Help in School

On site, Mr. Wright is our Learning Mentor. As a Learning Mentor, his key role is to champion the needs of the children who may be facing barriers to effective learning, both inside and outside the school. Working with pupils, teachers, parents, carers, families, schools and other agencies, helping to construct a flexible and responsive support network.

Our aims include:

• identifying vulnerable pupils
• setting realistic targets in order to encourage pupils to re-engage in effective learning;
• raising achievements;
• raising aspirations.

Areas within school that we particularly focus on include:

• mental health and wellbeing
• self esteem and confidence building
• social skills
• study skills
• motivation
• attendance
• punctuality

As a Learning Mentor, he negotiates and plans a support program with a pupil or group of pupils by developing a mentoring relationship aimed at sharing information and helping them to achieve their targets. Personal/social skills and positive attitudes to learning are sometimes further developed by group work.

Undertaking activities to support the development of a healthy school and community environment; some of these activities are:

• 1:1 mentoring and group work
• team building
• nurture groups
• Social Speaking
• supporting pupils through transition.

The value of positive and active involvement by parents cannot be overstated. Talk to your child about their targets and general progress and please do contact school if you have any questions. In most cases, the staff in school will identify pupils who need support, but, if you as a parent/carer have concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Catholic Care

We have a weekly visit from Catholic Care worker, Sharon Wilkes, who has a wealth of experience working with children from all backgrounds. Catholic Care offers support for children and young people who may be vulnerable for a range of reasons, and can help children to build resilience, nuture emotional development, address personal and social issues, and help children develop new attitudes, values and skills to help them through life.

For your child to access Catholic Care, parents should contact the school office for a Catholic Care Application Form. This service is available for all children, Catholics and non-Catholic.

For SEND support, please visit the full SEND area of our website.

Wakefield Support and Services

There are a range of services on offer across the Wakefield area to support children and young people.

Wakefield 0-19 Services

The Wakefield and Bradford 0-19 services can help parents, children and young people from antenatal care onwards. This includes help from midwifes, health visitors, and the school nursing team.

Better Lives, Healthy Futures is a hub of information about all different topics for children and young people aged 0-19, plus contact information for the healthcare professionals working in this service.

Better Lives, Healthy Futures

Star Bereavement

Bereavement can affect anyone. Star Bereavement is a specialist charity for young people aged up to 25 who are struggling to cope with grief and loss.

Based in Wakefield, Star Bereavement can offer support to young people and their family and friends in the form of 1-to-1 support, peer support, group support and text support.

Star Bereavement

WF-I-CAN

WF-I-CAN is a Wakefield support service for children and young people, and is divided into sections for under-13 and over-13 to ensure the topics are most appropriately phrased for your child.

Resources include tips on friendships and relationships, healthy eating, happiness and energy, and provides a place for children to access support directly online.

WF-I-CAN

(Please note the above link directs to the under-13 area of the website.)

Wakefield CAMHS Resources

The Wakefield CAMHS Team (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) are the central mental health team for young people in Wakefield.

They have compiled a selection of resources that can be used by children, parents and carers, and education staff to help with issues such as:

• Anger
• Anxiety and health anxiety
• Phobias and OCD
• Grief
• Friendships and relationships
• Low mood
• School and education
• Mindfulness and unhelpful thoughts

Your child does not need to be under CAHMS in order to access these resources; they are available to all, free of charge.

Wakefield CAHMS Resources

Children First Hubs

Children First Hubs can help children and families in the local area with a range of issues. Support can be provided for families with at least two of the following:

• School attendance problems
• Have a child who needs help
• Domestic abuse
• Employment and debt problems
• Health problems
• Crime and Anti-social behaviour problems

Please visit the website to find your local hub, and how to contact them.

Children First Hubs

Wakefield Mental Health Helplines

In Wakefield 24/7 open access to our mental health services:

Adults (aged 18+) – 01924 316900

Children and young people (CAMHS) – 01977 735865

People with a learning disability – 01977 465435