Life can be tough as a child, and the world can appear a scary and difficult place at times but, at Newington, we pride ourselves on the way in which we support children to navigate the challenges that life throws at them. 

We have a strong and dedicated team of adults who are here to help when your child is struggling, whether it is just a short-lived problem, or a more long-standing or complicated one. The team are, as follows:

Robyn Harrison is the Assistant Headteacher for Safeguarding and Welfare and Mental Health Lead - r.harrison@newington-ramsgate.kent.sch.uk

Holly Dube and Tracey Stillman are our Pastoral and Behaviour Leads and Holly is also our Thrive Lead Practitioner - h.dube@newington-ramsgate.kent.sch.uk t.stillman@newington-ramsgate.kent.sch.uk.

We have recently started the ‘Thrive’ approach in school. Thrive is an evidence-based approach that empowers us to effectively support pupils’ social and emotional development, ensuring they feel safe, supported and ready to learn. It helps adults prepare children for life’s emotional up’s and downs. It is targeted and measure and it supports us with 'how to be' and 'what to do' to help all children to engage with life and learning.

Every class is assessed every other term and class targets and action plans are created. Class targets are displayed on the classroom door. The children will engage in 'Right Time' activities throughout the week during the school day.

For those children needing more intense support, we assess individually and create 1:1/small group bespoke 'Thrive' action plan which the Thrive Practitioner will implement over a period of 6 weeks.

https://www.thriveapproach.com/thrive-online

We also work closely with the Emotional Wellbeing Team who are part of NELFT (https://www.nelft.nhs.uk/services-kent-children-young-peoples-mental-health/). They offer support to parents and families for behaviour, anxiety, phobias and other emerging mental health problems. 

If you are concerned about your child's emotional wellbeing, please contact their teacher, initially - some problems are easily fixed and, as the professional in school who knows your child the best, they will often be best placed to put some support in place or talk through the issues with your child. If the problems persist, they will put you in touch with one of the pastoral team, and we will take it from there.