In today's society and climate children's wellbeing and mental health is a key issue that affects all families.  This is also reflected in the 2018 Government's Green Paper entitled 'Transforming children and young people’s mental health provision'.

This paper notes the importance of providing support and guidance for our young people and that both professionals and families have an important role to play.

As a school we provide children with the opportunity to:

• gain emotional support to share anxieties and concerns with two fully trained and experienced ELSA's
• learn about healthy relationships and behaviours within social and personal settings
• value themselves as individuals and recognise what makes them unique and special
• develop safe and healthy online habits
• know what to do if they ever feel unsafe or worried
• understand the dangers and benefits of social media and the use of technology
• understand how their actions can effect themselves and others

As a school we provide parents with the opportunity to:

• share their concerns with us about their child and that we will listen
• gain education and advice about key issues such as online habits, bullying and gaming
• share ideas and suggestions with other parents about how to support children as they grow up
• recieve signposting for additional support and advice
• liaise with our Family liaison officer and gain parental support

Our Top Ten Tips

• Limit screen time to total one hour per day
• Link your own devices to theirs so that you can see what they have been looking at and ensure security settings are correct- If you are not sure how to do this contact your provider or ask the school- we have some brilliant tech parents who have volunteered to help!
• Set the house rules and boundaries whilst they are still young and do stick to these
• Use the technology in open spaces within the house and make it social- be interested in what they are looking at
• Don't believe your children when they tell you everyone else is allowed to and spend time to talk to them about how to be safe online and the dangers
• Don't take tablets or technology out with you for meals or during family times, have a no tech at the table rule!
• Find some one to one time with each of your children (this can just be ten minutes before they go to bed or on a weekend)
• If they seem more worried or anxious, listen to them and try and understand what they are saying, let them know you are really listening and there to help- if you are not sure on what to say or do then please contact us- Mrs Johnson or Mrs Page can help!
• Remember the activities and games that you played as a child and have dedicated time where you either all go out for fresh air and activity or perhaps a Board games evening- some of our favourites are Jenga, Screwball Scramble, Speak Out and Rapidough!
• Don't buy your child the latest smart phone- start them off with an old one with limited technology- would you give a 17 year old a Ferrari?  With Smart phones they all have 3G or 4G which means all your security settings at home become useless.

Below we have linked some of our favourite local centres and activities, but remember we live on the edge of some beautiful habitats so why not explore for free! 

Bournemouth beach- just 15 minutes drive

Christchurch splash pool and playground- 15 minutes drive

Avon Valley Country Park -10 minutes drive

Hengistbury Head- 15 minutes drive

Why not get on your bikes and follow a New Forest cycle route or pick up the Castlemain Trail?  You can even cycle through to Moors Valley and if that is not enough, you can pick up the mountain bike trails!

Blashford Lakes is free to walk around, or you can look at on or in the water activities for a reasonable price.

Scooter parks and ramps can be found at Carvers in Ringwood, Potterne Park in Verwood or for a small fee you can head over to Streetlight- a family friendly Indoor skate park and cafe in Wimborne.