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Looking for advice on how to sleep better? Tweak your routine and understand the science behind your sleep patterns.

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Welcome to a special edition Family Information Service Newsletter - Thursday 1st September 2022

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Welcome to the first special edition of the Family Information Service newsletter. We understand that a lot of families are worried about the impact of the increasing cost of living, and we know that many might struggle to make their incomes stretch to cover the basics.

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Information and Advice for Neurodivergent People and their Families

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Information and Advice for Neurodivergent People and their Families

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Has relaxation, distraction and CBT based techniques for times of stress or anxiety

play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.t2.vhb&hl=en&gl=US

apps.apple.com/gb/app/virtual-hope-box/id825099621

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Is an all-in-one sleep tracker, smart alarm, and ambient sound machine. Listen to soothing ambient sounds as you fall asleep, then wake up gradually using the multi-alarm alert function. The app also had tips and advice for getting your best night's sleep

apps.apple.com/us/app/sleepbot/id1202824148

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Can help you quickly calm your mind, fall asleep fast, stay asleep, and wake up refreshed. It uses a mix of music, voiceovers and sound effects to help you sleep better at night or take power naps during the day.

www.nhs.uk/apps-library/pzizz

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Tracks your level of movement at night and may help if you need to get your sleep pattern back on track

www.azumio.com/sleep-time/overview

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Self help for anxiety is available to track your anxiety and support you in identifying strategies

www.mindgarden-tech.co.uk

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Is a self help range from Coventry IAPT that are available as an app as well as being able to download in audio format

www.dontpanic.covwarkpt.nhs.uk

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Is a mental health app designed for 10-18 year olds. Using a variety of content and tools, it allowes young people to learn about mental health and emotional wellbeing, and develop skills they can use to build resilience and stay well

www.nhs.uk/apps-library/thinkninja

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Offer financial support for people and families with a child with a disability

www.familyfund.org.uk

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Offers support for families with a child with a disability

www.contact.org.uk

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Enables a disabled cinema guest to receive a complimentary ticket for someone to go with them when they visit a participating cinema

www.ceacard.co.uk

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Have articles, information and a magazine for people with ADHD

www.additudemag.com

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Is an integrated health and education service who support people who live with ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia and Tournette's syndrome.

www.adhdfoundation.org.uk

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Have training and events to support those with ADHD

www.adhdwise.uk

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An online resource for people with ADHD and their families

www.adhdandyou.co.uk

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ADDISS (Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service)

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ADDISS (Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service)

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Provide information and resources about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder to anyone who needs assistance - parents, sufferes, teachers or health professionals

www.addiss.co.uk

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Are a charity for people on the autism spectrum and their families

www.autism.org.uk

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Has a vision of a world where all autistic children and young people experience a positive education that supports wellbeing

Tel: 0207 903 3650
Parents: www.autismeducationtrust.org.uk/for-parents
Kids Zone (Young children): www.autusmeducationtrust.org.uk/kids-zone
The Den (Young adults): www.autismeducationtrust.org.uk/the-den

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SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs Information, Advice and Support Service)

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SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs Information, Advice and Support Service)

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If you have concerns about your child's education and would like to find out about processes or support for special educational needs, SENDIASS can hlep you

www.kids.org.uk/sendiass

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Offers a free and confidential information, advice and support service to meet the needs of Coventry's family carers

Tel: 024 7610 1040
www.coventrycarers.org.uk

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From Warwickshire County Council offers practical information to make daily living easier

www.warwickshire.gov.uk/asksara

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Offers early support, information and guidance to parents and carers on emerging mental health issues in children and young people through themed coffee mornings and 1-1 discussions with clinicians.

www.cwrise.com/for-parents

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CW Mind CCASS (Children Community Autism Support Service)

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CW Mind CCASS (Children Community Autism Support Service)

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Is for children and young people (up until their 19th birthday) who are on the neurodevelopmental waiting list for an autism diagnosis, or who have previously received a diagnosis but require support, and their families.

cwmind.org.uk/autism-support-service

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Offer support in a Facebook group and hold monthly meetings in Kenilworth

www.facebook.com/groups/autismoneonone

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Offer workshops, seminars, coaching and creative projects to support and empower people involved with autism

www.actforautism.co.uk

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Is a social enterprise that supports people on the autistic spectrum and the people around them, founded by autistic author Alis Rowe. They use cool things like animated films, comic strips and diagrams to make our work interesting and easy to understand! They have courses in Coventry and Warwickshire.

www.thegirlwiththecurlyhair.co.uk

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Offers a range of services for local people with Autism and their families, including services for adults
Tel:0121 4507582
www.autismwestmidlands.org.uk

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FREE Support for parents/carers of an autistic child

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FREE Support for parents/carers of an autistic child

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See leaflet for more information

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If your child is moving up to Kingsbury High School, they have a specific email address for you to contact them on should you have any questions:
transition4111@welearn365.com

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This page has lots of information to help Year 6 students with their transition into year 7 at our school. We will be updating this regularly.

New Intake Information

Transition

We look forward to welcoming all our new Year 7 students who are due to start with us here at Kingsbury School on Friday 3rd September 2021.

It is vitally important to make the transition from Primary to Secondary School as smooth and as easy as possible. We want to support you and your child every step of the way.

Due to the change in Government Guidelines we have been unable to hold our usual Induction events. Please check the school website regularly for updated information regarding Transition.
If you have any questions or queries, please do not hesitate to contact Transition via e mail: Parent Information Booklet 2021 - 2022 Kingsbury Uniform Expectations 2021 - 2022 Year 7 2021 Induction Project - If you can dream it, you can do it ! We are looking for 3-4 Y7 students to take part in meetings at Shire Hall once a month to have a say in the local community. If you are interested in helping your local community during the next school year and you live in Warwickshire, please contact Mrs Essex to be part of the Warwickshire Youth Forum! transition4111@welearn365.com Head of Year - Mrs Essex
Here you will find a list of the Year 7 Tutors and head of year

7P1 - Mrs Sevellec & Mrs Moores

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This page has lots of information to help Year 6 students with their transition into year 7 at our school. We will be updating this regularly. We look forward to welcoming all our new Year 7 students who are due to start with us here at Kingsbury School on Friday 3rd September 2021.

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Practical tips to support children’s wellbeing and manage behaviour

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Parenting Smart offers practical advice for parents and carers of children aged 5-11. All of our content is created by Place2Be's parenting experts. It's based on evidence and their experiences working with children, young people and their families.

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https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=BqqwiCdZu0uok4nMJxOsgjSsUxM7CR9Lle6sqd8ufgRURE1HUkUyQUdIUFpONlNJR0RPNUxUN1ZLUC4u

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The School Nurse Team (Connect for Health) have an updated website where you can find all sorts of useful information.

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Who we are

Connect for Health is a school nurse-led service that supports children, young people and their families in Warwickshire. We deliver key elements of the Healthy Child programme, working to identify and meet the health and wellbeing needs of the school-age population and give individuals the best possible start in life.

