means that the whole team who support you can adapt to give a unified approach, usually helped by - Team Around The Child. Joint planning means that we try to ensure that you and your family / carers are happy with decisions.

If you are unhappy, please discuss your concerns with your child's therapist first and then with the service lead if you feel that is necessary.
How the service is monitored and reviewed?
Every member of our team has an appraisal and continuing professional development according to service needs and changes. We work to the professional standard of the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) and professional bodies. Local governance arrangements involve monitoring of all incidents.
How to give a compliment or make a complaint about the service?
Use the suggestion box at The Gem Centre, containing the forms you need to make a complaint or give a compliment.

Contact The Gem Centre directly to access the most appropriate person.

Contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) based at New Cross Hospital on Tel: 01902 695362 / 695368 or Email: rwh-tr.pals@nhs.net

Visit The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust website at www.royalwolverhamptonhospitals.nhs.uk or emailrwh-tr.complaints@nhs.net for complaints.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Children's Therapy Services - Occupational Therapy

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Our Occupational Therapists support babies, children and young people who have conditions which affect their physical and functional development. What does your service do? We work with children who have neurological, developmental, and orthopaedic conditions who may also have complex long-term medical, social and learning needs.

# data[].attributes.body
Child

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Wolverhampton Specialist CAMHS covers a range of services for children, young people and families who are experiencing mental health problems. Each of our specialist services contain a multidisciplinary team that are able to provide a range of therapies and interventions to help service users plan a way forward that is individual to them.

From January 2015 we launched a Single Point of Access (SPA) starting to bring together Wolverhampton CAMHS services and children's learning disability services across the city. This single approach has many benefits to our patients and referrers including creating a more streamlined and efficient process and reducing delays in referrals. A new telephone, fax number and email have been set up to receive all referrals for our Child and Family Service and Inspire in Wolverhampton.

The new contact details are:

Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

A single streamlined referral form is also now available for these services and can be accessed by clicking here.

Wolverhampton Specialist CAMHS Services

Child and Family Service

The Child and Family Service is a service with lots of different professionals who assess, diagnosis and provide treatment for any child or adolescent up to 18 years of age who are experiencing mental health difficulties. Problems people/children come to see us for include things like:

Relationship problems

Fears of various things

Feeling down and sad

Eating problems

Family Separations

Factors that affect learning in school

Self harm

Difficult habits

Psychosis

Families often come to us who are under stress related to a death, birth of a child, relationship breakdown, separations, divorce, remarriage and other unsettling situations. In a child or young person, this stress may show itself in difficult behaviour, strained relationships, minor illnesses, problems at school or simply general unhappiness. Sometimes these things seem so overwhelming it's hard to see the way forward.

Inspire

We support children and young people from Wolverhampton who have a learning disability, as well as their families. We also provide support and guidance to other professionals who work with children and young people with a learning disability.

We work with young people from birth up to the age of 18yrs. We help children and young people with a learning disability:

* who feel sad or upset or unhappy.

* who sometimes get very angry.

* who need to learn how to do things for themselves - such as washing, dressing, going to the toilet.

* who sometimes have difficult thoughts that are hard to ignore or that make them feel unhappy or scared.

* to learn how to get on with other people.

We offer community based support and a range of ways to help that include 1-1 therapy support, group support, family working, consultation to professionals and services, teaching and training, skills training. Support can be offered at home, at school or in other community settings.

Downloads

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Changes to SEN reforms guide for children and young people_0

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
FINAL DESIGNED Easy read SENDreforms parents v11

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
February 2021 Ebulletin

We hope this finds you safe and well. Here we are in February and juggling remote learning, childcare and work along with all the other challenges that this lockdown sends. The IASS is still here offering free and confidential information, advice and support on SEN/disability matters for children and young people (0-25) and their parents/carers. It's more important than ever to look after our mental health. There are lots of resources to assist you which you can also find via our social media pages @WolvesIASS. Happy reading.

IASS online training Spring 2021

Please join us to learn more about how children and young people with special educational needs/disabilities (SEND) are supported with or without an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP). Improve your knowledge of the law around SEND and feel more confident in discussions and decisions. Parents, carers and professionals working in Wolverhampton are welcome to join.

Download our Spring 2021 online training flyer. (Click on the dates to book your place)

Covid-19 SEND update

We continue to receive enquiries about attendance at schools and settings. Here is a helpful reminder:

Children and young people with an EHC plan should be allowed to continue attending their education setting if their parent wants them to (or, for post-16 provision, if the young person wants to attend).

Where, for any reason, it is not possible for a child or young person with SEND -
including both those with an EHC plan and those who are supported through SEN
Support - to attend their education setting during this period, they should receive
remote education and support.

There is no change to the legal duty for schools and colleges to use their best endeavours in meeting the special educational needs of pupils/students whether they are accessing a place or are at home.

You can read more in the latest Government guidance
Guidance on who should be allowed to access a school place Details on the system of protective measures that schools should put in place Resources that are suitable for pupils and students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) of all ages The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) updated guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19 Guidance on making a support bubble with another household
Update on children's therapy services

Wolverhampton therapy service appointments are continuing with children & young people who have or are likely to have an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP) and for those attending a special school or other education setting with an active Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist.

Support for home learning

Where it is not possible for a child or young person with SEND - including both those with an EHC plan and those who are supported through SEN Support - to attend their education setting during this period, they should receive remote education and support.
Supporting your children's remote education during coronavirus (COVID-19) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Wolverhampton Education Psychology Service continues to offer a free consultation service to parents/carers living in Wolverhampton and also to parents/carers of children or young people in the care of Wolverhampton Local Authority.
E ducational Psychology Wolverhampton Wolverhampton Outreach parent support offer
Wolverhampton Outreach Service is now offering support directly to parents. This may include help for your child to engage in home learning, access the curriculum or develop on-task behaviours whilst learning at home.

You will find helpful information and resources on the Covid-19 page of the IASS website.

Equipment to support home learning

The City of Wolverhampton Council is supporting schools to access equipment to support pupils to learn remotely, through the DfE scheme and through a local device lending scheme (the council is loaning out laptops, MiFi dongles, data SIMs and providing BT Hotspot codes via schools). Parents should liaise with schools regarding digital hardware

The Council's Education Excellence department has developed a parental digital literacy offer in partnership with Adult Education Services and E-Services. Again, parents should contact their child's school for more information.

The Council is raising the profile of the digital inclusion agenda in the city and collecting data to help us to understand the scale of need - this included a parent/pupil survey last term which many schools and families took part in.

DigitalWolves has the latest local and national support to support children and families continue with their learning at home and online.

HeadStart Virtual Offer

Headstart Wolverhampton offers virtual wellbeing sessions for pupils, signposting and navigation to wellbeing resources and services that are available locally and nationally, as well as 'Train the Trainer' sessions on the Wellbeing Toolkit. In addition, sessions on stress for teaching staff can be booked via the Wolverhampton Education Wellbeing Network.
Read the latest Headstart newsletter

Opportunity for young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities

The Co-production and Youth Engagement Team that supports Wolverhampton's youth voice is creating more opportunities for young people aged 11 - 25 to get involved.

This is an exciting opportunity for young people to come together and share their views and experiences about things that are important to them and raise awareness. They will be supported to build their confidence, develop new skills and work together with the City of Wolverhampton Council and its partners to make positive changes that will improve the lives of young people and their families.

To express an interest in joining the group please complete the Expression of Interest form. An easy read format and Parent/carer consent form is also available.

For more information please visit Wolverhampton Youth Engagement Strategy or contact Alison.baggs@wolverhampton.gov.uk

Digital Skills Training Programme

Caudwell Children is offering young people (18-25) with autism an opportunity to join its Digital Skills Training Programme aimed at upskilling and introducing individuals to the world of work within the Digital Industry.

There are still a couple of places left for the next course which starts 22nd February. To apply for a place on the Digital Skills Training Programme or for more information visit
www.caudwellchildren.com/digital-skills or email digitalskills@caudwellchildren.com
See Digital Skills flyer for details

Changes to Mental Health Act

The government is seeking views on proposed reform of the Mental Health Act. The Government's proposals aim to:

Reduce detentions and ensure treatment is focused on improving health.

