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Children's Mental Health Week: 3rd - 7th February 2020

The theme of this year's Children’s Mental Health Week is 'Find your Brave' 
Life is all about taking small brave steps every day. Bravery could be about sharing worries and asking for help when you need it, trying something new or making the right choices. From assembly guides and class activities, to top tips for pupils and parents, our free resources will help children and young people to explore what it means to Find your Brave.

More ideas for promoting resilience and wellbeing

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One and Two Day Mental Health First Aid Training

Public Health are very pleased to announce a new round of 1 and 2 day Mental Health First Aid courses. Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) courses are for everyone who works with, lives with or supports young people aged 8-18. They will teach you the skills and confidence to spot the signs of mental health issues in a young person, offer first aid and guide them towards the support they need. In doing so, you can speed up a young person’s recovery and stop a mental health issue from getting worse. 

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LIFEbeat: Relationships, Sex and Health Education Briefing Days

Over the last two years LIFEbeat have delivered a successful PSHE CPD training programme for schools in Somerset. This year LIFEbeat have created another great programme to reflect the new Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RHSE) Guidance, published by the Department for Education. In addition to the existing 4 day CPD trainings, they are also providing one day briefing days for any schools that want to create a strategic vision for a whole school approach to wellbeing and Personal Development (OFSTED).

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Anna Freud - The Link Programme for Schools

The Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families is a children’s mental health charity with over 60 years’ experience of caring for young minds. They have now been commissioned to deliver a programme of training to support mental health schools. The aim of the programme is to bring together local mental health and education professionals to develop a systemic and sustainable approach to children and young people's mental health. 

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Fizz Free February - Are you ready for the challenge?

Last week Somerset County Council launched their SUGAR SMART campaign. As part of this we are supporting Fizz Free February. Fizz Free February is a great way to reduce your sugar intake by cutting out fizzy drinks. By committing to going fizz free for the entire month of February it will make it easier to cut down on fizzy drinks for the rest of the year.

SUGAR SMART is a campaign run by Sustain to help local authorities, organisations and educational settings to reduce the amount of sugar we all consume. Our local campaign in schools is launching this January with Minerva Primary School leading the way. Click on the heading above for details of the launch or book your place by emailing:

Becoming a SUGAR SMART school will improve the health of the children and young people in your school and help you to achieve an award as part of the Somerset Wellbeing Framework. For details about registering to become a SUGARSMART school follow this link:

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Self-Injury Guide for Schools

The newly developed Self-Injury Pathway Project Guide offers genuine insight into this most misunderstood and feared behaviour, voiced by young people and those who work in the field. Created to support schools and wider agencies, and to promote understanding and compassion, it offers clear and practical advice. Shaped by young people living and coping with self-injury; their knowledge, honesty and bravery has been instrumental in creating this Guide.

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National Child Measurement Programme NCMP

This year's NCMP will take place in primary settings during the spring term 2020. The programme is led by the Public Health School Nurse Team. This year the programme is happening much earlier in the academic year so that it can avoid SATs and busy summer term activities. The School Nurse Team is also planning to use the summer term to run follow-up healthy lifestyle support to schools particularly for Year 6 pupils before they move into Year 7. For full details about the NCMP and resources to support schools and parents around health eating and physical activity click on the link above.

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FLU: Information for schools and nurseries - infection control and winter readiness Packs

During the winter schools naturally have more outbreaks of flu so this is a reminder that all queries about infectious diseases need to go through to Public Health England on: 0300 303 8162 Option 1, option 1 (Health Protection). This team covers the South West of England and log all outbreaks. Click on the link above for full information and advice for schools and nurseries. The spotty book is also a very useful resource to answer all types of questions around infectious diseases: NHS Spotty Book