Public Health Message: Strep A & Scarlet Fever update click to view

Health & wellbeing support for Warwickshire families

Our service is here for all school-aged children (age 5 to 19, or up to 25 for individuals with SEND) and their parents/carers - regardless of whether they attend a mainstream school. Our team includes a range of healthcare professionals, who can offer you support with topics such as:

Healthy eating

Dental health

Friendships and relationships

Bullying

Anxieties about changing schools

Parenting

Behaviour

Fussy eating

Sleep

Continence

Referral onto additional services

Emotional wellbeing including stress and anxiety

And many more.

Support can be provided in a way that suits you, including:

Individually, face-to-face or by phone

In group workshops

Via our confidential text messaging services for young people and parents/carers

To access support, please get in touch using the details below.

Family health & wellbeing resources

Websites and resources for young people

Change Makers healthy lifestyles services

Change Makers Healthy Lifestyles Programme teaches Warwickshire families about good nutrition, staying active and other healthy living topics. Change Makers is a free service for anyone with a child aged 4 to 19, or up to 25 for individuals with SEND. We offer one-to-one support, parent/carer workshops and a seven-week programme. The whole family can get involved in activities like preparing and tasting food and playing games, as well as lots of practical advice and tips for a healthy lifestyle.

7-week programme

Change Makers 7-week programme takes you through a series of topics focusing on a different aspect of a healthy lifestyle each week. You will get the opportunity to learn about leading a healthy lifestyle, try new foods, cook some healthy recipes and play games as a family

Parent/carer workshops

The parent/carer workshop is a one-off hour-long session providing you with an overview of living a healthy lifestyle. The workshop will provide you with some useful practical tips that you can implement in your daily life.

One-to-one appointment

One-to-one appointments are offered to families with children that have complex needs or where our group sessions may not be appropriate. You will be taken through the same content as our 7-week programme with one of our lifestyle advisors.

School delivery

Change Makers also work within schools providing courses and workshops.

Change Makers is part of Connect for Health. If you would like to get involved, please contact us using the details below.

How you can access the service

If you feel that you, or someone you know, would benefit from our support or would like some more information about the service, you can get in touch anytime via:

Our role in safeguarding

Our service follows Warwickshire Safeguarding Children's Board policies and procedures and forms part of multi-agency services for children, young people and families where there are child protection or safeguarding concerns.

Meet the team

This is our countywide team, for local teams please use the 'find a school' search.

Help & support

For information about relevant health and wellbeing topics please expand the sections below.

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Connect for Health - Warwickshire school nursing service | Compass

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We're a school nursing service which supports children, young people and families with a wide range of health issues. Contact us for free, confidential advice

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Miss Lewis is holding telephone review meetings with parents who have children with additional needs. Please book via eschools.
Dordon: Wednesday 1st December
Wood End: Thursday 2nd December

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Bookings are now open for a range of two-hour online workshops for parents, please see the Eventbrite link below.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/warwickshire-children-and-families-17595309993

Managing Children's Behaviour

Routines and Boundaries

Sleep

Safe Home, Happy Home

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If you have any questions, please contact Mr Rosten on: p.rosten@thepolesworthschool.com

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Transition between primary and secondary school can be a time of anxiety for both students and parents, this year even more so. Our usual events will probably have to take a different form this year, but we are still hoping to make the transition as smooth as possible for all involved.

We wanted to keep you up to date with some of the things that are still happening to make this transition possible...

We are already in contact with Year 6 staff from all our feeder schools schools and are gathering information about your children that will help us to allocate them to the appropriate teaching groups.

At the bottom of this page there is a link to the school handbook, which is full of information about how the school works, what equipment is needed, where to get uniform from etc. There is also a link to a booklet produced by Warwickshire County Council to assist with transition.

Students will be taught in the same mixed-ability group in Year 7 for most of their subjects. Extra support is available for those that need it. The pastoral team and the inclusion team work very closely to ensure the right level of support is given.

More information will be available following National Offer day in March 2021 including information about language selection, uniform, houses and My Child access, as well as a number of videos explaining how things work at Polesworth.

We are conscious of the fact that this is a difficult time for all, and urge you to get in touch if you have any concerns (big or small), or if you have any information that you think we should know about. Please contact Mr Rosten-Smart on p.rosten@thepolesworthschool.com
Transition Handbook Moving up to Secondary School Booklet School Uniform Uniform Guide The school day - Autumn 2021
Building Tour Videos
Nethersole

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Transition between primary and secondary school can be a time of anxiety for both students and parents, this year even more so. Our usual events will probably have to take a different form this year, but we are still hoping to make the transition as smooth as possible for all involved.

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This section includes information about how PDA relates to autism, what demand avoidance is, identifying and diagnosing PDA as well as a research summary, FAQs and the benefits of understanding the PDA profile.

Please use the buttons below to explore the different topics and resources in this section.

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What is PDA? This section includes information about how PDA relates to autism, what demand avoidance is, identifying and diagnosing PDA as well as a research summary, FAQs and the benefits of understanding the PDA profile. Please use the buttons below to explore the different topics and resources in this section.

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In Warwickshire, Dyslexia is no longer diagnosed. There are professionals who advertise that they can diagnosis Dyslexia, but please approach this with caution. Sometimes they do not possess the correct qualifications to diagnosis and some can charge families lots of money for a screening assessment which is not a diagnosis.

If you feel that your child is displaying signs similar to that of a Dyslexic profile, please speak to the class teachers as they are able to put in relevant differentiation and support to help reduce these barriers for children, even without a diagnosis.

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Family Information Service/ Family Support Workers

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Family Information Service/ Family Support Workers

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Family support workers are available across Warwickshire to listen, support and offer advice and guidance to families and professionals.

To speak to a family support worker over the telephone, call 01926 412412, Monday to Friday between 9am - 4pm.

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This is our very own SEND Padlet page. It contains all our SEND information and support.

Our SENCO is Miss V. Lewis, who works across Dordon and Wood End Primary School.
If you need to get hold of Miss Lewis you can contact her in the following ways:

Dordon: 01827 892422
admin2018@welearn365.com

Wood End: 01827 8722387
admin2023@welearn365.com

Or you can use the 'Request a call back' form to the right.

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Many children with SEND will make good progress with “quality first teaching”.  This means that their class/subject teacher makes changes in the way that he/she delivers the curriculum so that the child with SEND can be included in the lesson.

A small number of children may be identified as requiring further SEN support.  This means that they require support or interventions that are “additional to and different from” the support that other children in the class require.

These children will be identified through The Graduated Approach.  This is a four part cycle in which schools will:

Assess the child’s need

Plan support and intervention to meet the needs and ensure the child can make progress

Do – put in place the intervention and support for an agreed period of time

Review the progress the child has made as a result of the intervention

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Transition Booklet 2020

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Miss Lewis (SENDCo)
Mrs Peyton (TA at Wood End)
Mrs Eastaff (TA at Wood End)
Mrs Shaw (TA at Dordon)
Mrs Finnon (TA at Dordon)

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Early Help is the support we offer to potentially vulnerable children, young people and their families.

