HUMAN: Connect - Mental Health and Wellbeing Newsletter - Summer 1 2024

HUMAN: Connect, Southwark's Schools Mental Health Newsletter

Welcome back, we hope you're settling into the new term and enjoying the sunnier weather and longer days. 

Spotlight on Mental Health and Physical Activity

Mental Health Awareness Week 2024 will take place from 13 to 19 May 2024, on the theme of "Movement: Moving more for our mental health".

Being active is important for our mental health. But so many of us struggle to get enough exercise. We know there are many different reasons for this, so this Mental Health Awareness Week we want to help people to find moments for movement in their daily routines. Please find more information from The Mental Health Foundation

Spring is the perfect time to pick up a new sport or hobby. The London marathon is taking place this Sunday and there's plenty of opportuities for schools and young people to get involved. 

2024 TCS Mini London Marathon in Schools

The free TCS Mini London Marathon in schools invites schools to enter their children and young people to run, jog, walk, or wheel 2.6 miles in their school setting.

Once registered, you will receive your school toolkit and can start planning the event. Decide where and when the children will be completing their 2.6 miles. You can do this over one, two, three days or more, depending on the ages and abilities of the children. If your school does The Daily Mile, then that can count towards completing the challenge.

-          WHEN: Anytime between 15th April and 10th May 2024

-          WHERE: Your school or setting

-          WHY: Inspiring children to be more active in a setting where they feel comfortable

-          WHAT: Event toolkit, which includes running bibs, WWF-UK teaching resources, inspiration to get active and a certificate for every participant!

To find more info and to register, visit: Mini London Marathon in schools - TCS London Marathon

London Sport 

London Sport provides resources and spaces for physical exercise and sports across London. Services for Children and Young People include the Active Lives Survey, Community Sports Funding, and the Opening Schools Facilities Fund. 

Find further details here

The Daily Mile 

The aim of The Daily Mile is to improve the physical, social, emotional and mental health and wellbeing of our children – regardless of age, ability or personal circumstances.  Register your school here if you haven' already

Local Offer - Leisure and Public Health 

There are plenty of Borough-wide initiatives and activities aimed at developing physical activity and wellbeing, for our current offers and 

Physical activity options for Southwark ^{(pdf, 131kb)}

Schools Public Health Offer  ^{(pdf, 233kb)}

Ford RideLondon FreeCycle Ride 

Ford RideLondon FreeCycle is the ultimate ride for cyclists of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. Set on a traffic-free route, the event is a unique opportunity to explore central London by bike – and it's completely free to take part! It will return for 2024 on Sunday 26 May.

Register your interest here and promote to your pupils 

Association for Physical Education

Subject association for physical education in the United Kingdom, provides quality assured services and resources and valuable professional support for our members and the physical education, school sport and physical activity sector. For resources and upcoming events, please see here

Upcoming CPD and Training

Wellbeing First: IMHARS Sharing Practice and Celebration Event - Friday 5th July 2024

We're pleased to invite you to our summer term sharing practice event, taking place at 160 Tooley Street. 

 The event will focus on sharing best practice between colleagues across schools and localities in Southwark. Including workshops and guest speakers discussing themes related to PD, PSHE and Wellbeing Education, Wellbeing in Schools, SMSC and new curriculum developments.

For Headteachers, SLT, PSHE and Wellbeing Education subject leaders, Healthy Schools Leads, SMSC & Mental Health Leads

Register here

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) 2 Day Course, 20th - 21st May and 4th - 5th July , 9:15 – 16:30, The Park College

The free two day in-depth youth MHFA course is open to education staff in primary, secondary, special educational needs schools, sixth form, and further education colleges, as well as Pupil Referral Units and Alternative Provision staff in state funded London schools.

Book your place

“Wellbeing First: Improving Mental Health and Resilience in Schools (IMHARS) and Healthy Schools” Children & Young People’s Survey 2023 – free SHEU Survey

We very much that hope that your school will be able to take part. Southwark Council are to conduct an “IMHARS and Healthy Schools” survey of pupils in years 4 and 6 in primary and years 8 and 10 in secondary schools this term.   This is undertaken for us by the Schools Health Education Unit (SHEU) in Exeter, and is free to schools. 

