Nurture

We offer a wide range of additional supports for our pupils and families as part of a nurture package. We offer a lunchtime club in our hub; a special time for pupils to enjoy eating their lunch with an adult. The lunch hour can be a long time for some children and having a ‘check-in’ with an adult can really help.  Children attend nurture lunch for various reasons-they may need a confidence boost, need time to talk to an adult or just need a quieter space to eat their lunch. We also offer a range of intervention groups across the school as well as more bespoke help for individuals within class.

School Nursing Service

Currently, the School Nursing Team will not be offering any further advice clinics for parents and carers in schools following a review of their service.

Parents are able to self-refer to ‘Healthy Together’ via the School Nursing office number, 0116 215 6795 or referrals can be made through school via a new electronic referral system.

School Nursing Service – Chat Health

The School Nursing Service also offers a text messaging service where parents and carers of children aged 0-19 years can get confidential advice and support with behaviour, parenting, child development, emotional health and wellbeing (self-harm) and bullying), minor accidents and illnesses and general health queries.

The contact number is 07520 615382.  This is a TEXT ONLY service and is not an emergency service.  It is available between 9.00am – 5.00pm Monday – Friday. Texts will not be seen outside working hours but you should recieve a reply (a ‘bounce-back’) to confirm receipt of a text sent within one working day. For urgent medical attention please contact your GP or call 111 or 999.

Mental Health & Wellbeing

Highgate School is committed to supporting and developing the positive mental health and well-being of our school community (including pupils, staff and parents).

Mental health requires the development of emotional and social skills for which and may be defined as a state of wellbeing in which every individual realises their own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.

Highgate is committed to promoting positive physical and mental health in our school, to reinforce children’s academic achievements and physical development, through improving well-being and enabling children to thrive and reach their full potential.

• are confident about their learning and who have a ‘growth mindset’ (they believe their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work)
• are resilient and persist when faced with challenges
• can set goals, manage stress and organise their school work
• can use problem-solving skills to overcome obstacles

Highgate has a culture, ethos and environment where the mental and physical health, resilience and wellbeing of pupils and staff is promoted through:

• An ethos of setting high expectations of attainment for all pupils with consistently applied support.
• Deliver curriculum based programmes which educate and promote the skills, mindsets and characteristics vital to positive mental health and well-being
• Providing opportunities for regular, daily physical activity to support the development of healthy bodies and minds.
• Deliver targeted programmes to support the prevention or reduction of problems such as emotional difficulties and aggressive behaviour.
• Promote emotional and mental health broadly within the school environment, curriculum and through enrichment and extended opportunities.
• Strong leadership and strategic oversight which actively promotes and seeks opportunities to support positive mental health and well-being.
• Social and physical environments support the development of positive mental health and well-being of pupils and staff.
• Working with parents, families and the local community to promote the benefits of positive mental health, well-being and resilience and provide opportunities.
• Working with external agencies such as CAMHS, Educational Psychologists, Early Help etc, to ensure pupils and families access the personalised support they need.

Our Resilience and Well-Being Champion

Mrs Jarram is our Champion for Resilience and Well-being. She supports the school, as Lead of the Nurture Team, to ensure we are providing a wide range of opportunities to promote mental health and well-being.

Helpful Websites you may want to visit…