At Birchington CE Primary School, we believe that children can only learn when they feel safe, loved and cared for.  We recognise that some children have extra emotional and social needs that must be developed and nurtured if they are to be successful human beings. These needs can manifest themselves in a number of ways, including behavioural difficulties, anxiousness, and being uncommunicative.

All classes across the school follow a structured PSHE curriculum to support this development. 

We offer:

• Pastoral support through our Oasis
• Lunchtime and playtime support through planned activities and groups
• Well-being and social skills intervention groups
• After school clubs to promote team work/building friendships etc.
• Coffee mornings for parents to meet a wide range of professionals who can help and support families at home and in the community
• Excellent links to local and national support organisations

At Birchington, we have a dedicated team who meet weekly to discuss any child/family that may be struggling in school or at home and offer advice and support.

The School’s Pastoral team includes:

Mrs Wilson, our Headteacher

Sarah Cooper, our Parent Support Advisor (PSA)

Ellie Chapman, our Child Support Worker (CSW)

Hello! I am Louise Wilson and I am very proud to be the Headteacher here at Birchington CE Primary School. Having been a teacher and Leader for over 20 years and with first hand experience of being a mum to two boys, I understand the importance of how a child's mental health impacts their every day lives and ultimately, their future life chances.  I am passionate about giving every child in our school an opportunity to thrive and I also understand that often, we will also need to provide a support network for the whole family in order to be able to do this. 

I am really proud of our wellbeing team and the support they provide to an ever growing number of children and families. We have excellent links to the local community and to other schools are are always looking for ways to increase our offer of support.

Hello my name is Sarah Cooper, I am the Parent Support Advisor here at Birchington.

My role is to offer guidance and support to parent and carers and families. This includes signposting them to local organisations and charities such as the food bank, those that provide financial advice and support or the local Family Hub. I am also able to make referrals for counselling, to the School Health team or Early Help to access support for the family to prevent problems from escalating.. 

I help to identify and address concerns that may be impacting a child's learning or wellbeing. I am able to facilitate communication between families and school.

My role is also to support the social and emotional well-being of the family whether that is friendships, grief, separation, parenting challenges, attendance and behaviour. 

It is important that our families know who they can talk to should any problem arise. I truly understand that life can sometimes be hard. I am a great listener and always here to help.

My door is always open to offer support.

Hello! I am Ellie Chapman and I am the school's Child Support Worker.

 

 

What can we do to support your child's well-being at Birchington?

All members of staff are involved in supporting the children's mental health and wellbeing here at Birchington. For us, it is a top priority. Through talking to parents and carers and those adults that have daily interactions with the children, we can identify pupils who are in need of pastoral support. This comes in many forms ut may include:

School Councillor

Jenny, comes to work at Birchington on a Wednesday every week to support children from across the school with a wide variety of needs.

Play Therapist

Denise has been with us at Birchington for a year. Play Therapy is a therapeutic approach that uses play as a primary medium for children to express emotions, process experiences, and develop coping skills.

Therapy Dog

Dolly visits Birchington once a week to meet with children across the school. Therapy animals improve children's wellbeing by providing comfort, reducing anxiety in a calm environment. Dogs help to increase positive peer interactions, improve attendance and assist with social skills for children with autism or anxiety. 

Emotional Wellbeing Team

The EWT are a specialised NHS team working in schools to provide early intervention for children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health issues. They offer 1:1 support, group work and whole school approaches to anxiety, low mood and stress. We have had a number of coffee mornings with our dedicated EWT practitioner, Sophie, who is based in school on a Thursday. Sophie supports families to take newly learnt skills back into the home. 

Child Support Worker

Ellie has been with us at Birchington for a number of years and is a familiar face to the children and families across the school. Ellie offers 1:1 support and group work intervention  based around anxiety, They are given a safe space to talk through any worries or concerns the children have. 

Parent Support Advisor

Sarah has been at Birchington for 4 years. She works with a huge number of children and families across the school,  working as a linchpin between school and home to find the best possible support for you and your child. Sarah has held coffee mornings and workshops with a variety of different professionals and parents to provide the right support for our families. Sarah can be found in the Oasis from 8am until 4pm every day. She can be contacted on 01843841046 or 07538611988 or flo@birchington.kent.sch.uk.