WELLBEING AT C ANFORD SUPPORTING THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY AS WE REOPEN
Introduction We have all been through unprecedented times, that no one could foresee. Covid-19 has affected us all in different ways and on differing levels. We very much recognise that everyone’s experience to date will have been very different. Our individual ability to process the varying emotions and resilience differs greatly due to a number of factors, such as previous life experiences, family networks, country of residence and restrictions that have been in place, friendships, self-assurance and many more. The gradual easing of lockdown as the Summer Term finished gave a welcome opportunity for many to resume contact with family and friends. However, this was not the case for all. The Senior Leadership Team and staff body at Canford have been working hard to ensure a safe and positive experience for all our pupils as they return to school in September. Whilst there are ever changing instructions from the Government and Department for Education, the strength and fundamental ethos of the Canford Community allows us to provide a secure, structured, resolute, warm environment for pupils and staff to return. We would like to openly acknowledge the range of emotions, thoughts and feelings that you as pupils, parents and staff have looking ahead to September. These include excitement to return to some normality, to access education face to face again, the nerves, trepidation, feelings of distance from the home environment we have become accustomed to and many more. We will provide routine, structure and social engagement all of which have been proven to strongly correlate to positive emotional, mental and physical wellbeing. We recognise this mix of emotions could surface at any point during term and the support networks are very much in place to help manage this. This document has been designed by our Heads of Wellbeing to inform you as pupils, parents and staff of what support is available and where you can access it ahead of your return. The wellbeing of our pupils is of the utmost importance, no more so than through this pandemic. We have tried and tested support systems in place already prior to Covid-19. These areas have been reviewed and added to, to reflect and accommodate increased support for every member of our community, with extra vigilance for every person as they re-adjust and re-connect with school. Our wellbeing mission statement Reflect – Return – Reignite articulates our acknowledgement of and wish to ensure we understand how everyone’s experience has been to date, but also to help guide each person to look forward, to focus on hope and positivity for their future.
What is new? Wellbeing Programme A number of our international pupils have returned already, and we are delighted to see them. The staggered return to school will enable us to give each group and year group of pupils the personal attention and focus they need when they arrive back on site. It will give pupils the opportunity and time to re-connect with each other, Housemasters and Housemistresses (HsMs), House staff and the school routine. A revised activity programme for outside the classroom over weekends has been designed for this coming term by the Heads of Wellbeing and the HsMs. Each selected activity meets the health and safety criteria associated with Covid-19 restrictions, whilst ensuring the pupils have the chance to engage with each other. The programme has been developed with the wellbeing of our pupils underpinning all aspects. It has been put in place to help build resilience in our returning pupils, allow them to find their feet again, and also in our new pupils, to give all a sense of fun and purpose outside of the classroom. Our focus is on promoting the core values of Self Efficacy (the belief that we can make a difference and have strengths we can draw on in times of challenge), Hope, Gratitude and Connectedness. These themes have been shown to benefit people’s ability to manage their personal wellbeing and promote a positive correlation to happiness.
What is new? Wellbeing Journal The Heads of Wellbeing and the School Counsellor have designed a Wellbeing Journal specific to the adolescent age groups. This journal will be given to each pupil and all staff. A copy of the journal will also be emailed to parents. The journal contains ideas and practical tasks that people can use to help manage their own emotional, mental and physical wellbeing. The journal has been divided into four sections with information and activities to facilitate the management of: 1) sleep and relaxation 2) healthy lifestyle 3) goal setting 4) feelings We know that at different stages of lockdown and thereafter during the easing of restrictions, the above areas have been impacted at differing levels, at different times. Body clocks have changed, night time routines are different, some for the better, some for the worse. Relationships have been affected, some for the positive such as more time with family, some for the negative. The uncertainties related to Covid-19 have caused a great deal of worry, anxiety and perhaps apathy about the future. Goal setting is important to help our drive and focus in life. We know that Covid-19 may have impacted individual confidence in doing this or maybe it has led to a refreshing change in mindset about what one might do. Anger, frustration and fear may be pertinent in pupil mindsets one week compared to others. Conflicts in emotions will be evident and this journal provides support in ways to manage the changes in feelings. Physical Wellbeing will continue to be addressed through a dynamic, varied sports programme, as well as the nutritional health focus of the new meal plans in place. Tutors will be able to access and use tasks from the journal to help support individuals or the group as a whole during tutor time. The tutors are in place to support the wellbeing of the pupils alongside their academic progress. Parents and staff may also find some of the tasks useful for their own self-management.
What is new? Wellbeing Questionnaires As parents/carers you will have received a questionnaire asking for information on how you feel your son/daughter has managed during the lockdown period. We recognise ‘One size does not fit all’ and, as discussed previously, people have had very varied experiences. We value your input and know that the information you give will help us best support individuals on their return. We will be able to notice changes in behaviour for better and for worse with your background information. We thank you in advance for this. Alongside this, we feel it is very important that pupils see we acknowledge what they have been through. On return, in tutor group sessions, we will be asking pupils to complete a wellbeing questionnaire. This will have some quantitative answers to allow us to gather information on general consensus. However, there will be open ended questions and comments boxes to allow pupils to expand on their answers and give us more detail on their views and feelings. This task will help tutors connect with each pupil and be mindful of how they are feeling amongst their peers. The information will not be shared with other pupils in any way.
Sport and Wellbeing Instagram Our Sport and Wellbeing Instagram page was active during the lockdown period and will continue to be so on return to school. This medium of social media was popular amongst the pupil body and helped keep them informed and feel connected. Find us @canford_sport_ and_wellbeing for sport and wellbeing activities, support and communication on these topics. As parents, we would also welcome you joining all our social media pages as a way of keeping up to date and seeing what is going on throughout the term. Information about our main school social media feeds is on the final page of this document.