The purpose of Early Help is to put in the right support at the right time so that problems are less likely to escalate to a point where the child becomes vulnerable or in need. This may mean having different professionals involved, such as school health, school, family support workers, educational psychologist, etc.

Early Help can be needed and put in place at any time and at any age. Participation is voluntary.

All children, young people and families in Warwickshire are entitled to receive Early Help. This means offering information, advice, guidance, and support to families as soon as a concern emerges, or seems likely to emerge.

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Early Help Single Assessment:
First you will meet with a member of the team to complete the single assessment. This is mostly a conversation to ascertain where support is needed and what things we need to change.

Then you have meetings with the same member of staff every 6-8 weeks to review the process and see how things are improving. Other professionals involved will also attend the meetings so that everyone is working together and the support is coordinated.

When the outcomes outlined during the assessment have been met, we will have a closure meeting, where we will draw everything to an end and professionals will step back.

If support is needed again in the future, we can re-open Early Help

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Warwickshire SENDIAS (Special Education Needs Information Advice and Support Services) supports parents and carers of all Warwickshire children with special educational needs and disabilities, from 0 - 25 years of age.  It is a free, confidential and impartial service for parents and carers, children and young people up to 25 years.  Warwickshire SENDIAS offers independent support for parents and families who have children and young people with a SEND.

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Coronavirus Local Information Useful Information Welcome to Warwickshire SENDIASS Warwickshire SENDIASS (Special Education Needs Information Advice and Support Services) supports parents and carers of all Warwickshire children with special educational needs and disabilities, from 0 - 25 years of age. It is a free, confidential and impartial service for parents and carers, children and young people up to 25 years.

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Applying for a EHCP is a long and lengthy process that can take up to a whole school year.
In order to be in a position to apply for an EHCP there needs to be sufficient and concrete evidence that is it appropriate, such as:
- The child has a highly significant barrier to learning in comparison with others of the same age
- External professionals are involved (i.e. Educational Psychologist, Paediatrician, Speech and Language, Occupational Therapy, Specialist Teaching Service)
- School have responded to advice from external professionals for a minimum of 8 weeks to see what impact has been made and if it has helped to improve outcomes
- The school are using above and beyond in school funding delegated to support the child (i.e. above the £6000)

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CAMHS is now known in Warwickshire as RISE. RISE is an NHS service that assess and treat young people with emotional, behavioural or mental health difficulties.

The link above takes you to a comprehensive guide to the services that are available through CAMHS/ RISE

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CAMHS stands for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.

CAMHS is the name for the NHS services that assess and treat young people with emotional, behavioural or mental health difficulties.

CAMHS support covers depression, problems with food and eating, self-harm, abuse, violence or anger, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and anxiety, among other difficulties.

There are local NHS CAMHS services around the UK, with teams made up of nurses, therapists, psychologists, child and adolescent psychiatrists (medical doctors specialising in mental health), support workers and social workers, as well as other professionals.

The first step to getting help from CAMHS is usually that you will be referred for a CAMHS assessment. This referral can come from your parents/carers, a teacher, GP, or yourself if you are old enough (depending on where you live).

If you're being supported by social care, a youth offending team, or a service at your school, they might also be able to refer you.

It's important to tell the person referring you as much as you can so you can get the help you need.

Most local CAMHS teams have a website where you can look up how to get access to their service.

After you have been referred, you will be put on a waiting list for an initial appointment (often known as an 'assessment'). This may sound scary, but it's normally just a chat so the CAMHS team can get to know you a bit and see how they can help.

At this appointment, you will normally meet one or two members of the CAMHS team. If you're under 16 years old, your parent(s) or carer(s) will usually be invited to join for part of this meeting.

This appointment will generally take place at a CAMHS clinic. But, in some circumstances, they may meet with you at your school or home. They will discuss with you the best place to meet before your appointment.

When you meet, the team will ask you questions to understand what you are struggling with and to get a better idea of what support you need.

Here are some common questions the CAMHS team may ask in an assessment:

What has brought you to CAMHS?

How long have you experienced the problem that has brought you to CAMHS?

What would you like to change in your life?

What might help tackle the problems you are experiencing?

How have you been feeling recently?

Try to be as open and honest as possible at your first appointment. These people are not mind readers and if you lie, you will not receive the best treatment plan for you to get better.

Hannah

At the end of the session, the team will talk to you about what happens next and what support they think you might need. You can also ask any questions you may have.

They may talk about your 'treatment' - this just means what you'll do together to help you get better.

If you would feel more comfortable having a parent or carer in the room with you during your assessment, that's fine. You can also see the team by yourself if you would prefer, though staff may expect a parent to be present for part of the meeting.

Also, if you or your parent/carer is not confident speaking English, CAMHS can provide an interpreter to help. Just let them know if this is the case.

It's important at your CAMHS assessment to try and be as honest as possible, as this will help the team assessing you understand how to support you.

Here are some things that are helpful for you to tell them:

when your problems started

what you'd like to change

if there's a pattern in the problems (keeping a diary or log book before your assessment can be really helpful to show this)

any difficulties in school or with friends

any general health problems, either now or in the past

any big family events or issues like divorce or bereavement

any recent or past trauma, e.g. emotional, sexual or physical abuse

other services you've had help from, like social care, hospital or private treatments

Going to CAMHS is a massive step and you should be so proud of yourself in acknowledging you need support.

Have a look at our medication pages for more information.

I was convinced that moving to adult services was the end of the world. BUT here I am, two years down the line, and I can tell you that I survived and that it was okay.

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CAMHS stands for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. CAMHS is the name for the NHS services that assess and treat young people with emotional, behavioural or mental health difficulties. CAMHS support covers depression, problems with food and eating, self-harm, abuse, violence or anger, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and anxiety, among other difficulties.

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The Dimensions Tool is a web-based app that will help you to find well being support in the Coventry and Warwickshire area, that is specific to your needs, or someone else's needs. The tool will tell you about relevant advice, support and local interventions that may be helpful, after you have answered a series of questions. The Dimensions Tool is free to use and has been developed in conjunction with parents and carers, referrers and clinical staff.

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If you support people in the Coventry and Warwickshire area and you are a teacher, SENCO, early help worker, social worker, youth worker, educational psychologist. a health professional or work for a VCSE, select this option.
Dimensions for learning disability is still in development. Please wait for that version if the person has had a medical diagnosis of global developmental delay or learning disability.

