19th May 2023
HEADLINES
By James Saunders
As mentioned last week, it has been Mental Health Awareness Week this week. Mental Health remains a primary focus for society post-pandemic. In school we continue to work in partnership with NELFT NHS foundation trust and Essex Mental Health Support Team to provide additional support to our learners. This partnership utilises the services and support of Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs), to support the emotional wellbeing and mental health of learners. As well as this we have access to a counselling service to support learners further. The aim of this work is to promote good emotional wellbeing and mental health by helping children and their families through prevention, early intervention and education. We deliver a range of evidence-based interventions for children and young people with mild to moderate mental health needs. There are a number of different ways that we are able to support learners: •
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Groups and workshops – targeted intervention focusing on certain topics/issues (e.g. emotional well-being, coping with exam stress, self-esteem, friendships. Individual work with young people – short term low intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) informed interventions for young people with anxiety and/or low mood. Staff support – training and consultation to support the school to develop a ‘whole school approach’ to emotional wellbeing and mental health.
We also update our Honywood Wellbeing app regularly which provides a range of signposted resources.
REPORTING ATTENDANCE Please inform the school early in the day by 8.30am if your child is going to be absent from school. You need to call the attendance line on 01376 561231 option 1 or email attendance@honywoodschool.com to report a child’s absence. This number has a 24 hour voicemail service. If you need to speak to someone because you need extra help or are worried, please contact your child’s Cohort Leader and we will make sure someone contacts you. We may ask for a letter to confirm medical appointments to explain absences or other suitable medical evidence. If you receive a Groupcall message regarding your child’s absence please contact the school as soon as possible. If your child has not arrived at school or left the premises and you are not aware, we need you to help with finding him/her and ensuring s/he is safe. It is a safeguarding concern if no-one knows where your child is. You need to make sure your child is in school by 8.30am in order for them to register and prepare for the day. A rushed arrival can make a child feel unsettled and lead to a difficult day in school. They may also receive a late mark and possible consequence. We need parents to keep us up to date with contact details. Please let us know if your mobile number changes and make sure that, wherever possible, we have another two named contacts on the system we can call if we cannot get hold of you. This is important if there is any kind of an emergency. Thank you for your support. A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Last week our Shakespeare Drama club gave an excellent performance of their own version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I have fond memories of A Midsummer Night’s Dream as it too was my introduction to Shakespeare. It is always a real delight to watch Shakespeare lessons and hear our learners