Give people greater control over their treatment.

Improve care for people with a learning disability or autism.

Tackle mental health inequalities.

The changes are summarised in a White Paper Reforming the Mental Health Act - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

You can give your views on the proposals using the online portal at Mental Health Act 2020 (dhsc.gov.uk)

Consultation runs until 21st April 2021.

Give your views

We always welcome feedback on experiences of using the IASS. If you haven't already please complete a short survey to tell us about your experience . https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/83S8PNJ

Please help us to increase our Social Media following

We post lots of information and advice on our Facebook and Twitter Pages to keep you aware and informed of upcoming events, activities, useful resources and other information.

If you don't already please follow us on Facebook and Twitter

@wolvesiass

@wolvesiass

@wolvesiass

Share your news

We are always happy to share information on our e-bulletins which help to promote a relevant and appropriate service which will be informative and of interest to our readers.

We aim to add short and punchy stories, facts and information. Please add web-links wherever possible & any necessary documents in PDF.

Please e-mail your information to ias.service@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Our next e-bulletin will be sent out Wednesday 24th February so please send any inserts by Friday 19th February.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We hope this finds you safe and well. Here we are in February and juggling remote learning, childcare and work along with all the other challenges that this lockdown sends. The IASS is still here offering free and confidential information, advice and support on SEN/disability matters for children and young people (0-25) and their parents/carers.

# data[].attributes.body
If you have any concerns about your child or require any advice/support please do not hesitate to contact the SENDCO, Mrs Emma Rushton on 07394 573301 or erushton@lawnswoodcampus.co.uk

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Our Wellbeing characters are ready to teach pupils all over the country. Each day has a focus to help pupil's wellbeing.

The focus is on bravery and confidence. Pupils will focus on that strength of character and will find ways to increase their confidence and bravery.

Tuesdays we look at being 'thoughtful'

The focus is on being thoughtful and kind. How they can help others and think about other people's feelings.

The focus is on goals and wishes. How they can set a goal and reach that goal. How that will make them feel.

Thursdays we look at 'thankfulness'

The focus is on gratitude and looking for those little things we appreciate. This will help their positive outlook on life.

The focus is on friendship and how connecting with friends is important for their wellbeing. It will also look at qualities of friendship.

The focus is on looking after minds and bodies by doing things that make them feel good.

The focus is on celebrating their achievements that week. If you look hard enough there is always something to be proud of.

Each PowerPoint has a few slides which you can share remotely from home using screen share, on a whiteboard in the classroom, on an IPAD (install the free PowerPoint app), on a laptop with PowerPoint installed.

Should you want to print this out you could do that by saving the PowerPoint as a PDF and then printing it.

For week one the PowerPoint starts with the character, moves onto vocabulary, then activities which only need paper and pencils. It ends with affirmations. This will change slightly each week. There are plans for 3 weeks worth of PowerPoints and that will be reviewed and extended if needed. You could add other activities or parents you could really focus the whole day on the PowerPoint and find other activities to do to compliment it. Check our free resources for additional resources.

We also have a printable pack with posters and worksheets and you will find the link within each PowerPoint.
WEEK 1 WEEK 2 WEEK 3
If you want to share these resources with parents you MUST ensure our terms and conditions remain on the resource. We use some licensed clipart and it is important that clipart artist is credited. The easiest way is to link to this post for parents to download.

If you want some activities for FEBRUARY please download our FREE Calendar which is linked to Children's Mental Health week. There are 28 activities in PowerPoint and Printable format. Please go to this link 'ELSA Support February Calendar'

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Wellbeing Week Daily Resources - Elsa Support

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Our Wellbeing week daily characters are ready to teach pupils all over the country. Each day has a focus to help pupil's wellbeing.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Getting your little ones to sleep can be tricky. Here are 10 tips that may help your kids settle into bed.

Sleep is an important part of maintaining good health, but issues with falling asleep aren't just problems that come with adulthood. Kids can have trouble getting enough rest, and when they can't sleep... you can't sleep.

Bedtime can become a battle zone when little ones won't settle in and fall asleep. But there are ways to even the odds of victory. Try using these 10 tips to learn how to fight the battle... and win!

School-age children need between 9 and 11 hours of sleep each night, according to the National Sleep Foundation. But there's a lot of variability in sleep needs and patterns. Most kids have patterns that don't change much, no matter what you do.

Early risers will still rise early even if you put them to bed later, and night owls won't fall asleep until their bodies are ready.

That's why it's important for parents to work with their children in setting a responsible bedtime that allows them to get plenty of sleep and awake on time, says Ashanti Woods, MD, a pediatrician in Baltimore, Maryland.

Set a wake-up time based on how much sleep your child needs and what time they go to bed. Woods recommends creating a wake-up routine as early as the preschool years to help prevent stress for parents down the road.

And remember to be consistent with the schedule. Allowing your child to sleep later on weekends is generous, but could backfire in the long run.

Those extra hours of sleep will make it hard for their body to feel tired at bedtime. But if you can try to make bedtime and wake-up time the same, within an hour or so every day, you'll be making everyone's lives sooooo much easier.

Routines are especially important for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Woods recommends that after dinner the remainder of the evening should include light playtime, bath, brushing teeth, a bedtime story, and then bed.

Aim for a routine that is comforting and relaxing, setting the ideal bedtime atmosphere. Before long, your child's body may automatically start to become sleepy at the beginning of the routine.

Melatonin is an important piece of sleep-wake cycles. When melatonin levels are at their highest, most people are sleepy and ready for bed.

Research from 2011 found that blue light from a television screen, phone, or computer monitor can interfere with the production of the hormone melatonin.

Watching TV, playing video games, or scrolling web pages on a phone or computer right before bed keep your child up an extra 30 to 60 minutes, according to this 2017 study.

Make the bedroom a screen-free zone or at least make sure all screens are dark at bedtime. And keep your phone on silent when you're in your child's room - or don't carry it in there at all.

Instead of screen time, Abhinav Singh, MD, director of the Indiana Sleep Center, recommends reading to your child in the evening to allow their brain to rest.

Another hormone that plays a role in sleep is cortisol, also known as the "stress hormone." When cortisol levels are high, your child's body won't be able to shut down and go to sleep.

Keep pre-bedtime activities calm. This can help avoid excess amounts of cortisol in your child's system. "You need to reduce stress to make it easier to fall asleep," says Dr. Sarah Mitchell, chiropractor and sleep consultant.

Soft sheets, room darkening shades, and relative quiet can help your child differentiate between day and night, making it easier to fall asleep.

"Creating a sleep-inducing environment is important because it sets the stage for sleep by reducing distractions," says Mitchell. "When you're calm you are not distracted, and can fall asleep more quickly and with less help."

Your child's sleep cycle isn't just dependent on light (or the lack thereof). It's also sensitive to temperature. Melatonin levels help to regulate the drop of internal body temperature needed to sleep.

However, you can help regulate the external temperature. Don't bundle your child up too much or set the heat too high.

Whitney Roban, PhD, clinical psychologist and sleep specialist, recommends dressing your child in breathable cotton pajamas and keeping the bedroom temperature around 65 to 70°F (18.3 to 21.1°C) at night.

Ghosts and other scary creatures may not actually roam around at night, but instead of dismissing bedtime fears, address them with your child.

If simple reassurance doesn't work, try using a special toy to stand guard at night or spray the room with "monster spray" before bed.

Roban recommends scheduling time during the day to address any fears and avoiding using bedtime for these type of conversations.

"Children are very smart and will quickly learn that they can stall bedtime if they use the time to express their bedtime fears," she says.

Kids can have trouble shutting their brains off for the night. So, instead of increasing that anxiety by insisting that it's time to go to bed ("now!"), consider focusing more on relaxation and keeping your child calm.

Tryteaching your child a deep breathing technique to calm their body. "Breathe in through your nose for 4 seconds, hold for 5 seconds, exhale through your mouth for 6 seconds," says Roban.

