School Pastoral Support
At Olton Primary School, we believe that supporting our children’s wellbeing plays a fundamental role in ensuring that they achieve success both personally and academically. We also know the pivotal role that working in partnership with our families plays in the children’s development. To support our partnership working, to enable all children to gain the most from their time at Olton Primary School, we have a pastoral tram who can support the children during their time in school but also help and signpost families to support within the community.
Pastoral Team Updates:
Our pastoral team of Mrs Napier, Ms Glover, Mrs Watkins and Mrs Carter regularly share useful information via the school newsletter and on Class Dojo to support parents, including:
- Updates about events happening in school or in the local community
- Free courses from Solihull approach
- Useful websites
Family Support Workers – `A Friendly Face’
Mrs Napier and Mrs Glover are our two full time Family Support Workers. We recognise that everyone experiences different life challenges, and that each of us may need help to cope with them sometimes. They are on hand to offer support and advice to families every day in school.
Play Therapist – Therapeutic Support
In addition to the ongoing, day to day support that can be offered to children and families by our Family Support Workers, we also have Mrs Watkins, a trained play therapist, who works with children in school on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Mrs Watkins has been working with children and their families around the world for 25 years.
“I have sensitively supported a diverse range of parents and carers in multicultural environments. I am extremely sensitive to the complexities that families face and treat everyone with the utmost respect.”
For more details – please refer to the ‘ Express Yourself – Play Therapy’ document below:
Learning and Behaviour Mentor
Mrs Carter is our full time Learning and Behaviour Mentor. She supports individuals and groups of children in school to enable them to gain the most from their learning by being ‘ready to learn’. As well as working closely with the pupils themselves, Mrs Carter also meets regularly with the staff in school to look for new ways to support children who are finding it challenging to focus on their learning and liaises with parents.
Wider Community and External Support
Although we are able to help our children and families in many different ways within school, sometimes other people and/or agencies are best placed to provide the specific advice and support that may be needed. Please see below information and links below which parents can access directly.
Local Support – Solihull Local Authority
There are a range of activities and services provided by Solihull Local Authority which are accessible to our families.
My Solihull Map
My Solihull Map connects you to your local community. It helps you find places to go, things to do and to help families actively engage in the vibrant services your local community provides. My Solihull Map highlights many activities and services that are:
- free and low cost
- all age groups
- under 18
- disability focused
- mental health focused
- faith groups
- sports and physical activities
My Solihull Map can be found at https://www.solihull.gov.uk/communities/my-solihull-map
Other Useful Websites – Local Support and Services
Please see below for other useful websites that may help you find what you are looking for:
- The Waiting Room – a free-to-access, online directory of hundreds of local health and well-being services available to communities in Birmingham and Solihull
- Street Support Solihull – connecting people and organisations locally to tackle homelessness in Solihull
- Visit Solihull – a webpage of all the exciting things and events that are going on in Solihull
- Family Information Service – a webpage where you can find the Family Information Service Directory (which allows you to search for activities and support services) and other resources such as information on HAF (Holiday Activities and Food), how to find childcare, and useful information for childcare providers
- Here2Help – a webpage that guides you to the available support with your energy and water bills, food and other essential household items that you may be eligible to from local schemes that are funded by the Household Support Fund
- Eat Well Move More – Solihull On The Move – Eat Well Move More is a healthy lifestyles programme for families with children aged 4-16 years and up to 25 years with additional needs, who have concerns over their child’s health, and would like support and guidance to make healthy lifestyle changes. The Eat Well Move More programme includes healthy eating and nutritional advice. Top tips and ideas for being more active, fun activities and games as well as interactive resources for the whole family to get involved.
- Children’s Storehouse– an organisation who provide free, good quality children’s clothes to families in need. These are available through a referral system, and they accept referrals from statutory organisations across the Birmingham and Solihull area.
- Solihull Help With Food – help qith food for you and your family
- Incredible Surplus – Originally established in 2014 as The Real Junk Food Project Birmingham, they intercept food and other usable materials that would otherwise go to waste from supermarkets, restaurants and other sources, and provide them to individuals and community organisations on a “Pay-As-You-Feel” basis.
Wider Support Services
Mental Health Services
At Olton Primary School, we are committed to supporting the mental health and well-being of our pupils and staff. We aim to be supportive, caring and respectful and encourage our pupils to be open so that they can have their voice heard. We recognise that everyone experiences different life challenges, and that each of us may need help to cope with them sometimes. Where the appropriate support can be offered in school then we will facilitate this but when children’s mental health needs more direct support from a professional we can refer to the likes of Solar or Forward Thinking Birmingham.
The Waiting Room is a fantastic website which offers contact information and advice for many different mental health and wellbeing topics. Please click on the link below to access the guidance and information. If you need any further support, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Below are links to a useful video and websites from Solihull School Nursing Team aimed at Primary school aged children regarding emotional health and well-being.
The website links include self-help videos for young people with all sorts of tips on exercise, sleep, worry and how to take care on social media as well as advice and sources of support.
Kooth
Kooth is commissioned by the NHS, Local Authorities, charities and businesses to provide online anonymous and personalised mental health support for Children and Young People
Well-Being Rescources
We have put together a selection of resources and strategies to support the wellbeing of your whole family which we hope you will find useful. These can be accessed via the link and our Nurture and Wellbeing page below.
https://padlet.com/OltonPrimarySchool/qi3wwwghprjafcv8
Bereavement Services
Losing someone is one of the hardest things to face but it isn’t something that you have to tackle alone. Learn more about St Mary’s Hospice bereavement support.
Family Support Services
Women’s Aid provide support to women and their children in the Birmingham and Solihull area. Call their confidential helpline on 0808 800 0028
- Birmingham Solihull Women’s Aid
- Safeguarding children and young people
- Childline
- Roshni
- Muslim Women’s Helpline
- Parentwise Campaign – The new parentwise campaign helps parents to find information and guidance and also where they can get help and support if they are worried about their children for any reason.
- Family Advice-Communication Education – FACE gives practical, accessible and affordable support to parents and professionals who support children and teenagers.
Family Support Hubs
The hubs hold a coffee morning at each of the Family Hubs for parents of pupils starting Reception and Year 7.
There will be several agencies present so parents can alleviate some anxiety about their child starting Reception or Secondary school, as we know parents anxiety can pass down the child and they too can become anxious to attend school.