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If you support people in the Coventry and Warwickshire area and you are a teacher, SENCO, early help worker, social worker, youth worker, educational psychologist. a health professional or work for a VCSE, select this option.
Dimensions for learning disability is still in development. Please wait fo…

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Transition: 11 resources and courses worth sharing

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Transition: 11 resources and courses worth sharing

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1. Supporting Your Child When They’re Starting a New School (on-demand course)

2. Ensuring a Smooth Transition in the Year of Covid (on-demand course)

3. Free PSHE resources offered to help support transition (News article, inc resource link)

4. Effective transition for year 7 pupils (SecEd podcast with input from 4 schools)

5. 12 tips for a smooth year 6 to 7 transition (SecEd knowledge bank)

6. SEND: Make Transitions Work for Every Student (on-demand course)

7. Transition in a Remote and Virtual Context (Sharing practice webinar replay)

8. Find Your Feet: Transitions Activity for Year 7 Pupils (PDF from YoungMinds)

9. BBC Bitesize videos about starting secondary school (video collection for students)

10. Year 6 Secondary Transition Activity Idea Pack (Twinkl teaching resource)

11. 6 Tips for starting a new class

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Young Minds has a wealth of information to support parents/carers in supporting your children with their anxiety.

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What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a feeling of worry or fear that is experienced as a combination of physical sensations, thoughts and feelings.

All children and young people feel worried sometimes, and this is a normal part of growing up. At certain points, such as on their first day of school or before an exam, young people may become more worried, but will soon be able to calm down and feel better.

Anxiety can become a problem when a young person feels stuck in it, or when it feels like an overwhelming, distressing or unmanageable experience. If this kind of worrying goes on for a long time, it can leave a young person feeling exhausted and isolated, and limit the things they feel able to do.

If your child is struggling with anxiety, there are things you can do to help them - including providing emotional support, working on practical strategies together and finding the right professional help if they need it.

What makes young people anxious?

A young person may feel anxious for a number of different reasons, depending on the individual. If your child is feeling unmanageable amounts of worry and fear, this is often a sign that something in their life isn't right and they need support to work out what the problem is.

The following kinds of things can make some children and young people feel more anxious:

experiencing lots of change in a short space of time, such as moving house or school

having responsibilities that are beyond their age and development, for example caring for other people in their family

being around someone who is very anxious, such as a parent

struggling at school, including feeling overwhelmed by work, exams or peer groups

experiencing family stress around things like housing, money and debt

going through distressing or traumatic experiences in which they do not feel safe, such as being bullied or witnessing or experiencing abuse

This video by Braive is a useful way of understanding how stress and anxiety can build up in a person's life.

Symptoms of anxiety

Anxiety tends to affect a young person's body, thoughts and feelings. They may also behave differently, including turning to certain coping behaviours to try to avoid or manage their anxiety.
Physical symptoms:

panic attacks, which can include having a racing heart, breathing very quickly, sweating or shaking

shallow or quick breathing, or feeling unable to breathe

feeling sick

dry mouth

sweating more than usual

tense muscles

wobbly legs

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), diarrhoea or needing to pee more than usual

getting very hot

Thoughts and feelings:

preoccupied by upsetting, scary or negative thoughts

nervous, on edge, panicky or frightened

overwhelmed or out of control

full of dread or an impending sense of doom

alert to noises, smells or sights

worrying about being unable to cope with daily things like school, friendships and being in groups or social situations

worrying so much that it is difficult to concentrate and/or sleep

Coping behaviours:

withdrawing or isolating themselves - including not wanting to go to school, be in social or group situations, be away from parents or try new things

repeating certain behaviours, actions or rituals (often called 'obsessive compulsive behaviours')

eating more or less than usual

self-harming

How to help your child in an anxious moment

When your child is in the middle of a very anxious moment, they may feel frightened, agitated or worried about having a panic attack. The important thing to do in the moment is to help them calm down and feel safe.

These strategies can help:

Breathe slowly and deeply together. You can count slowly to five as you breathe in, and then five as you breathe out. If this is too much, try starting with shorter counts. If it works for them, gradually encourage your child to breathe out for one or two counts longer than they breathe in, as this can help their body relax.

Sit with them and offer calm physical reassurance. Feeling you nearby, or holding your hand or having a cuddle if it's possible, can be soothing.

Reassure them that the anxiety will pass and that they will be okay. It can be helpful to describe it as a wave that they can ride or surf until it peaks, breaks and gets smaller.

Ask them to think of a safe and relaxing place or person in their mind. If you haven't tried this before, agree with them when they're feeling calm what this place or person is. It could be their bedroom, a grandparent's house, a favourite place in nature or somewhere they've been on holiday. Sometimes holding a memento of a relaxing place, like a seashell or pebble, can help.

Try using all five senses together. Connecting with what they can see, touch, hear, smell and taste can bring them closer to the present moment and reduce the intensity of their anxiety. You might think together about five things they can see, four things they can touch, three things they can hear, two things they can smell and one thing they can taste.

Encourage them to do something that helps them to feel calmer. This could be running, walking, listening to music, painting, drawing or colouring-in, writing in a journal, watching a favourite film or reading a favourite book.

Remember that everyone is different, and that over time you and your child can work together to find the things that work best for them in these moments.

How to help your child manage their anxiety

Outside of moments when your child is feeling particularly anxious or panicky, there are things you can do over time to help them manage their anxiety and feel better.

A lot of these strategies are about helping your child to understand themselves and find out what works for them. The more confident they feel about helping themselves when things are hard, the more they will believe in their ability to cope - helping to reduce feelings of panic.

In a calmer moment, talk with your child about their anxiety. Ask them what it feels like in their mind and body, and what things make them feel that way. It can be tempting to dismiss their worries because you want to reassure them, but it's important to empathise with their experience and validate their feelings. You can find our tips on starting a conversation with your child here.

Think together about whether there's anything in particular that's making them feel anxious. This could include a friendship, a relationship with a family member, their schoolwork or a combination of things. Are there changes that could be made at home or school that would make things easier? If your child is worrying about things that are outside of their control, it might help to name together who is responsible for managing the problem - for example, you might say, "worrying about money is the parents' job".

I felt that we lost the idea that it's important to validate their feelings rather than dismiss them. But I think this is a really important point that we shouldn't lose

Help your child to recognise the signs that tell them they're getting anxious, so they know when to ask for help or help themselves. Anxiety might make them feel sick or make their heart race. Getting to know these signs can make them less frightening and overwhelming when they happen.

Think together about the activities that help them to express themselves and reduce their anxiety. Your child could try doing exercise, drawing or painting, writing in a journal, watching a favourite film, talking to friends or cooking and baking. These kinds of activities can help them to feel calmer.

Try activities that help us to relax, such as mindfulness, yoga or meditation. Teenagers might like to use a mindfulness or meditation app such as Headspace or Calm. Remember that some people find these activities more helpful than others, so encourage your child to decide what works for them.

Make a worry box or self-soothe box. It might help your child to write down their worries and put them in a worry box, giving them a physical place where their worries can be 'held'. Or they might prefer a self-soothe box, which they can fill with things that help them when they feel anxious - like photos, fidget toys, scented oils and positive quotes. You can find out how to make a worry box here, or a self-soothe box here - or watch the video below.