Younger children can just practice taking long, deep breaths in and out, she says.

Sometimes, your best-laid plans just don't yield the results that you want. (Hello, welcome to parenthood!)

If your child has trouble falling asleep, has persistent nightmares, snores, or breathes through their mouth, they might have a sleep disorder, says Mitchell.

Always talk to your pediatrician if you have any concerns about your child's sleeping habits. They may recommend a sleep consultant or have other suggestions for you to try so the entire family can get a good night's sleep!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Bedtime can become a battle when little bodies don't abide by the clock. Here are 10 tips to learn how to win the fight.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Fortunately, specific behavioral changes and adjustments to the sleep environment will help most children with insomnia. We've compiled the top tips that are proven to help kids sleep. The recommendations outlined here are best suited for toddlers through early adolescence. Both babies and teens will have specific considerations of their own.

These lists may seem long, but you don't need to implement them all at once. It's better to focus on trying a few small changes, giving them time to work, and then adjusting your approach based on how your child responds.

Keep in mind that every child's sleep needs will vary based on their age, genetics, and cultural differences. Therefore, not all approaches will work equally well for all children, and there can be an element of trial and error. However, your patience will be rewarded in time as your little one learns to fall asleep quickly on their own and keep sleeping soundly through the night.

Sleep hygiene - a collection of habits and behaviors that promote good sleep - is vital for children. Many sleep struggles are caused or made worse by poor sleep hygiene. When practicing sleep hygiene, remember that consistency is key. Sleep strategies take time and repetition to be effective.

Create a Routine: Humans are creatures of habit. A lets your child's body and mind know that it's time to settle down and prepare for sleep. The actual routine can be specific to your child, but it should last around 20 minutes and consist of three to four quiet, soothing activities such as putting on PJs, brushing teeth, a warm bath, and reading. Bedtime routines provide children with a sense of familiarity and comfort, which acts in direct opposition to the uncertainty of insomnia.

Set a Bedtime: A sleep schedule works with your child's natural biological clock to promote dozing off with regularity. Bedtimes are most useful when they're consistent, so try to keep the same bedtime on weekends as on school nights. Altering bedtimes during the weekend will make it more difficult for kids to maintain their normal weekday schedules.

Implement a Screen Curfew: The ubiquity of screens makes this rule hard to implement, but it's well worth it. Mobile devices, TVs, and tablets emit a type of blue light that suppresses melatonin, a hormone that promotes sleep. Children may be to the effects of light from screens. Screen time also stimulates the brain, making it harder to wind down for sleep. Electronic devices should be kept out of the bedroom and ideally not used within one hour of bedtime. Consider using the created by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Get Exercise: Physical activity is proven to help people of all ages . Most children need at least of exercise per day. Just make sure to avoid vigorous activity within two hours of bedtime. Otherwise, your child may feel wound-up and find it harder to fall asleep.

Avoid Scary or Violent Content: Feeling scared or worried is a common reason kids can't sleep. So it's no wonder that scary or violent movies, TV, video games, and even books in the evening are in children. If your kiddo likes the gory or spooky stuff, save it for the daytime.

Nix Caffeine: This is a no brainer. Caffeine is a stimulant that can both make it harder to fall asleep and reduce the quality of sleep. In addition to the usual suspects like soda, coffee, and energy drinks, watch out for more discreet sources like tea, decaf coffee (which still has trace amounts of caffeine) and chocolate. Even small amounts of caffeine can have a in a little body. Don't let your child consume caffeine , or preferably, avoid it all together.

Don't Sleep With a Pet: While it's tempting for tots to snuggle Fido in bed, a pet's movements and noises during the night can awaken them from a peaceful slumber. Try having your furry family member sleep outside of your child's bedroom for a few nights to see if that helps. To make the transition easier, include saying goodnight to pets in the bedtime routine.

Optimizing your child's bedroom is an integral part of inducing quick and seamless shuteye. People with insomnia are more likely to be distracted by an uncomfortable bedroom National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source , which makes sleep even harder. These tips can help you create the perfect sleep setup for your little one:

Room Temperature: The body and brain both in preparation for sleep, and this can be disrupted by a stuffy bedroom. To avoid this, try to keep the thermostat around 65 degrees.

Noise: Research suggests that even mild sound disturbances can , even if the sleeper never awakens. Consider noise-blocking curtains to cut down on street noise. You can also use a fan or white noise machine to drown out unpredictable or distracting sounds.

Light Level: Start dimming indoor lights as bedtime approaches, and keep your child's bedroom as dark as possible. This and . If your child is afraid of the dark, a small nightlight is okay.

Soothing smells: Calming scents like can have mild sedative effects. You might try using essential oils, a room diffuser, or dried potpourri sachet to provide a soothing, sleep-inducing smell.

Unfortunately, childhood anxiety is steadily rising Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) As the nation's health protection agency, CDC saves lives and protects people from health threats. known to disrupt sleep Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) ADAA's mission focuses on improving quality of life for those with anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, and co-occurring disorders through education, practice, and research. View Source . Stress is View Source in all ages, so anything that can reduce worrying before bed is helpful. Help your child learn to manage their concerns with these tactics:

Write In a Journal: Encourage your child to get their anxious thoughts out of their head and onto paper. It can also help for them to write about the good things that happened in the day. Focusing on the positive will help children feel more secure.

Mindfulness Exercises: Mindfulness exercises like meditation are proven to . There are many kid-friendly meditations that parents and children can do together. These often consist of simple breathing techniques, body awareness, or guided imagery. Look to books, tapes, and even smartphone apps for ideas.

Create a Worry Time: It's okay to discuss worries, just not at bedtime. Set aside a specific time during the day for your children to discuss their concerns and how to cope with them. This can free children of the need to dwell on worries before bed.

It's normal for even the best little sleepers to awaken from slumber and ask for a parent. When your child cries out for you, it's okay to tend to them. However, you should do so with intention. This is not the time to give in to demands, as doing so can increase stimulation and make it harder to fall asleep. Fulfilling your child's every request can also reinforce an unhelpful pattern of relying on parental assistance for sleep.

Instead, keep the checks short and simple. The point is to provide your child with reassurance that they're safe and cared for, while still fostering their ability to self-soothe and sleep on their own. Some parents may even wait a few seconds before answering a call so that their child has the opportunity to fall back asleep on their own.

If you have any doubt over whether your child's nighttime checks are appropriate, consult your child's doctor for guidance.

If your child continues to have trouble sleeping despite your best efforts, it may be time to check in with their pediatrician. Although uncommon, there can be more serious causes of childhood insomnia, such as childhood sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome.

Any of these reasons are cause to involve a doctor:

Significant daytime sleepiness

Frequent or severe snoring or other abnormal breathing during sleep

Suspected psychological or developmental condition

Considering medications or supplements to aid in sleep

For a couple of weeks before the doctor appointment, it can help to keep a sleep diary. This is a nightly recording of your child's bed time, nap times, sleep length, and activities. A sleep diary helps to identify patterns and possible problems to address.

