This section of our website provides parents and carers with useful information if you are considering our school or have a child who is a pupil at our school.
Guidance Advice for Parents
Newsletter Programme 2021 Newsletter pub (1)
Supporting families of autistic children training dates
Priority Service Register Flyer
Updated information about food banks
Food Provision across County Durham
Please see below mobile link detailing crisis food provision and support across County Durham
As I’m sure you’ll appreciate this information is changing constantly and we will do our best to keep you updated, however, if you plan to refer/signpost families please ensure that you contact the organisations/group directly to check that they are still in operation and/or are able to meet the needs of your families.
Durham Foodbank
Please also see the link below detailing current Durham Foodbank provision (red voucher still required for referral).
www.durham.foodbank.org.uk/locations
Baby Formula Update
The 0-19 health team would like to reassure parents that we have been in contact with the infant formula companies who have stated that there is no issue with the production of milk. The current empty shelves are due to panic buying. Local chemists are able to order formula milk although this may take two days to arrive so we would advise to think ahead where possible. If you are unable to get your preferred brand of milk the advice is that any other first stage milk may be used. For any further advice or support do not hesitate to contact your health visiting team.
If needed our Single Point of Contact is: 03000 263538
We will continue to collate a range of information regarding support available to families and will be sending regular updates throughout the rest of this week, but as always please feel free to contact us directly on this email address or ring the team on 03000 266266.
Regards
VCS Alliance Team
Mental health messages for parents and children Emotional&WellbeingSheet
We’re all spending more time at home and more time online. Remember that just because a story appears online doesn’t mean it’s true! False information can cause us to worry – use the SHARE checklist to make sure what you share is true https://sharechecklist.gov.uk/
Social media is a great way to stay in touch with friends and family, but spending too much time on social media can cause us to get anxious – there are tools that we can use to help us reduce our screen time – find out more at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-staying-safe-online
News is everywhere at the minute. If it’s getting too much for you, take a break. Read a book or do a jigsaw and just let your mind focus on something else. Find out more at http://www.durham.gov.uk/covid19mentalhealth
Do you think you’re spending too much time online? There’s lots of things you can do to switch off, take a walk in the fresh air (following guidelines) or read a book in the garden. For more ideas visit http://www.durham.gov.uk/covid19mentalhealth
Messages for parent/carers
There is lots of information out there about coronavirus. Not all of it is based on facts or evidence. Help stop your children worrying about things that might not be true by talking to them about where their ideas come from and encourage them to talk to you if they don’t know if something is true. Find out more at http://www.durham.gov.uk/covid19mentalhealth
Are your children missing their friends and usual activities? Why not encourage them to keep in touch with friends or groups online, have a virtual play date or dance class. Remind them that we can still have fun even when we are in the house. There are ideas for activities at http://www.durham.gov.uk/covid19mentalhealth
What are you doing to stop the young people in your house being bored or worried? We’re playing window bingo with the neighbours – let us know your ideas 😊
Being busy can distract us from our worries – why not get your children to help you with activities in the house or garden. It’s a great way to learn new skills too.
Messages for young people
Are you bored of being in the house? Why not see if you can help with tasks around the house – then do something fun with the rest of your family 😊
If you are feeling sad or worried, remember lots of people are feeling the same way. Talking about your feelings with you family could help, or there are groups that you can call or contact online that can support you. You can find details of support at http://www.durham.gov.uk/covid19mentalhealth
Going for a walk or a jog with your family is a great way to exercise and it’s a good way to forget about your worries for a while. Always try to get your outside time if you can 😊
County Durham volunteering unit launches
A new volunteering unit has been set up in County Durham to provide more support to local organisations and charities during the coronavirus pandemic.
The unit builds on the work of County Durham Together, the community hub operated by Durham County Council to support people and families who are vulnerable and in need during these unprecedented times.
It will provide a central location where organisations needing additional help or practical resources can go to register that need.
The aim of the unit is to help manage offers of support from businesses and individuals who have volunteered their services and resources in County Durham.
To find out more visit: http://www.durham.gov.uk/volunteerunit
Making Mental Health Everybody’s Business
Please click on the link below to access the Supplementary COVID-19 guidance to the Practitioners Guide ‘Making Mental Health Everybody’s Business’
Making Mental Health Everybody’s Business -COVID-19 supplementary document
Relationship Matters – Reducing Parental Conflict – DURHAM WEBSITES – NOW LIVE
The Relationships Matter – Reducing Parental Conflict webpage for professionals is now up and running. This can be accessed from the Durham Safeguarding Children’s Partnership (DSCP) website under the professionals tab (then 3rd down from top – in sections). This will be updated on an ongoing basis with useful links/info for professionals across the Early Help and Think Family Partnership to access. The Referral Screening Questionnaire Tools can also be found here.
The public facing webpage for Relationships Matter – Reducing Parental Conflict is within the Durham County Council Family Support webpage which is pre-existing https://www.durham.gov.uk/article/21650/Help-with-family-relationships . There is work in progress and at present there is light touch reference to RPC. This will be regularly reviewed and updated.
Durham SENDIASS have also devised a guide to help parents, carers and young people (16-25) to continue to access the service during the COVID-19 Outbreak. Please see the information guide below with key contacts
If you would like a paper copy (or any other format) of any of our documents on our website please speak to the school office, who will provide them to you free of charge. If you require further information about any of the items shown in this section, please contact the school and we will do our best to help.
Nurture Group