Help them do the things we know are important for our mental health: physical exercise, sleeping well, eating healthily, drinking water and spending quality time with loved ones. Regular exercise is particularly important for anxiety because it can help to reduce the symptoms in the body. It doesn't have to be strenuous - walking or gentle yoga can help.

Encourage them to cut out stimulants. Reducing or stopping drinking coffee, caffeinated drinks and alcohol can help because these can all trigger the physical symptoms of anxiety.

Spend quality time together and talk about other things. Even if it's just for a little while, you can help your child take their mind off their worries by having fun, relaxing and laughing. Activities like playing a sport, sewing or playing musical instruments are great for focusing the mind on the moment. You can find more activity ideas here.

Seek professional help if you're worried about your child's mental health and things aren't getting better. Some children and young people with anxiety will need professional and specialist help to feel better. They may benefit from a specific diagnosis or a treatment such as medication or talking therapy. You can find more information about this below.

I've found it helpful when talking about anxiety to think about achievable goals for overcoming worries that stop them from doing things, and then to create stages like a ladder to get to them

Young people tell us it helps to:

find positive activities you enjoy

think about something you're looking forward to

do physical exercise

learn mindfulness and yoga

imagine your thoughts leaving your brain and floating off into the sky

keep yourself occupied

have time out

reflect on how you're feeling

talk to other people you trust

remind yourself you're not alone - odds are someone in your friendship circle has anxiety or depression too

Finding professional help

It's a good idea to seek professional support if self-help strategies are not making the situation better and anxiety is affecting your child's life, for example if they are feeling persistently anxious, often having distressing thoughts, or avoiding things like going outside or speaking to others.
GP and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
Speaking to your GP is usually the first step to accessing mental health services. You can speak to your GP with or without your child. Together you can discuss whether referral to CAMHS, an assessment by a mental health specialist or referral for another kind of support is needed.

The type of support or treatment offered will depend on your child's age and the kind of anxiety they are experiencing. Talking therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can help your child to understand the thoughts and feelings behind their anxiety and find practical strategies to help them cope.

Medication may be offered if your child's anxiety is very difficult to manage or talking therapy has not helped. Medication should be suggested alongside talking therapies or another psychological treatment, and by a doctor who specialises in children's mental health.

Counselling and therapy
Counsellors and therapists can provide emotional support and help your child to make sense of, and find ways to cope with, their anxiety. Therapists working with younger children will usually work through play and arts activities such as painting, drawing and making things.

In addition to your GP, you may be able to access free or subsidised counselling and therapy at your child's school if they provide a counselling service. You can also search online for free counselling services in your area, and the Youth Access directory can help you do this.

If it's an affordable option for you, you can find a private counsellor, therapist or family therapist using the directories listed in our guide.

Your child's school
If your child is struggling, it can help to be open with the school about what's going on and what support your child needs. Depending on their age, it may be important to make sure your child feels some control over the information that's shared about them - for example by discussing with them who they would feel comfortable for you to speak to.

Alongside counselling, schools can often provide support from the pastoral team, a member of staff who your child can chat to when they need to, mentoring, peer buddying and clubs and activities.

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Anxiety is a feeling of worry or fear that is experienced as a combination of physical sensations, thoughts and feelings. All children and young people feel worried sometimes, and this is a normal part of growing up.

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This is a good place to start if you are worried about your child and think they may be experiencing anxiety.

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Just like adults, children and young people feel worried and anxious at times.
But if your child's anxiety is starting to affect their wellbeing, they may need some help.

What makes children anxious?

Children can feel anxious about different things at different ages. Many of these worries are a normal part of growing up.

From the age of around 6 months to 3 years it's very common for young children to have separation anxiety. They may become clingy and cry when separated from their parents or carers. This is a normal stage in a child's development and should stop at around age 2 to 3.

It's also common for preschool-age children to develop specific fears or phobias. Common fears in early childhood include animals, insects, storms, heights, water, blood and the dark. These fears usually go away gradually on their own.

There may also be other times in a child's life when they feel anxious. For example, many children feel anxious when going to a new school or before tests and exams. Some children feel shy in social situations and may need support with this.

When is anxiety a problem for children?

Anxiety becomes a problem for children when it starts to get in the way of their everyday life.

If you go into any school at exam time, all the children will be anxious, but some may be so anxious that they do not manage to get to school that morning.

Severe anxiety like this can harm children's mental and emotional wellbeing, affecting their self-esteem and confidence. They may become withdrawn and go to great lengths to avoid things or situations that make them feel anxious.

What are the signs of anxiety in children?

When young children feel anxious, they cannot always understand or express what they are feeling. You may notice that they:

become irritable, tearful or clingy

have difficulty sleeping

wake in the night

start wetting the bed

have bad dreams

In older children you may notice that they:

lack confidence to try new things or seem unable to face simple, everyday challenges

find it hard to concentrate

have problems with sleeping or eating

have angry outbursts

have a lot of negative thoughts, or keep thinking that bad things are going to happen

start avoiding everyday activities, such as seeing friends, going out in public or going to school

Find out more about the symptoms of anxiety on our page about anxiety disorders in children.

Why is my child anxious?

Some children are more likely to have worries and anxiety than others.

Children often find change difficult and may become anxious following a house move or when starting a new school.

Children who have had a distressing or traumatic experience, such as a car accident or house fire, may have anxiety afterwards.

Family arguments and conflict can also make children feel insecure and anxious.

Teenagers are more likely to have social anxiety than other age groups, avoiding social gatherings or making excuses to get out of them.

Find out more about social anxiety.

How to help an anxious child

If a child is experiencing anxiety, there are things that parents and carers can do to help.

First and foremost, it's important to talk to your child about their anxiety or worries. Reassure them and show them you understand how they feel.

If your child is old enough, it may help to explain what anxiety is and the physical effects it has on our bodies. It may be helpful to describe anxiety as being like a wave that builds up and then ebbs away again.

As well as talking to your child about their worries and anxiety, it's important to help them find solutions.

For example, if your child is worried about going to a sleepover, it is natural to want to tell them not to go. However, this could mean your child feels that their anxiety will stop them from doing things.

It's better to recognise their anxiety and suggest solutions to help them, so they can go to the sleepover with a plan in place.

Other ways to ease anxiety in children

teach your child to recognise signs of anxiety in themselves

encourage your child to manage their anxiety and ask for help when they need it

children of all ages find routines reassuring, so try to stick to regular daily routines where possible

if your child is anxious because of distressing events, such as a bereavement or separation, look for books or films that will help them to understand their feelings

if you know a change, such as a house move, is coming up, prepare your child by talking to them about what is going to happen and why

try not to become overprotective or anxious yourself

practise simple relaxation techniques with your child, such as taking 3 deep, slow breaths, breathing in for a count of 3 and out for 3.

distraction can be helpful for young children. For example, if they are anxious about going to nursery, play games on the way there, such as seeing who can spot the most red cars

turn an empty tissue box into a "worry" box. Get your child to write about or draw their worries and "post" them into the box. Then you can sort through the box together at the end of the day or week

Find out more

When should we get help?