Learn more about our Editorial Team

References

Esparham, A. (2020, January 2). Melatonin and Children's Sleep. HealthyChildren.Org.
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/sleep/Pages/Melatonin-and-Childrens-Sleep.aspx

Mindell, J. A., Li, A. M., Sadeh, A., Kwon, R., & Goh, D. Y. (2015). Bedtime routines for young children: a dose-dependent association with sleep outcomes. Sleep, 38(5), 717-722.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25325483/

LeBourgeois, M. K., Hale, L., Chang, A. M., Akacem, L. D., Montgomery-Downs, H. E., & Buxton, O. M. (2017). Digital media and sleep in childhood and adolescence. Pediatrics, 140(Suppl 2), S92-S96.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29093040/

Family Media Use Plan. (n.d.)., Retrieved September 23, 2020, from
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/media/Pages/default.aspx

A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia. (2017, August 30). Benefits of Exercise., Retrieved August 30, 2020, from
https://medlineplus.gov/benefitsofexercise.html

A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia. (2017, August 30). How Much Exercise Do I Need?., Retrieved August 30, 2020, from
https://medlineplus.gov/howmuchexercisedoineed.html

Garrison, M. M., Liekweg, K., & Christakis, D. A. (2011). Media use and child sleep: the impact of content, timing, and environment. Pediatrics, 128(1), 29-35.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21708803/

Temple J. L. (2019). Review: Trends, Safety, and Recommendations for Caffeine Use in Children and Adolescents. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 58(1), 36-45.
https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0890856718318847

Drake, C., Roehrs, T., Shambroom, J., & Roth, T. (2013). Caffeine effects on sleep taken 0, 3, or 6 hours before going to bed. Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 9(11), 1195-1200.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24235903/

Narisawa H. (2013). Anxiety and its related factors at bedtime are associated with difficulty in falling asleep. The Tohoku journal of experimental medicine, 231(1), 37-43.
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/tjem/231/1/231_37/_article

Harding, E. C., Franks, N. P., & Wisden, W. (2019). The temperature dependence of sleep. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 13, 336.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31105512/

Van Der Werf, Y. D., Altena, E., Schoonheim, M. M., Sanz-Arigita, E. J., Vis, J. C., De Rijke, W., & Van Someren, E. J. (2009). Sleep benefits subsequent hippocampal functioning. Nature neuroscience, 12(2), 122-123.
http://www.nature.com/articles/nn.2253

Burgess, H. J., & Molina, T. A. (2014). Home lighting before usual bedtime impacts circadian timing: a field study. Photochemistry and photobiology, 90(3), 723-726.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24918238/

Gooley, J. J., Chamberlain, K., Smith, K. A., Khalsa, S. B., Rajaratnam, S. M., Van Reen, E., Zeitzer, J. M., Czeisler, C. A., & Lockley, S. W. (2011). Exposure to room light before bedtime suppresses melatonin onset and shortens melatonin duration in humans. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 96(3), E463-E472.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21193540/

Koulivand, P. H., Khaleghi Ghadiri, M., & Gorji, A. (2013). Lavender and the nervous system. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM, 2013, 681304.
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/681304/

National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. (2020, June 15). Data and Statistics on Children's Mental Health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/data.html

Anxiety and Depression Association of America. (n.d.). Sleep Disorders., Retrieved August 31, 2020, from
https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/related-illnesses/sleep-disorders

Ong, J. C., Manber, R., Segal, Z., Xia, Y., Shapiro, S., & Wyatt, J. K. (2014). A randomized controlled trial of mindfulness meditation for chronic insomnia. Sleep, 37(9), 1553-1563.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25142566/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Sleep Strategies for Children | Sleep Foundation

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Wondering about sleep aids for kids? These proven sleep tips will help children learn to fall asleep quickly and stay asleep.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Fine Motor Skills Activities for Older Kids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
These fine motor skills activities could work with older kids who find other tasks too childish.

# data[].attributes.body
This is an AMAZING website for teachers, parents and therapists! It includes paid and free resources/activities for: executive functioning, fine motor skills, handwriting, sensory barriers vision and functioning skills

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Easy, actionable, and functional Occupational Therapy activities and interventions. OT resources and information to help kids thrive.

# data[].attributes.headline
iPad apps for Learners with Dyscalculia 

# data[].attributes.subject
iPad apps for Learners with Dyscalculia 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
ColorVeil: Reduce eye strain, help with Dyslexia and Visual Stress

A screen color filter over any application you are using

Helps users with Dyslexia and Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome

Reduce eye strain along with screen brightness

Easily customize the color and opacity of the filter

Match the prescription from the optometrist

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Dim screen brightness, reduce eye strain, and save energy. It helps with eye strain, Dyslexia, Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome, or Visual Stress.

# data[].attributes.body
Download

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
OpenDyslexic is a typeface designed against some common symptoms of dyslexia. If you like the way you are able to read this page, and others, then this typeface is for you!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
If your child is, or may be, dyslexic then we have information, resources and training available to help you to ensure that your child is able to reach their full potential.

You can also find information in our Supporting a Child or Young Person: A Guide for Parents booklet on how to support your child at home, working with your school to secure a diagnosis and support, and what support the law entitles a young person with dyslexia to and how to access it.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Information, resources and training to help parents ensure their child can reach full potential.

# data[].attributes.headline
Sensory diet to support children with ADHD

# data[].attributes.subject
Sensory diet to support children with ADHD

# data[].attributes.body
Try some of these ideas to help ADHD students

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
ADHD Students Learn Differently. Try These ADD Classroom Strategies

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The classroom is a stressful place for an ADHD student. These effective strategies are some of the best ADD Classroom strategies we have found for teachers.

# data[].attributes.headline
12 Amazing Superpowers of students with ADHD 

# data[].attributes.subject
12 Amazing Superpowers of students with ADHD 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The positives of ADHD are numerous and mighty - creativity, empathy, and tenacity, just to name a few. Here, readers share their amazing superpowers.

Thinking positive to find the plus sides of adhd.

1 of 13

Problem solving skills are a positive about ADHD.

2 of 13

Children use their creativity to build a fort.

3 of 13

A teenager consoles a friend, using her gift of compassion.

4 of 13

Girl with snorkel by family unpacking van shows her sense of humor.

5 of 13

The word impossible is written on a chalkboard, with the "im" crossed out, because those with ADHD have perseverance.

6 of 13

A woman is very observant and employs her keen sense of observation.

7 of 13

A mom holds her child while also ironing - multitasking is a strength for those with ADHD.

8 of 13

A man is very focused on writing in his notebook. Hyperfocus is a positive trait of ADHD.

9 of 13

A group of young children are running with endless energy, another positive trait of ADHD.

10 of 13

A father and son play airplane together. Their seal for life is an ADHD superpower.

11 of 13

A green apple in a group of oranges illustrates differences. Kids and adults with ADHD are very accepting.

12 of 13

A road sign has an arrow pointing to Right and another toward wrong. Those with ADHD have a strong moral compass.

13 of 13

More Articles Recommended For You

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Faster than a speeding bike! Able to leap stereotypes in a single bound! We asked readers what made them a notch above the rest. These are their answers.

# data[].attributes.body
Make sure your child is in the right space to start learning.

# data[].attributes.headline
Resources to support young people with ADHD

# data[].attributes.subject
Resources to support young people with ADHD

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The ADHD Foundation Neurodiversity Charity - an integrated health and education service.

# data[].attributes.body
Support ideas

A few ideas to support pupils with stress and anxiety

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Based on the 5 point scale - Download click the link below

# data[].attributes.body
Help your child to plan their task so that they can complete it independently.

# data[].attributes.body
These can be useful to help your child understand the order of activities that they need to complete.

# data[].attributes.body
What its like for ASD - a VR experience

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Autism Together is now one of the country's leading providers of services and support to people with autism and their families. We campaign on behalf of all individuals affected by autism, we encourage all our supporters to get involved with fundraising and volunteering with us and offer comprehensive training and job development to our employees.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A better life for autistic people ABOUT AUTISM A better life for autistic people ABOUT AUTISM A better life for autistic

# data[].attributes.body
AsIam Parents Guide to Autism

# data[].attributes.body
Try some of these mindful activities

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
New guide for parents who are coping with their child's self-harm: 'You are not alone'

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Young people's self-harm can leave families confused, anxious and feeling like there's nowhere to turn. Now, based on in-depth research with parents, a team from Oxford University's Centre for Suicide Research are launching a guide to help parents and carers who are trying to cope with this difficult situation.

# data[].attributes.body
When you are in the yellow or red zone, try some of these ways to help you calm down. Which one worked for you?

# data[].attributes.body
A collection to encourage children to develop a positive mindset and to look for the positives in each day.

# data[].attributes.body
Try the free headspace app

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Unlock hundreds of mood-boosting meditations, relaxing sleep exercises, focus music, and more with our biggest offer of the year.

It's the healthiest, happiest deal you'll find this Black Friday, and it won't last long.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Meditation and Sleep Made Simple - Headspace

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Live a healthier, happier, more well-rested life in just a few minutes a day with the Headspace app.