There is still an opportunity over the summer term to conduct the survey with your schools year 4, 6, 8 or 10 pupils. The survey is completed virtually over an hours session and provides access to data on health, wellbeing, physical activity, belonging, digital access, leisure among other topics. 

How to confirm your engagement

To confirm your school’s involvement in this year’s survey please register at http://sheu.org.uk/register.  When asked for year groups to survey please indicate years 4, 6, 8 or 10.  Please register your school if you have not done so already. 

For schools that have registered, please complete the survey with your selected pupil group as soon as possible. 

Please do not hesitate to ask any questions either emailing Angela at SHEU angela.balding@sheu.org.uk or georgia.moss@southwark.gov.uk in our SELA team.

Updated directory of organisations and resources that support the teaching and learning of PSHE and Wellbeing in Primary Schools and Secondary Schools fromm the Health Education Partnership. PSHE, Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) and Wellbeing | Southwark Schools

Education Endowment Foundation - New Resources from The Education Endowment Foundation to support with Early Years development and clarity of communication, Support personal, social and emotional development in the early years and Clarity is king - Reducing extraneous load

Wellbeing First: IMHARS Film on Wellbeing in School Governance  - On the role School Governors play in building a whole school, inclusive and trauma-informed approach to Wellbeing as part of ethos, vision and values, please see here

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Spotlight on Support Resources for Young People 

• Childhood trauma, migration & asylum: a free toolkit for providers of supported accommodation, Anna Freud Centre - The UK Trauma Council has published a toolkit for staff working in supported accommodation for unaccompanied asylum seeking children. Drawing on the evidence-base and voices of separated young people, this resource has been developed to increase the confidence of supported accommodation staff in recognising and responding to trauma of the children in their care. Access for free here

• GTC Scotland - A guide outlining key terms and approaches to understanding the links between neurodiversity, equality and inclusion in education. Please see here

• Childhood trauma, migration and asylum -  toolkit for education staff working with children and young people who have been affected by war, migration and asylum.. Please see here

• Diversity Role Models - A charitable organisation working with schools to end LGBTQ+ bullying, by harnessing the power of storytelling to build empathy and celebrate difference. Free resources from Diversity Role Models includes Anti-bullying Staff Training for Schools, and Education Services including Primary and Secondary Workshops. 

• Good Thinking's toolkits collates resources for students, parents and carers and education sector staff ahead of the new academic year, with a range of Good Thinking, Thrive LDN and TPHC resources as well as signposting to services such as The Student Room and YoungMinds. 

• Child Bereavement Network - In light of the escalating conflicts across the world, pupils in our schools may have family or loved one's impacted by conflict and violence. The Child Bereavement Network signposts support and advice for young people impacted and resources to enable teaching staff to talk to young people about war and conflict, please see here, including resources from Place2be on talking to young people about war and conflict. For further resources to support with trauma and bereavement in young people, please see the UK Trauma Council. 

• Mentally Healthy Schools and Anna Freud Centre Resource Hub - This resource hub is for classroom and wellbeing support. New resources include Childhood trauma, migration and asylum: animation and toolkit for education settings 

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Community and Cost of Living Support available to parents and families in Southwark

Southwark Council have created a guide to the various forms of support available to individuals who are encountering financial difficulties. This is available through Community Southwark, for more information please click here.  

Cost of living support and information available from Southwark Council here. 

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Upcoming Dates for the Calendar 

• Stress Awareness Month, April 2024 -  Stress Awareness Month has been held every April, since 1992 to increase public awareness about both the causes and cures for our modern stress epidemic. For resources to support teachers and pupils in managing stress, please see Mentally Healthy Schools Stress Awareness Month Toolkit, The Samaritans Pack on managing stress, and Mentally Healthy Schools Resources for teachers.

• World Health Day, 7th April 2024 -  the theme for World Health Day 2024 is 'My health, my right’ - This year’s theme was chosen to champion the right of everyone, everywhere to have access to quality health services, education, and information, as well as safe drinking water, clean air, good nutrition, quality housing, decent working and environmental conditions, and freedom from discrimination. For more information, please see resources from the World Health Organisation. 

• Gypsy, Roma & Traveller History Month, May 2024 - Every June since 2008, people from across the UK have celebrated Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month. Through celebration, education and raising awareness, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month helps to tackle prejudice, challenge myths and to amplify the voices of Gypsies, Roma and Travellers in wider society. For more information, see here. 