Wellbeing Posters We already have posters around school with pictures of the safeguarding team staff members and contact details and will be adding to these to include wellbeing staff contacts. This will help remind pupils of who they can contact and how.
Wellbeing Contacts - where to go for help FRIENDS
Talk to friends in House, friends from different classes and sets.
PEER MENTORING
We have a new Peer Mentoring system commencing this September. A select group of Lower Sixth pupils have been chosen as peer mentors. They will be trained and supported to deliver the Peer Mentoring Programme. The bespoke training will include skills such as how to ’actively listen’. The peer mentors can also help direct pupils to adult support if needed. This scheme will run across all boarding and day houses for all year groups. The programme will be overseen by members of the staff body, led by Dr Neill, Deputy Head Co-curricular, Wellbeing Leads Mrs Bishop and Mrs Clinton and selected teaching staff. We also have a new Wellbeing Pupil Leader role this year. Those chosen will be actively communicating with and on behalf of the whole pupil body on all matters related to emotional, mental and physical wellbeing.
HOUSE TEAMS
HsMs, House Tutors, House Graduate Assistants and House Matrons. All House staff (with the exception of graduate assistants) are qualified Mental Health First Aiders. All staff will be receiving extra wellbeing education during inset, focussing on key behaviours, signs and symptoms to look out for regarding the mix of emotions and coping strategies that we may see. Your emotional, mental and physical wellbeing is imperative. Let us help you. You do not need to carry this alone. We can help educate you on ways to manage your feelings. Tutors provide a great link between staff and the HsMs, so please do contact the tutor with any concerns - whether you are a pupil, staff member or parent.
SCHOOL COUNSELLORS
Mrs Helena Rainsford and Mr Dave Boardman are readily available to support the Canford Community. They are approachable, friendly and very experienced counsellors. Helena has worked for CAMHS for many years. Dave specialises in CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). They will continue with a diary system, in which pupils can self-refer at any time about any issues. Staff and parents can also make requests for appointments on behalf of pupils.
Wellbeing Contacts - where to go for help HEALTH CENTRE TEAM
Cath Mason, who runs the Health Centre, is very approachable and another good listener. She has a fantastic team of nurses who are very much willing to provide support and are able to educate on physical and mental health problems, as well as trained to direct to more in-depth care if needed. Cath will be providing face to face inductions to the Health Centre for all new pupils during their first weekend on site, so they know where to go and what services are available at the school. The School GPs, led by Dr Rene Skule, can be accessed through the Health Centre.
CHAPLAINCY
Reverend Jack, with his team of chaplaincy teaching staff including Lay Chaplain Mr Jeffery and Chaplaincy Graduate Assistant Mr Nicholl will be continuing their efforts to provide support for pupils. Rev Jack has been incredibly active throughout the pandemic and we are delighted to say he will be providing in House face to face Chapels for the set socially distanced bubbles. He has great experience in helping young people and his door is always open, so don’t be afraid to ask. Rev Jack has a new office that is situated in the Tower Classroom.
SUPPORT FOR LEARNING DEPARTMENT (SFL) and ELSA (EMOTIONAL LITERACY SUPPORT ASSISTANTS) Mrs Ryan leads a wonderful SFL team of staff who are happy to help pupils with a vast range of difficulties accessing and processing their learning, alongside coping strategies for managing their concerns. Referrals can be made by staff via the SFL gateway page. SFL staff are trained in providing Mindfulness sessions, an incredibly useful tool in the management of wellbeing. Mindfulness is taught with the PSME curriculum and Shell Carousel programmes, so all pupils get exposure to it. Over the past 2 years, Canford has expanded its ELSA support at the school. Mrs Bishop, Mrs Ryan, Mrs Miles and Mrs Price have been trained in the speciality of providing the emotional support within the school environment in areas including anxiety, bereavement, OCD and emotional numbness, to name but a few. Again, pupils can self-refer to provide open access to all. Staff and parents can contact the team also. The ELSA staff have been involved in further Covid-19 specific training.
Other helplines and useful online sitesAn Oxbridge Mental and emotional wellbeing www.youngminds.org.uk www.mindful.org www.mind.org.uk www.sane.org.uk www.theclamzone.net Physical health advice https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/physical-activity-and-your-mental-health/choosing-an-activity/ http://www.youngpeopleshealth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/AYPH-health-and-sport-reviewNov-2016.pdf Nutrition https://www.nutrition.org.uk/nutritionscience/life/teenagers.html?start=4 https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/healthy-eating-for-teens/ Samaritans – 08457 909090 SANEline – 0300 3047000 Bereavement www.nspcc.org.uk www.childbereavement.org.uk Bullying www.kidscape.org.uk www.bullying.co.uk Anti-bullying campaign – 0207 3787446
SCHOOL RESOURCES AND SITES https://gateway.canford.com/pastoral https://gateway.canford.com/support-for-learning CanfordSchool CanfordSchool
Sleep Dr Chatterjee podcast Insight Timer App Headspace App Sleep cycle App Eating disorders www.b-eat.co.uk Eating disorder helpline – 0845 6347650 Counselling advice www.youthline.co.uk
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www.canford.com Email address for all general queries covidsafe@canford.com
“If you are positive you will see opportunities instead of obstacles. If you are positive you will find opportunities instead of obstacles By connecting and being part of a community with a shared vision and goals, we can create anything.“ David Greer