# data[].attributes.body
Link to NHS mental health services. Self referral form

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Feel happier

If you're struggling, talk to us - you're not alone, we're here to help.

VitaMinds is a FREE local NHS talking therapies service. We're here when the pressures of life, Covid and everything else feel too much. No need to see your GP, simply refer yourself in minutes online. Get in touch today and start lifting some of that pressure.

A free and confidential NHS service
Open as usual to help you during Covid-19
If you are struggling to cope then VitaMinds can help. VitaMinds works in partnership with the NHS to offer a range of therapies to adults 18-years and over, who are registered with a Basildon and Brentwood GP.

It's a FREE service and you don't need to visit a GP. Simply click the button below to get help or call us on 01268 977 171.
We help people with:
* Depression
* Low mood due to a physical condition (such as diabetes
or pain)
* Excessive worry or anxiety
* Panic attacks
* Sleep problems
* Stress
* Phobia(s)
* Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
* Experience of a traumatic event

How it works

Start your journey

How to access the service online

The form should only take about 5 minutes.
self referral

How to access the service by phone

Call us on 01268 977 171 during these hours*:

8am - 8pm Monday to Friday

9am - 12.30pm Saturday

We'll take some details from you and arrange an appointment.

We are not an emergency service and are not able to help with immediate crisis situations. If you need immediate help please contact either your GP or go to the Accident and Emergency Department of your local hospital (24hrs).

Alternatively, if you're experiencing a crisis and need a person to talk things through with, you can call the Crisis Teams in your area.

Our Services

We have several workshops and groups available, as well as online therapy.

Psychological Therapists

Psychological therapists are trained professionals who can help people to deal with problems that significantly interfere with their lives.

Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners

Some of the trained staff within the service are called psychological wellbeing practitioners (PWP). They are trained to be able to guide you through a range of self help materials that are specific to your difficulties.

Vita is an award-winning, CQC registered healthcare provider

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Feel happier If you're struggling, talk to us - you're not alone, we're here to help. VitaMinds is a FREE local NHS talking therapies service. We're here when the pressures of life, Covid and everything else feel too much. No need to see your GP, simply refer yourself in minutes online.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Special Needs Jungle provides parent-centred information, news, special needs resources and informed opinion about SEND - Special education needs and disability, Education, Health and Care Plans, children's physical and mental health including rare disease and SEN politics

# data[].attributes.headline
A parents guide to supporting grief and loss. 

# data[].attributes.subject
A parents guide to supporting grief and loss. 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Losing someone or something we love and feel close to is extremely difficult and painful. Grief is our natural emotional response to this loss, and it is a process rather than an event.

Your child, as well as you and other family members, may be grieving because of:

the death of someone in the family, like a parent, grandparent or sibling

the death of a friend, or someone they knew at school

the death of someone by suicide

an illness, such as cancer or dementia, of someone they are close to

the loss of a relationship, like someone moving away or no longer being a regular part of their life

the loss or death of a pet

How do young people respond to loss?
Every child and young person will react to, feel and express loss differently, and this will change over time. There is no right or wrong way for a young person to grieve.

Children and young people who have gone through a significant loss can feel:

It's helpful to remember that it is normal for your child to feel and experience these things after a loss, particularly if they have lost someone they were close to.

How can I help my child?

Talking to your child about loss

Explain to your child in an age-appropriate way what's happened, using clear language. We can find it difficult to say 'died' or 'dead' and might want to use softer expressions such as 'gone to sleep' or 'passed on'. But these expressions can be confusing.

Let them know that it's okay to feel however they feel, whether that's sad, overwhelmed, angry, worried or something else - and that there's no right or wrong way to grieve.

Be curious, empathetic and non-judgmental about how they're feeling, focusing on listening and providing emotional support.

Reassure them that you love them, they're not alone and they can talk to you whenever they need to.

If you're worried your child may be blaming themselves, reassure them that guilt is a common thing to feel - but that it is in no way their fault or responsibility.

If your child finds it difficult to talk, it might help to start a conversation while doing an activity. You can find our ideas here.

Especially with older children and teenagers, it's also okay to give them some space when they need it. Sometimes it helps to just sit together quietly, or to offer a hand squeeze or gentle hug.

Here are some other things that can really help:

Try to keep normal routines going as much as possible to provide a sense of security.

Reach out to your child's school to let them know what has happened and ask them what support they can provide.

Support your child to say goodbye. This could be attending gatherings such as the funeral, or other things like lighting a candle, letting off balloons, saying a prayer or poem or planting a flower or tree.

Spend quality time with your child to help them feel safe and relaxed. This can give them a break from the grief, even if just for a little while.

Encourage them to keep doing activities they enjoy. Reassure them that it's okay to feel happy, and that this does not take away from how much they care about the person they've lost.

Talk about the person who has died or been lost and share your memories together. You might want to create a memory box full of pictures and items that remind them of the person.

Encourage your child to express how they're feeling, by writing a letter to you, or to the person they have lost telling them all the things they want to say. They could also keep a diary, draw pictures or write songs or poems.

Young people's advice for other young people who are grieving

Take the next step, the next minute, the next day, one at a time

There is no one way to grieve

It's okay to be angry and to express your anger

There's no shame in having a big reaction

It's okay to feel nothing

It's okay not to be okay

It's okay to reach out for help

Don't feel guilty for having fun

You're not alone

Finding professional help

Grief has no set timescale, and it is normal to feel a whole range of emotions after a loss. Sometimes, however, a young person may feel they are struggling to cope over a much longer period of time.

Your child may need professional support if, over a prolonged period, they are:

feeling depressed or anxious

withdrawing from family, friends and activities

struggling to sleep

refusing to go to school

turning to less healthy coping mechanisms such as self-harming

talking regularly about wanting to join the person who has died

experiencing suicidal thoughts

acting like a much younger child

not believing that the person has died

Here are some ways you can find help for you and your child:
Pre-bereavement counselling
If you know that someone close to your child is going to die, pre-bereavement counselling can help them to think and talk about their feelings and worries. Some hospices and other charities offer this service, so speak to the professionals supporting your family to see what's available.
Emotional support services
Let your child know about the helplines, textlines and online chat services that are available to them, which are listed at the bottom of this page. Speak to your child's school about what they can provide, such as a teacher they can speak to or a buddying service.
Counselling and therapy
A counsellor or therapist can provide emotional support and help your child to make sense of their feelings. You can access free or subsidised counselling or therapy for your child through a bereavement charity (suggestions at the end of this page), your GP, your child's school and other local services you might be able to find online. If it's an affordable option for you, you can also find a private counsellor or therapist using the directories listed at the end of this guide.

Speaking to your GP
If you're worried about your child's mental health or wellbeing, you can speak to your GP (with or without your child) about next steps. Together you can discuss whether referral to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and/or an assessment by a mental health specialist is needed.

If you need support with your own grief, or you feel you're struggling to cope, it's really important that you get the help you need so you can be there for your child. You can speak to your GP about accessing free counselling or mental health support, or you can find counsellors, bereavement services and support groups listed below.

Where can I find support?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Parents Guide To Support - Grief and Loss

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Losing someone or something we love and feel close to is extremely difficult and painful. Grief is our natural emotional response to this loss, and it is a process rather than an event.

# data[].attributes.headline
Supporting your child with school related anxiety 

# data[].attributes.subject
Supporting your child with school related anxiety 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
It's normal for children and young people to feel worried about something that's happening at school - for example, when starting a new school or during exams. Sometimes, however, school can become challenging, stressful or distressing over a much longer period of time.

If your child is feeling anxious about school, or not able to go, it can be exhausting for both of you. Mornings in particular can become really stressful for the whole family, as you try to juggle your child's feelings alongside the need to get them to school and get on with your other responsibilities such as work. Even if you manage to get your child to the school gate, you might know how difficult they're going to find the day - or know that you'll be facing the same problem tomorrow morning.

If you're in this situation, we've got advice to help you explore what's going on with your child, make changes at school that can help, and find the support you need if your child can't go to school.

