Dear parents and carers,
During this difficult time I wanted to reach out to let you know that, even though our school is currently closed, we’re still here to support you, your child and your family in whatever way we can. As you know, the development of the whole child is fundamental to the provision we offer and embedded in our vision and therefore supporting their mental health during this time is important to us.
You might be noticing signs of increasing anxiety in your child as they are spending more time indoors and outside of their normal routines. These might include:
For our pupils aged 3-6 years:
For our pupils aged 7-10 years:
For our eldest pupils and their older siblings:
From national government documentation, we have put together some resources and advice to help you support your child. We hope you find this information helpful.
If you have any concerns about how your child is coping or you need any other support from the school, please let us know by emailing head@rampton.notts.sch.uk.
We are extremely grateful for all the continued support you have shown us as we have adapted to these new circumstances, and we want to reassure you that we are still here to support you too.
We can and will get through this together.
Kind regards,
Mrs Helen Roberts
Headteacher
Take care of yourself
It is really important right now to take care of your own physical and mental health. Children are very perceptive, and they react to what they sense from the adults around them.
Here are some things you can do to help keep yourself healthy:
No matter how calmly you manage the current environment, children are likely to be anxious, so it is important to talk to them about what’s happening.
For our younger children
Children pick up bits of information from their friends, from the news and from listening to adults talking around them – but they can misunderstand what they’re hearing.
Deal with the news head-on and talk about it openly and calmly, giving them the facts
Give them age-appropriate information – take a look at:
Encourage questions
Be a role model
Explain how our body's immune system protects us
Keep doing your bit to help children reduce the spread of germs
For our older children
Older children will have the same anxieties about their own health and that of their family and friends as younger children. But they’re also likely to feel socially isolated, and worried about the result of school closures on their education and what life will be like after the pandemic is over.
In addition to the steps above:
Reassure them that when more guidance comes from the school about how grades will be awarded, you’ll share this with them as soon as you have it – you could also check that they understand the information you’ve received so far, in case there are any points of confusion or worry that the school could help to clarify
Encourage them to maintain social ties – relationships are especially important for older children, so give them room to keep in touch with their friends
Equip them with accurate information – for example:
Share tools to help them manage anxiety
If you are child struggles with higher levels of anxiety
Some children are naturally more anxious, such as those with existing phobias or obsessive-compulsive disorders. The current situation can make those anxieties worse.
Helplines and websites for children and young people
If your child would like to speak with someone confidentially, there are helplines and websites specifically for them.
Organisation |
Contact information |
Shout Free, confidential support via text, available 24/7 |
Text SHOUT to 85258 in the UK to text with a trained crisis volunteer who’ll provide active listening and collaborative problem-solving |
The Mix Free confidential telephone helpline and online service that aims to find young people the best help, whatever the problem |
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ChildLine Confidential telephone counselling service for any child with a problem |
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As we have stated in previous updates and in our Remote Learning Policy, we are realistic about what pupils will be able to do during this period, and we want you to be too.
You are not expected to become teachers and your children are not expected to learn as they do in school. Simply providing them with some structure at home will help them to adapt.
The following tips are designed to help you create a positive learning environment at home. See what works best for your household.
Please don’t worry about your children getting behind with learning. Everyone’s in the same boat, and when things get back to normal we’ll make sure we get everyone back on track.
There’s plenty of support for parents online for everything from tools for home learning to PE. Your child’s class teacher will provide more detailed information via Class Dojo and Office teams but additional support can be found here:
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Contact information |
BBC Bitesize Online resource for learning and revision. Starting on 20 April, you’ll also find daily lessons to support home learning |
Website: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize |
GoNoodle Movement and mindfulness videos for primary children |
Website: https://www.gonoodle.com/
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STEM.org.uk Free home learning resources for all ages in science, technology, engineering and maths |
Website: https://www.stem.org.uk/home-learning
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Twinkl This popular site for teachers is now offering free daily activities for home learning |
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English National Ballet Free ballet classes streamed daily |
It’s okay to not be okay. We all need someone to talk to sometimes. If you feel overwhelmed, at risk of abuse or experiencing financial need, there are people you can call on for support:
On April 22, Nottinghamshire Healthcare Foundation Trust has launched a new mental health helpline for local people in crisis. The helpline number is 0300 303 0165 and is available to anyone in mental health crisis at anytime, anywhere across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. Available 24 hours a day, seven-days a week, it’s the number to call if you are experiencing a mental health crisis and need immediate help. It’s open to people of all ages who need urgent mental health support. The helpline has been launched as part of the NHS Long Term Plan’s investment in Mental Health Services. It is the ‘first port of call’ for anyone experiencing a mental health crisis and removes the need for those people to seek help via hospital.
Additional mental health support
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Contact information |
Mental Health Foundation Provides information and support for anyone with mental health problems or learning disabilities |
Website: www.mentalhealth.org.uk
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Mind A mental health charity |
Phone: 0300 123 3393 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm) Website: www.mind.org.uk |
PAPYRUS Youth suicide prevention society
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Phone: 0800 068 4141 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 10pm, and 2pm to 10pm on weekends and bank holidays) Website: www.papyrus-uk.org |
Samaritans Confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair |
Phone: 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline) Website: www.samaritans.org.uk |
SANE Emotional support, information and guidance for people affected by mental illness, their families and carers |
Website: www.sane.org.uk/support |
YoungMinds A charity dedicated to children’s mental health |
Phone: Parents' helpline 0808 802 5544 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm) Website: www.youngminds.org.uk |
Cruse Bereavement Care Support for grief and bereavement |
Phone: 0808 808 1677 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5pm) Website: www.cruse.org.uk |
Domestic violence
Organisation |
Contact information |
NSPCC Child protection charity
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Phone: 0808 800 5000 for adults concerned about a child (24-hour helpline) 0800 1111 for children (ChildLine’s 24-hour helpline) Website: www.nspcc.org.uk |
Refuge Advice on dealing with domestic violence |
Phone: 0808 2000 247 (24-hour helpline) Website: www.refuge.org.uk |