• Pride Month, June 2024 - Pride Month takes place every year in June and is a celebration designed to recognise the influence of the LGBTQ+ community. Celebrating diversity and people's right to live how they choose without discrimination, Pride Month promotes positivity and equal rights for all. for resources for schools, please see resources from Stonewall and Twinkl. 

• Windrush day, 22nd June 2024 - Windrush Day was introduced in June 2018 on the 70th anniversary of the Windrush migration, this date commemorates the enormous contribution of the Windrush generation and their descendants to Britain, please look out for events around Southwark commenorating the date, pack with ideas for celebrating Windrush within your Community here, Resources and Events at the Royal Maritime Museum Greenwich 

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 School Wellbeing Resources

• Anna Freud's Schools in Mind seminar, 23rd May 16:30 - 18:00 for Mental Health Leads - In 2021, the Department for Education introduced a new scheme to offer funded senior mental health lead training to all eligible schools and colleges by 2025.At Anna Freud has been part of this scheme from the beginning, training thousands of delegates to become senior mental health leads in their settings. This seminar will provide an update and insight into senior mental health lead training in schools and colleges. We will look at the current landscape and key challenges, and will share what we’ve learned about practical strategies and approaches. Book your free place 

• Ending Gender-Based Violence Teacher Toolkit – free resource and CPD accredited training from Tender for Secondaries The Teacher Toolkit is a free resource, developed to help schools facilitate important conversations with children and young people around GBV, and meet key elements of the RSE curriculum. It can also support staff’s vital safeguarding role. https://tender.org.uk/our-services/training/toolkit-training/ The Secondary Toolkit is available now: https://www.london.gov.uk/VAWGToolkit

• To support the use of the Toolkit in schools, Tender are offering free, CPD accredited and online training to teachers and school governors in every London borough.The details of Southwark’s upcoming sessions are below. You can find further information and all sessions here: https://tender.org.uk/category/toolkit-training/

• Resources from Mental Health First Aid England - New research reveals the need for suicide awareness and prevention training in the workplace, access further details and resources here. For MHFA England’s response to Government’s National Suicide Prevention Strategy, please see here. For Mental Health Awareness week Mental Health First Aid England has developed resources for 'Empower half hour', see here for details 

• Key research findings in children and young people’s mental health highlighted in latest report - The Evidence Based Practice Unit, a collaboration between Anna Freud and UCL Faculty of Brain Sciences, has released its Key Findings Report for 2023. Access Report Here

• Improving attendance: Good Practice Webinars for Schools and Multi-academy Trusts - Please see below for a selection of webinars from the DfE with Schools and multi-academy trusts (MATs) sharing their different techniques for improving attendance rates in their settings. For access to the webinars, please see here

• Speaking to parents about attendance – Toolkit for Schools - Different factors are now influencing decision making for some parents, carers and pupils around whether a child or young person attends school. Starting to influence pupil, parent and carer behaviours is one part of tackling this issue. The DfE produced a toolkit which provides examples to help you communicate with parents and carers about school attendance and ensure high standards. Access the Toolkit here

• School Absenteeism resource from the Anna Freud Centre - New resources to support pupils and staff to identify and manage stress and new videos Addressing emotionally-based school avoidance | Anna Freud ​

• Free Guide to tackling Student Anxiety in Primary and Secondary Schools - Educational psychology experts at the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools have developed a guide for teachers to address student anxiety. Inside 'How to tackle student anxiety' you will discover how to identify anxiety and give your students coping techniques – with action plans for three specific areas: Low level anxiety, Social anxiety around friendship groups and Emotionally Based School Avoidance. To download the resource, please click here

• The Black Students Mental Health Project - Good Thinking has partnered with the Black Students Mental Health Project (BSMHP) to host a range of mental wellbeing resources, including blogs, podcasts and videos, which have been created by the black community within London South Bank University (LSBU), for further details please click here. 

• BBC Moodboosters - BBC Moodboosters has teamed up with BBC Children in Need for this ambitious new initiative to inspire primary school age children around the UK to get moving and learning about their mental health and wellbeing. Find out more here. 

Organisations providing Mental Health Resources and Support for Children and Young People 

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