About the term 'school refusal'

When anxiety builds up to the point that a young person cannot go to school, this is often called 'school refusal' - and you might hear the school or other professionals using this term. However, many young people and parents do not like this term because it implies that 'refusing' school is a choice, and you may prefer to use terms such as emotionally-based school avoidance (ESBA) or anxiety-related absence.

What makes young people feel anxious about school?

Young people can feel anxious about school for lots of different reasons. They might be worried about making friends or fitting in, find schoolwork or lessons confusing, feel pressured to learn in a certain way or find their relationships with teachers difficult.

Sometimes, going through difficult experiences outside of school - such as bereavement, an illness in the family or being a young carer - can also make it harder for a child to feel settled at school.

For some young people, the school environment isn't right for them, and trying to fit into it can create a huge amount of stress. This might be the case if they are struggling with their mental health, or have a neurodiverse condition or Special Educational Need (SEN) such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia or dyspraxia. This can make the school environment anxiety-provoking and exhausting, especially if their condition or need is undiagnosed or not being well supported.

Young people might show they're feeling anxious about school by:

not wanting to get up and get ready

saying they can't go

worrying a lot about small issues, such as having the right equipment for a lesson

feeling sick, or having stomach aches or headaches

not sleeping well

not doing schoolwork, or their grades dropping

being angry or upset, or acting out - at school or at home

withdrawing - seeming low, quiet or depressed

Finding out what's going on for your child

Sometimes it can be difficult to work out what's making your child feel anxious, and the first step is often helping them to identify exactly what's worrying them. Once you understand the problem, you'll be in a much better position to make changes that can help.

Young people can find it hard to explain what's causing their feelings, and might not be able to answer direct questions like 'what's going on?' Using an anxiety iceberg can help to open up the conversation - giving you a more relaxed way of exploring together what's causing their anxiety.

Watch our video to find out how to make an anxiety iceberg with your child.

If you're making an anxiety iceberg with younger children, you might want to draw images on the iceberg, or encourage them to write simple words. With older children and teenagers, you can ask them to write key words and phrases on the iceberg, or do this as a mind map, with 'school' in the middle and all the things they're finding difficult around the outside.

Through this exercise, you might identify worries such as arriving at school, finding the environment noisy or overwhelming, finding lessons confusing, feeling lonely through the day, or feeling uncomfortable during specific subjects.

Making changes at school

Once you understand what's going on for your child, you can use their anxiety iceberg or mind map to communicate with the school and ask for specific changes.

Follow these steps to start a conversation with the school:

Here are some examples of things you can ask the school for:

Remember that even though this situation can be really tough for you and your child, it's a good idea to maintain a positive relationship with the school. Recognise the support they're offering and any changes they're making. This will help you work together to make things better for your child.

Building a relationship with the attendance team at my son's school was hugely helpful, we were talking with them each day.

Strategies you can try at home

For more information and advice on managing anxiety, have a look at our guide for parents.

If your child isn't able to go to school at the moment

If your child isn't going to school at the moment, this can be incredibly stressful and exhausting for you - and really tough for your child. You might be worried about whether they will be able to get back to school or the impact on their education. Or, you might feel overwhelmed because you're juggling this alongside work and other family commitments.

If your child's anxiety about school has built up to the point where they can't go, it's a good idea to get them some professional mental health or SEN support - see our advice on this below.

Alongside requesting professional help, try to:

The school's SEN and attendance policies should be on their website. Knowing what these are can support you during meetings with the school.

This can help if your child is unable to go to school for a longer period of time and you need to ask for more support, including provision of alternative full-time education.

Encourage your child to get up, do some studying and stop for lunch at the same times they would if they were in school. This will make adapting back to school easier. Explain to your child that if they cannot go to school, they will need to study at home - at least until alternative arrangements are put in place. Ask the school to help you facilitate tasks and activities your child can do and use online resources such as BBC Bitesize.

Not going to school could leave your child feeling really isolated. Make sure they stay connected to the outside world by seeing friends and family, doing activities they enjoy and getting outside for walks and exercise.

Speaking to friends online can be really important if your child is feeling isolated at home. Sometimes, however, you might notice that your child is spending lots of time gaming or on their phone, and that this is getting in the way of important daily activities like spending quality time with family, learning, or sleeping and eating well. If this is becoming a problem, have a look at our guide to gaming or guide to social media for more information and advice.

Local authorities must provide alternative education if a child of compulsory school age is unable to attend school over a longer period of time. If your child cannot attend school because of a mental or physical health issue, the local authority should provide an alternative as soon as it is clear that they will be away from school for more than 15 days (either consecutively or over time). Find out how to request alternative education.

What will happen if my child doesn't go to school?

Parents often tell us they are worried about fines and prosecution, but schools generally consider this only if they feel there is no valid reason for the absence, or that parents aren't engaging with the problem.

If the absence is prolonged, the case may be referred to a local council Education Welfare Officer (EWO). They will arrange a home visit to find out more and discuss strategies. The school may also refer to other support, including from CAMHS.

Helping your child return to school after an absence

Getting back to school after weeks or months may feel extremely difficult for your child, but you and the school can help make it more manageable. Here are some things you can do to help:

Set small, achievable targets, such as visiting the building outside school hours or attending one lesson.

Request a home visit from a school staff member so your child can check in while feeling safe, see that the school cares and discuss any strategies that might help them.

Ask for a reduced timetable, with regular reviews to discuss building back up at a manageable rate.

Discuss changing classes or sets if your child thinks this would help.

Focus on qualifications needed for what your child wants to do next, perhaps dropping a less relevant GCSE to reduce stress.

My son wasn't questioned about his absence when he did feel able to pop in for favourite lessons, helping to ease him back into full days of education.

Getting mental health and SEN support

If your child is struggling with anxiety and it's affecting their day-to-day life, learning or relationships, it's a good idea to find some professional support. Speaking to the GP and finding them a counsellor or therapist are two good places to start. You can find more information about GPs, counsellors and other mental health services in our guide to getting help for your child.

If there is no other obvious reason for your child's inability to attend school, they may have an undiagnosed Special Educational Need (SEN) such as dyslexia, autism or ADHD.

If you think this is the case:

Speak to the school's SENCO or your GP to ask for a referral for an assessment.

While you are waiting for an assessment, you can also ask the SENCO to refer your child for support from other professionals, such as an Educational Psychologist or Speech and Language Therapist. These professionals can identify specific needs and make recommendations for additional support the school can put in place - even if your child hasn't had a formal diagnosis yet.

SEN support at school
If your child is diagnosed with SEN, extra support and adjustments should be put in place at school to help them attend and learn. This is called SEN support, and should be available within the school's existing resources. Speak to the school's SENCO in the first instance about how the school will support your child.
Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans
If you do not think your child's needs can be met by the school's existing resources, you can ask the local authority to carry out an Education, Health and Care needs assessment (EHC needs assessment). If the local authority decides your child needs additional support, they will then make an Education, Health and Care plan (EHC plan). This outlines how the extra support they need will be provided. Find out more about EHC plans.
Your Local Offer
Your Local Offer is the information, support and services available for young people with SEN, and for their parents and families. You can find out what support is available in your area by going to your local authority's website and searching for their Local Offer.

If you need more information and advice about getting the right education for your child when they have been diagnosed with a Special Educational Need (SEN), IPSEA can help.

If you need to talk through a problem, their Advice Line can provide support with any educational issue resulting from your child's SEN. You can also find lots of information, including information on assessments and diagnosis, as well as getting support from the school and local authority, on their website.

Finding more information and advice

Useful helplines and websites

While we take care to ensure that the organisations we signpost to provide high quality information and advice, we cannot take responsibility for any specific pieces of advice they may offer. We encourage parents and carers to always explore the website of a linked service or organisation to understand who they are and what support they offer before engaging with them.

You might also find this helpful

We have more tips and advice on supporting your child with school, and information about how you can get in touch with our Parents Helpline.