If your child's anxiety is severe, persists and interferes with their everyday life, it's a good idea to get some help.

A visit to a GP is a good place to start. If your child's anxiety is affecting their school life, it's a good idea to talk to their school as well.

Parents and carers can get help and advice about children's mental health from Young Minds' free parent helpline on 0808 802 5544, from Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm.

Find out more about treatments on our page about anxiety disorders in children.

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How to help your child deal with anxiety about things such as going to school or socialising with friends. Also, how to tell when it's time to get medical help.

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Parents Helpline:
Call our Parents Helpline for detailed advice, emotion support and signposted about a child upto the age of 25
Call FREE on 0808 802 5544 Mon-Fri between 9:30am - 4pm

Webchat Service
Webchat service is open Mon-Fri 9:30am - 4pm. Use the link below to access the webchat.

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Parents Helpline | Mental Health Help for Your Child

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The YoungMinds Parents Helpline, Webchat and Email provide support and help for parents and carers worried about their child's mental health and wellbeing.

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A parents guild to building body confidence

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Dept. for Education: SEN guide for parents

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Dept. for Education: SEN guide for parents

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Where a need is identified in one or more areas detailed in the SEND Code of Practice, we aim to work in collaboration with parents to support their child's individual needs.
Pupils will be placed on the SEND register and will have an Individual Education Plan which is set and reviewed on an at least termly basis.

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We are seeing an increase of fidget toys being brought into school. If you feel that you child needs one in school, please discuss this with the class teacher beforehand. In most cases, we are able to put in place strategies that mean that they do not need these as we find they become more of a hinderance. It is only in exceptional circumstance that we would agree to have these in school.

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Please be aware that if you are moving to Dordon or Wood End, Warwickshire, from another county, information is not always passed between different external agencies. Therefore it is really helpful if you can give us as much information as possible.

In some cases, new referrals have to be made in order to continue to access certain support. For example, if your child is under Speech and Language in Staffordshire and then move to Warwickshire. Staffordshire will discharge your child from their service and we will need to put in a referral to Warwickshire's Speech and Language team. Then you will join the waiting list for an appointment. Unfortunately, when this happens, there is no way that the waiting list can be jumped, or prioritised in any way.

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NSPCC Online Safety Training Facebook Ad.PNG

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Please note, that in order to be eligible for a place at one of these settings, you must have an EHCP and all professionals involved, including parents, agree it is the most appropriate setting and in the best interests of the child.

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Special schools provide specialist teaching for children with SEND. Placement in these settings is agreed by the Local Authority Provision Panel. This may be appropriate for a child with an EHC plan, depending on their level of need. You should speak to your plan coordinator at Warwickshire County Council if you think this might be suitable for your child. The panel meets monthly.

A separate panel for early years considers specialist placements for the Reception year. This takes place during the Spring term.

There are 6 generic special schools and 4 specialist special schools in Warwickshire. These are set out below. Generic Special Schools cater for a range of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. The main focus is pupils who are at least one key stage below most other learners of the same age.

Specialist Special Schools cater for pupils who can access the mainstream curriculum with specialist support.

Special School bases off-site (Specialist Partnerships) providing for a range of different needs.

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Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) - Admissions to specialist settings - Warwickshire County Council

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Special schools provide specialist teaching for children with SEND. Placement in these settings is agreed by the Local Authority Provision Panel. This may be appropriate for a child with an EHC plan, depending on their level of need. You should speak to your plan coordinator at Warwickshire County Council if you think this might be suitable for your child.

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Warwickshire Young Carers is here to help improve the lives of Young Carers across Warwickshire by offering free and confidential support.

We work with young carers from the age of 6 upwards, and aim to help make a difference to their lives by encouraging them to take time out to relax, take a break and to realise their own dreams.

We don’t have all the answers, but we will try to find them for any Young Carers who come to us for help or support. There are many ways we can help you – just click on the links to find out how.

Warwickshire Young Carers is an independent local charity that tailors the help, support and advice we offer to the individual needs of each Young Carer.

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Transfer of data letter from WYC and WCC

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A Young Carer is is a young person who lives with someone who has an illness, disability, mental health or substance misuse problem. They may also be taking on practical and/or emotional caring responsibilities that would normally be expected of an adult.

The caring can involve lots of physical care such as personal care, giving medication, helping someone get up, get dressed or to get around, or it could mean providing emotional support such as listening to them if they’re upset and looking out for them. In addition, many Young Carers are also responsible for looking after younger brothers and sisters and all or most of the household chores.

Young Carers are at risk of social isolation and bullying, under-achievement, absenteeism from school, and physical and mental ill health.

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The Young Carer Champions at each school are:
Dordon: Mrs Clarke
Wood End: Mrs Eastaff

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Hello All, Take Care,

This edition of our newsletter is focussed on our new Aspirations Fund!

Aspirations Fund

We are so pleased to announce that thanks to some individual donations and a grant from Edward Cadbury Trust we have been able to start our Aspirations Fund. Firstly, a huge thank you to everyone who supported us to be able to set this fund up, we hope to build on it so that this is a rolling fund that young carers and young adult carers who need it can access it every year. If you are a young carer or young adult carer who is going to University, College or starting work or an apprenticeship, the below picture shows just a few examples of some of the things we might be able to support with. Please talk to Tracey if you need some support from our aspirations fund.

All at WYC

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Latest news from Warwickshire Young Carers

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Hello All, Take Care, This edition of our newsletter is focussed on our new Aspirations Fund! Aspirations Fund We are so pleased to announce that thanks to some individual donations and a grant from Edward Cadbury Trust we have been able to start our Aspirations Fund.

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Understanding and Supporting Children with ADHD

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Understanding and Supporting Children with ADHD

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Establishing a good bedtime routine is integral to a good night's sleep. A good routine should be:

Top tips

Developing a good night-time routine is best achieved by firstly establishing a good daytime routine. 

It helps if things happen in the same order at roughly the same time each day. 

As foods can affect energy levels and sleepiness, make sure your child eats a healthy, balanced diet throughout the day. A light snack such as a banana on toast or warm glass of milk can act as a natural sleep inducer.

Avoid caffeinated drinks for at least 4 hours before bedtime. 

Too much screen time and a lack of activity prevents good sleep.

Children who get daily exercise fall asleep more quickly and stay asleep longer. Avoid activity in the hour before bedtime though since exercise is stimulating. 

Where your child sleeps can be a key to quality sleep. Make sure bedroom temperature is comfortable (16-18 degrees) and the environment is cosy and calming. 

It helps if your child is put into their bed awake so that they learn to fall asleep without you and learn how to get back to sleep if they wake during the night. 

A favourite soft toy can be available if your child is unable to go to sleep straightaway.