This page was reviewed in December 2022. It was created with parents and carers with lived experience of supporting their child or young person with school anxiety. We will next review the page in 2025. YoungMinds is a proud member of PIF TICK - the UK's quality mark for trusted health information.
Whether you love the page or think something is missing, we appreciate your feedback. It all helps us to support more young people with their mental health.

Please be aware that this form isn't a mental health support service. If your child is in crisis right now and you want to talk to someone urgently, find out who to contact on our urgent help page.

At YoungMinds we take your privacy seriously. If you'd like to read more about how we keep the information we collect safe, take a look at our privacy policy.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
School Anxiety and Refusal | Parent Guide to Support

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
If your child is anxious about school, or refusing to go to school at all, read our tips and advice on how you can support their mental health.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
How to not need a holiday after the holidays

The holidays can be a stressful time for single parents, Natalie is a volunteer in our Wellbeing Digital Group and recently held an online workshop where she shared her 'go to' tools for managing the...

Read more

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We are Gingerbread, the charity for single parent families. We provide expert advice and practical support for single mums and dads in England and Wales.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We are the UKs leading charity for autistic people and their families. Since 1962, we have been providing support, guidance and advice, as well as campaigning for improved rights, services and opportunities to help create a society that works for autistic people.

# data[].attributes.body
Anna Freud- Advice for Parents & Carers for Mental Health & Well being

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Our use of cookies

We use necessary cookies to make our site work. We'd also like to set optional analytics to help us improve it. We won't set optional cookies unless you enable them. Using this tool will set a cookie on your device to remember your preferences.

For more detailed information about the cookies we use, see our Cookies page

Necessary cookies

Necessary cookies enable core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility. You may disable these by changing your browser settings, but this may affect how the website functions.

Analytics cookies

We'd like to set non-essential cookies, such as Google Analytics, to help us to improve our website by collecting and reporting information on how you use it. The cookies collect information in a way that does not directly identify anyone. For more information on how these cookies work, please see our Cookies page. If you are 16 or under, please ask a parent or carer for consent before accepting.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Parents and Carers | Advice and Guidance | Anna Freud Centre

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Advice and guidance for parents and carers to help them support a child or a young person experiencing poor mental health or wellbeing.

# data[].attributes.headline
Feeling overwhelmed? Struggling to cope? 

# data[].attributes.subject
Feeling overwhelmed? Struggling to cope? 

# data[].attributes.body
Text AFC to 85258

# data[].attributes.headline
Wolverhampton SEND Information Advice Support Service

# data[].attributes.subject
Wolverhampton SEND Information Advice Support Service

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Wolverhampton Information, Advice & Support Service

# data[].attributes.headline
Living Well with Autism- Social Stories 

# data[].attributes.subject
Living Well with Autism- Social Stories 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
This social story explains the social expectations involved in using a public restroom, including use of a stall and use of a urinal.

This single page is designed to be enlarged on a copier and made into a booklet.

These skills take practice and time to master, and patient instruction, so keep a change of clothes handy.

Please use this tool with sensitivity and privacy.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
﻿These social stories are designed to be enlarged on a copier and made into booklets, with one image per page. Feel free to customize them for your own child's needs. ﻿

# data[].attributes.headline
What is lockdown and social distancing? 

# data[].attributes.subject
What is lockdown and social distancing? 

# data[].attributes.headline
Anxiety can present itself in many ways...

# data[].attributes.subject
Anxiety can present itself in many ways...

# data[].attributes.body
It’s ok to feel like this. If it becomes overwhelming, ask for help

# data[].attributes.headline
Supporting your child with school related anxiety 

# data[].attributes.subject
Supporting your child with school related anxiety 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
It's normal for children and young people to feel worried about something that's happening at school - for example, when starting a new school or during exams. Sometimes, however, school can become challenging, stressful or distressing over a much longer period of time.

If your child is feeling anxious about school, or not able to go, it can be exhausting for both of you. Mornings in particular can become really stressful for the whole family, as you try to juggle your child's feelings alongside the need to get them to school and get on with your other responsibilities such as work. Even if you manage to get your child to the school gate, you might know how difficult they're going to find the day - or know that you'll be facing the same problem tomorrow morning.

If you're in this situation, we've got advice to help you explore what's going on with your child, make changes at school that can help, and find the support you need if your child can't go to school.

About the term 'school refusal'

When anxiety builds up to the point that a young person cannot go to school, this is often called 'school refusal' - and you might hear the school or other professionals using this term. However, many young people and parents do not like this term because it implies that 'refusing' school is a choice, and you may prefer to use terms such as emotionally-based school avoidance (ESBA) or anxiety-related absence.

What makes young people feel anxious about school?

Young people can feel anxious about school for lots of different reasons. They might be worried about making friends or fitting in, find schoolwork or lessons confusing, feel pressured to learn in a certain way or find their relationships with teachers difficult.

Sometimes, going through difficult experiences outside of school - such as bereavement, an illness in the family or being a young carer - can also make it harder for a child to feel settled at school.

For some young people, the school environment isn't right for them, and trying to fit into it can create a huge amount of stress. This might be the case if they are struggling with their mental health, or have a neurodiverse condition or Special Educational Need (SEN) such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia or dyspraxia. This can make the school environment anxiety-provoking and exhausting, especially if their condition or need is undiagnosed or not being well supported.

Young people might show they're feeling anxious about school by:

not wanting to get up and get ready

saying they can't go

worrying a lot about small issues, such as having the right equipment for a lesson

feeling sick, or having stomach aches or headaches

not sleeping well

not doing schoolwork, or their grades dropping

being angry or upset, or acting out - at school or at home

withdrawing - seeming low, quiet or depressed

Finding out what's going on for your child

Sometimes it can be difficult to work out what's making your child feel anxious, and the first step is often helping them to identify exactly what's worrying them. Once you understand the problem, you'll be in a much better position to make changes that can help.

Young people can find it hard to explain what's causing their feelings, and might not be able to answer direct questions like 'what's going on?' Using an anxiety iceberg can help to open up the conversation - giving you a more relaxed way of exploring together what's causing their anxiety.

Watch our video to find out how to make an anxiety iceberg with your child.

If you're making an anxiety iceberg with younger children, you might want to draw images on the iceberg, or encourage them to write simple words. With older children and teenagers, you can ask them to write key words and phrases on the iceberg, or do this as a mind map, with 'school' in the middle and all the things they're finding difficult around the outside.

Through this exercise, you might identify worries such as arriving at school, finding the environment noisy or overwhelming, finding lessons confusing, feeling lonely through the day, or feeling uncomfortable during specific subjects.

Making changes at school

Once you understand what's going on for your child, you can use their anxiety iceberg or mind map to communicate with the school and ask for specific changes.

Follow these steps to start a conversation with the school:

Here are some examples of things you can ask the school for:

Remember that even though this situation can be really tough for you and your child, it's a good idea to maintain a positive relationship with the school. Recognise the support they're offering and any changes they're making. This will help you work together to make things better for your child.

Building a relationship with the attendance team at my son's school was hugely helpful, we were talking with them each day.

Strategies you can try at home

For more information and advice on managing anxiety, have a look at our guide for parents.

If your child isn't able to go to school at the moment

If your child isn't going to school at the moment, this can be incredibly stressful and exhausting for you - and really tough for your child. You might be worried about whether they will be able to get back to school or the impact on their education. Or, you might feel overwhelmed because you're juggling this alongside work and other family commitments.

If your child's anxiety about school has built up to the point where they can't go, it's a good idea to get them some professional mental health or SEN support - see our advice on this below.

Alongside requesting professional help, try to:

The school's SEN and attendance policies should be on their website. Knowing what these are can support you during meetings with the school.

This can help if your child is unable to go to school for a longer period of time and you need to ask for more support, including provision of alternative full-time education.

Encourage your child to get up, do some studying and stop for lunch at the same times they would if they were in school. This will make adapting back to school easier. Explain to your child that if they cannot go to school, they will need to study at home - at least until alternative arrangements are put in place. Ask the school to help you facilitate tasks and activities your child can do and use online resources such as BBC Bitesize.

Not going to school could leave your child feeling really isolated. Make sure they stay connected to the outside world by seeing friends and family, doing activities they enjoy and getting outside for walks and exercise.

Speaking to friends online can be really important if your child is feeling isolated at home. Sometimes, however, you might notice that your child is spending lots of time gaming or on their phone, and that this is getting in the way of important daily activities like spending quality time with family, learning, or sleeping and eating well. If this is becoming a problem, have a look at our guide to gaming or guide to social media for more information and advice.

Local authorities must provide alternative education if a child of compulsory school age is unable to attend school over a longer period of time. If your child cannot attend school because of a mental or physical health issue, the local authority should provide an alternative as soon as it is clear that they will be away from school for more than 15 days (either consecutively or over time). Find out how to request alternative education.

What will happen if my child doesn't go to school?

Parents often tell us they are worried about fines and prosecution, but schools generally consider this only if they feel there is no valid reason for the absence, or that parents aren't engaging with the problem.

If the absence is prolonged, the case may be referred to a local council Education Welfare Officer (EWO). They will arrange a home visit to find out more and discuss strategies. The school may also refer to other support, including from CAMHS.

Helping your child return to school after an absence

Getting back to school after weeks or months may feel extremely difficult for your child, but you and the school can help make it more manageable. Here are some things you can do to help:

Set small, achievable targets, such as visiting the building outside school hours or attending one lesson.

Request a home visit from a school staff member so your child can check in while feeling safe, see that the school cares and discuss any strategies that might help them.

Ask for a reduced timetable, with regular reviews to discuss building back up at a manageable rate.

Discuss changing classes or sets if your child thinks this would help.

Focus on qualifications needed for what your child wants to do next, perhaps dropping a less relevant GCSE to reduce stress.

My son wasn't questioned about his absence when he did feel able to pop in for favourite lessons, helping to ease him back into full days of education.

Getting mental health and SEN support

If your child is struggling with anxiety and it's affecting their day-to-day life, learning or relationships, it's a good idea to find some professional support. Speaking to the GP and finding them a counsellor or therapist are two good places to start. You can find more information about GPs, counsellors and other mental health services in our guide to getting help for your child.

If there is no other obvious reason for your child's inability to attend school, they may have an undiagnosed Special Educational Need (SEN) such as dyslexia, autism or ADHD.

If you think this is the case:

Speak to the school's SENCO or your GP to ask for a referral for an assessment.

While you are waiting for an assessment, you can also ask the SENCO to refer your child for support from other professionals, such as an Educational Psychologist or Speech and Language Therapist. These professionals can identify specific needs and make recommendations for additional support the school can put in place - even if your child hasn't had a formal diagnosis yet.

SEN support at school
If your child is diagnosed with SEN, extra support and adjustments should be put in place at school to help them attend and learn. This is called SEN support, and should be available within the school's existing resources. Speak to the school's SENCO in the first instance about how the school will support your child.
Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans
If you do not think your child's needs can be met by the school's existing resources, you can ask the local authority to carry out an Education, Health and Care needs assessment (EHC needs assessment). If the local authority decides your child needs additional support, they will then make an Education, Health and Care plan (EHC plan). This outlines how the extra support they need will be provided. Find out more about EHC plans.
Your Local Offer
Your Local Offer is the information, support and services available for young people with SEN, and for their parents and families. You can find out what support is available in your area by going to your local authority's website and searching for their Local Offer.

If you need more information and advice about getting the right education for your child when they have been diagnosed with a Special Educational Need (SEN), IPSEA can help.

If you need to talk through a problem, their Advice Line can provide support with any educational issue resulting from your child's SEN. You can also find lots of information, including information on assessments and diagnosis, as well as getting support from the school and local authority, on their website.

Finding more information and advice

Useful helplines and websites

While we take care to ensure that the organisations we signpost to provide high quality information and advice, we cannot take responsibility for any specific pieces of advice they may offer. We encourage parents and carers to always explore the website of a linked service or organisation to understand who they are and what support they offer before engaging with them.

You might also find this helpful

We have more tips and advice on supporting your child with school, and information about how you can get in touch with our Parents Helpline.

This page was reviewed in December 2022. It was created with parents and carers with lived experience of supporting their child or young person with school anxiety. We will next review the page in 2025. YoungMinds is a proud member of PIF TICK - the UK's quality mark for trusted health information.
Whether you love the page or think something is missing, we appreciate your feedback. It all helps us to support more young people with their mental health.

Please be aware that this form isn't a mental health support service. If your child is in crisis right now and you want to talk to someone urgently, find out who to contact on our urgent help page.

At YoungMinds we take your privacy seriously. If you'd like to read more about how we keep the information we collect safe, take a look at our privacy policy.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
School Anxiety and Refusal | Parent Guide to Support

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
If your child is anxious about school, or refusing to go to school at all, read our tips and advice on how you can support their mental health.

# data[].attributes.body
Try the free headspace app

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Unlock hundreds of mood-boosting meditations, relaxing sleep exercises, focus music, and more with our biggest offer of the year.

It's the healthiest, happiest deal you'll find this Black Friday, and it won't last long.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Meditation and Sleep Made Simple - Headspace

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Live a healthier, happier, more well-rested life in just a few minutes a day with the Headspace app.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
We're a pioneering mental health charity transforming care for children and young people through science, collaboration and clinical innovation.

We focus on discovery, delivering compassionate support, and sharing our knowledge widely.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We work with professionals to improve the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people. Learn about our training, services, research and more.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Skip to content

Watch the full video

Thinking of suicide?

Are you, or is a young person you know, not coping with life? For confidential suicide prevention advice contact HOPELINE247.

My whole way of thinking has changed. I feel positive about my future and the people around me. I'm now looking forward to the future and helping others just like me!

Thank you so much for the incredible support PAPYRUS and HOPELINE247 has given me. You helped me in that moment and it kept me alive.

I intend to continue to fundraise for and promote PAPYRUS. I am so proud and humbled to be involved with a wonderful charity, and to have received the support that I have.

Having been personally bereaved by suicide I understand the importance and need for our charity. I am surrounded by others who are as passionate as I am about saving lives.

* All feedback is provided by people who contact PAPYRUS. All feedback has full consent of the user and the user remains fully anonymous. Some feedback may have been adapted to keep the users anonymity.

Our latest news

Stay up to date with PAPYRUS; our news section is regularly updated with helpful advice and guidance, as well as information about our upcoming events and campaigns. If you have any questions or queries please get in touch.

Our upcoming events

Please see below some of our upcoming and exciting events including fundraisers and charity events we will be attending. For more information please get in touch.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Papyrus UK Suicide Prevention | Prevention of Young Suicide

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
PAPYRUS UK is a charity for the prevention of young suicide (under 35) in the UK | Call PAPYRUS HOPELINE247 on 0800 068 4141 Now

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Your donation helps provide a place for people experiencing homelessness to rest their heads, as well as helping them to upskill, navigate housing, access healthcare and much more, so they can build a life beyond homelessness.

Donate Today

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Crisis homelessness charity - Together we will end homelessness

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Crisis, the national charity for people experiencing homelessness. Together we will end homelessness.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The NSPCC is the UK’s leading children’s charity, preventing abuse and helping those affected to recover. Help us be here for children. Please donate now.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
On Thursday 30 November from 2:30am - 7:30am, you won't be able to contact Childline whilst we do some important maintenance to our systems. This means that 1-2-1 chats, calling and messages to Childline will be unavailable. You'll still be able to use the Childline website for advice and information.

If you're in danger or it's an emergency, you should always call 999

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Get help and advice about a wide range of issues, call us on 0800 1111, talk to a counsellor online, send Childline an email or post on the message boards.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
You can make a difference... Get a full rundown of our digital services for young people during the pandemic Find out more There's loads of ways you can help us make Scotland the best place to grow up for LGBTI young people Find out more

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
For over 10 years, we've been on a mission to help young people overcome the issues that affect them the most. Whether that's bullying, mental health, relationships, identity or the tough stuff in-between, we're here. We provide digital safe spaces, direct support, education, campaigns and world-class research.