One Minute Guidance for a good bedtime routine

1. Maintain a consistent bedtime and waking time.

2. Develop a consistent bedtime routine: tea-bath-story-bed.

3. Create a cosy sleep environment.

4. Make sure your child gets enough daily physical activity.

5. Encourage a soothing pre bed routine that creates sleepiness.

Healthy Sleep Workshop from Connect for Health

This virtual workshop provides guidance to parents/carers of young children on establishing a healthy sleep routine.

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Establishing a good bedtime routine is integral to a good night's sleep. A good routine should be: Developing a good night-time routine is best achieved by firstly establishing a good daytime routine.  It helps if things happen in the same order at roughly the same time each day.

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Did you know you can text the school nurse team for advice:

Parentline confidential text messaging for parents / carers on 07520 619 376

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Who we are

Connect for Health is a school nurse-led service that supports children, young people and their families in Warwickshire. We deliver key elements of the Healthy Child programme, working to identify and meet the health and wellbeing needs of the school-age population and give individuals the best possible start in life.

Public Health Message: Strep A & Scarlet Fever update click to view

Health & wellbeing support for Warwickshire families

Our service is here for all school-aged children (age 5 to 19, or up to 25 for individuals with SEND) and their parents/carers - regardless of whether they attend a mainstream school. Our team includes a range of healthcare professionals, who can offer you support with topics such as:

Healthy eating

Dental health

Friendships and relationships

Bullying

Anxieties about changing schools

Parenting

Behaviour

Fussy eating

Sleep

Continence

Referral onto additional services

Emotional wellbeing including stress and anxiety

And many more.

Support can be provided in a way that suits you, including:

Individually, face-to-face or by phone

In group workshops

Via our confidential text messaging services for young people and parents/carers

To access support, please get in touch using the details below.

Family health & wellbeing resources

Websites and resources for young people

Change Makers healthy lifestyles services

Change Makers Healthy Lifestyles Programme teaches Warwickshire families about good nutrition, staying active and other healthy living topics. Change Makers is a free service for anyone with a child aged 4 to 19, or up to 25 for individuals with SEND. We offer one-to-one support, parent/carer workshops and a seven-week programme. The whole family can get involved in activities like preparing and tasting food and playing games, as well as lots of practical advice and tips for a healthy lifestyle.

7-week programme

Change Makers 7-week programme takes you through a series of topics focusing on a different aspect of a healthy lifestyle each week. You will get the opportunity to learn about leading a healthy lifestyle, try new foods, cook some healthy recipes and play games as a family

Parent/carer workshops

The parent/carer workshop is a one-off hour-long session providing you with an overview of living a healthy lifestyle. The workshop will provide you with some useful practical tips that you can implement in your daily life.

One-to-one appointment

One-to-one appointments are offered to families with children that have complex needs or where our group sessions may not be appropriate. You will be taken through the same content as our 7-week programme with one of our lifestyle advisors.

School delivery

Change Makers also work within schools providing courses and workshops.

Change Makers is part of Connect for Health. If you would like to get involved, please contact us using the details below.

How you can access the service

If you feel that you, or someone you know, would benefit from our support or would like some more information about the service, you can get in touch anytime via:

Our role in safeguarding

Our service follows Warwickshire Safeguarding Children's Board policies and procedures and forms part of multi-agency services for children, young people and families where there are child protection or safeguarding concerns.

Meet the team

This is our countywide team, for local teams please use the 'find a school' search.

Help & support

For information about relevant health and wellbeing topics please expand the sections below.

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Connect for Health - Warwickshire school nursing service | Compass

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We're a school nursing service which supports children, young people and families with a wide range of health issues. Contact us for free, confidential advice

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All children develop at different rates and can sometimes exhibit behaviour that can be viewed as challenging or difficult. This can be for many different reasons including changes in the family situation such as a new sibling, parent's personal circumstances or simply your child needing some attention.

One minute guidance for behaviour management

Every child is different and responds to different parenting strategies.

Don't give up - it takes time. Be consistent.

Try not to overreact.

Talk to your child.

Give more attention to the positive behaviours.

Use rewards to reinforce positive behaviours.

Behaviour Workshop from Connect for Health

This virtual workshop provides guidance to parents/carers of young children on behaviour, boundaries and rules.

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All children develop at different rates and can sometimes exhibit behaviour that can be viewed as challenging or difficult. This can be for many different reasons including changes in the family situation such as a new sibling, parent's personal circumstances or simply your child needing some attention.

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All children develop at different rates and can sometimes exhibit behaviour that can be viewed as challenging or difficult. This can be for many different reasons including changes in the family situation such as a new sibling, parent's personal circumstances or simply your child needing some attention.

One minute guidance for behaviour management

Every child is different and responds to different parenting strategies.

Don't give up - it takes time. Be consistent.

Try not to overreact.

Talk to your child.

Give more attention to the positive behaviours.

Use rewards to reinforce positive behaviours.

Behaviour Workshop from Connect for Health

This virtual workshop provides guidance to parents/carers of young children on behaviour, boundaries and rules.

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All children develop at different rates and can sometimes exhibit behaviour that can be viewed as challenging or difficult. This can be for many different reasons including changes in the family situation such as a new sibling, parent's personal circumstances or simply your child needing some attention.

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ERIC also have lots of useful information on incontience:
https://www.eric.org.uk/

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Bladder and bowel problems are very common in childhood, especially in early years. Parents and children can feel both exhausted and overwhelmed by these difficulties.

Children vary in the age they become dry in the day and night. Continence problems such as bedwetting, daytime wetting and constipation are common in childhood.

Figures shows that 28% of children experience continence problems and 10 % of children aged 5-6 wet the bed at night. 

Wetting issues can be helped by the simple remedy of drinking more (about 6 to 8 glasses of water) throughout the day and exercising the bladder (going to the toilet to have a wee 6 to 8 times throughout the day). 

Constipation is a common factor in both day time wetting and night time wetting. To try to avoid constipation by making sure your child has a healthy diet with at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Eating high fibre types of food such as wholemeal bread, pasta and breakfast cereals (e.g, Weetabix, porridge and shreddies) along with 6-8 water based drinks and regular physical activity could help prevent constipation. 

Video Information

Getting help

You can refer your child directly or via your GP or your child's School Nurse.

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Bladder and bowel problems are very common in childhood, especially in early years. Parents and children can feel both exhausted and overwhelmed by these difficulties. Children vary in the age they become dry in the day and night. Continence problems such as bedwetting, daytime wetting and constipation are common in childhood.

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Moving from primary to secondary school can be a daunting time for both parents and children. Talking through the issues and concerns with your child can build their confidence and give them support in coping with the worries they may be experiencing.

Many parents/carers feel anxious when their child starts school, but try not to let it show. Remember that schools work really hard to help your child settle in. You may feel conflicting emotions: proud that your child is growing up and at the same time sad that their primary school days are over, this is perfectly normal.

In the beginning they might worry about practical things, like getting lost and having to cope with a locker. This should go in a few days, as they learn the new routine and layout of the school, explain that this will get easier as they become more familiar.

They may also worry about the work, or making new friends. Discuss their fears and give reassurances, the work will get easier as they understand it more and that new friendships may take a little time to develop.

How is your child feeling? Rather than saying "there's nothing to worry about", it's more helpful to tell your child that feeling nervous is natural, and that everyone gets nervous when facing new situations.

Remember to communicate with your child and discuss their concerns openly, meal times can be a good place to discuss what has happened during the day and find out how they are feeling in a relaxed way, remember be interested not pushy.

Moving on to Secondary School

This information has been produced to help you and your child with the move to secondary school. Starting secondary school can be a big step for your child and may be an anxious time for both child and parent/carer.

Your child will be moving from being the oldest in school to the youngest and may be moving with friends and classmates from primary school or may not know anyone in their new school. For all children, there will be a lot to take in and to learn, particularly in the first few weeks.

There are lots of ways to help and support your child as they settle into Year 7 and throughout their time at school. You do not need to be an expert in what your child is learning - being interested is the first and most important step. Parents/Carers may find that the teenage years can be turbulent as young people find their own identity.

My moving up to secondary school booklet

Our booklet will support the move to secondary school for year 6 children (and their parents/carers). This includes a checklist to help you prepare, a useful and fun activity and some helpful tips. We recommend children and their parents/carers go through the booklet together to give everyone a chance to talk about their thoughts and feelings.

12 Steps to help with transition

You and your child may find the following 12 steps useful and fun to help with transition (these are also included in the booklet) .........

Look at the school website and find out useful information on your new school.
Step 2
Practice packing up all the things you will need to take to school. Get into the habit of packing your bag the night before.
Step 3
Practice buying your own food and drinks in a café. Find out how the canteen & pay machines at the school work.
Step 4
Plan the route you will take to your new school and do a few trial runs. Do you need to sort out a bus pass?
Step 5
Make sure you make time to eat breakfast -it gives you fuel for the day.
Step 6
Make the most of the Transition Day -don't be afraid to ask questions.
Step 7
Do you use a planner/ diary? If not, look at one and get used to using it.
Step 8
If you have a map of your new school, have a look at it and familiarise yourself with the layout.
Step 9
Find out about the uniform and order in plenty of time. Be aware of school policies on things like jewellery, piercings and mobilephones.
Step 10
Talk to friends and siblings. Who else do you know who is moving to the same school?
Step 11
Get into a good bedtime routine. Young people still need lots of sleep.
Step 12
Start taking responsibility for yourself-getting bag ready, doing homework, and getting yourself up in morning.

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Transition to secondary school - Compass

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Moving from primary to secondary school can be a daunting time for both parents and [...]

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Moving from primary to secondary school can be a daunting time for both parents and children. Talking through the issues and concerns with your child can build their confidence and give them support in coping with the worries they may be experiencing.

Many parents/carers feel anxious when their child starts school, but try not to let it show. Remember that schools work really hard to help your child settle in. You may feel conflicting emotions: proud that your child is growing up and at the same time sad that their primary school days are over, this is perfectly normal.

In the beginning they might worry about practical things, like getting lost and having to cope with a locker. This should go in a few days, as they learn the new routine and layout of the school, explain that this will get easier as they become more familiar.

They may also worry about the work, or making new friends. Discuss their fears and give reassurances, the work will get easier as they understand it more and that new friendships may take a little time to develop.

How is your child feeling? Rather than saying "there's nothing to worry about", it's more helpful to tell your child that feeling nervous is natural, and that everyone gets nervous when facing new situations.

Remember to communicate with your child and discuss their concerns openly, meal times can be a good place to discuss what has happened during the day and find out how they are feeling in a relaxed way, remember be interested not pushy.

Moving on to Secondary School

This information has been produced to help you and your child with the move to secondary school. Starting secondary school can be a big step for your child and may be an anxious time for both child and parent/carer.

Your child will be moving from being the oldest in school to the youngest and may be moving with friends and classmates from primary school or may not know anyone in their new school. For all children, there will be a lot to take in and to learn, particularly in the first few weeks.

There are lots of ways to help and support your child as they settle into Year 7 and throughout their time at school. You do not need to be an expert in what your child is learning - being interested is the first and most important step. Parents/Carers may find that the teenage years can be turbulent as young people find their own identity.

My moving up to secondary school booklet

Our booklet will support the move to secondary school for year 6 children (and their parents/carers). This includes a checklist to help you prepare, a useful and fun activity and some helpful tips. We recommend children and their parents/carers go through the booklet together to give everyone a chance to talk about their thoughts and feelings.

12 Steps to help with transition

You and your child may find the following 12 steps useful and fun to help with transition (these are also included in the booklet) .........

Look at the school website and find out useful information on your new school.
Step 2
Practice packing up all the things you will need to take to school. Get into the habit of packing your bag the night before.
Step 3
Practice buying your own food and drinks in a café. Find out how the canteen & pay machines at the school work.
Step 4
Plan the route you will take to your new school and do a few trial runs. Do you need to sort out a bus pass?
Step 5
Make sure you make time to eat breakfast -it gives you fuel for the day.
Step 6
Make the most of the Transition Day -don't be afraid to ask questions.
Step 7
Do you use a planner/ diary? If not, look at one and get used to using it.
Step 8
If you have a map of your new school, have a look at it and familiarise yourself with the layout.
Step 9
Find out about the uniform and order in plenty of time. Be aware of school policies on things like jewellery, piercings and mobilephones.
Step 10
Talk to friends and siblings. Who else do you know who is moving to the same school?
Step 11
Get into a good bedtime routine. Young people still need lots of sleep.
Step 12
Start taking responsibility for yourself-getting bag ready, doing homework, and getting yourself up in morning.

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Transition to secondary school - Compass

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Moving from primary to secondary school can be a daunting time for both parents and [...]

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With your help, we can keep offering free support to those who need us.

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This 2 page information sheet provides a summary of PDA helpful approaches for parents and carers.

Autism and the PDA profile are 'dimensional' - meaning they vary a lot from one person to another and at different times or with different people - so parents/carers need a 'toolkit' of helpful approaches, tailored to each child, applied flexibly and reviewed regularly.

This resource covers:

The PANDA

Adjusting your mindset

Support tips

Optimising the environment

Being cautious with rewards/praise/sanctions

Reducing the perception of demands

For more detailed information please see: Helpful approaches - children.

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This 2 page information sheet provides a summary of PDA helpful approaches for parents and carers.

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Family Support Network for Parents/ Carers

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Dyslexia Midlands | Family Support Network for Parents and Carers

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Dyslexia Midlands is a Kenilworth-based community group dedicated to supporting families of children with dyslexia.

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Support for families of children with dyslexia

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Useful link to book to support children with SEMH

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Useful link to book to support children with SEMH

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Spiffy is your helping hand on a journey to true happiness. Whether you're looking for a special gift for a friend or some positive motivation for yourself we have you covered. We pride ourselves on our personal approach, great customer service and top quality products with purpose.

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Free mental health and wellbeing platform for KS3 children