To parents and carers of children starting school in September 2021,
The Strong Start team are a team of Early Years Workers commissioned by Public Health to offer universal support and advice to families with under 5s. In July and August we will be running an adapted School Readiness programme in local green spaces and parks.
These sessions will include a variety of activities aimed at helping children develop the key skills they will need when starting school. The session will also include ideas and information on activities families can do at home to help prepare the child for starting school.
During the sessions families will also be able to talk on a 1:1 basis with our qualified Early Years professionals about development and wellbeing topics, ask questions and share any concerns or worries they have about their child or own wellbeing.
WEST
Abington Park
We will be running 4 sessions at Abington Park on Tuesday mornings: 20 July 2021, 27 July 2021, 03 August 2021 and 10 August 2021. The sessions will run for 60-90 minutes.
We will be running 4 sessions at Delapre Abbey Park on Wednesday mornings: 28 July 2021, 04 August 2021, 11 August 2021 and 18 August 2021. The sessions will run for 60-90 minutes.
We will be running 4 sessions at Daventry Country Park on Thursday: 22 July 2021, 29 July 2021, 05 August 2021 and 12 August 2021. The sessions will run for 60-90 minutes.
We will be running 4 sessions at Wellingborough Museum on Tuesday: 20 July 2021, 27 July 2021, 03 August 2021 and 10 August 2021. The sessions will run for 60-90 minutes.
We will be running 4 sessions at Manor Park, Rothwell on Wednesday: 21 July 2021, 28 July 2021, 04 August 2021 and 11 August 2021. The sessions will run for 60-90 minutes.
We will be running 4 sessions at Hall Park, Rushden on Thursday mornings: 29 July 2021, 05 August 2021, 12 August 2021 and 19 August 2021. The sessions will run for 60-90 minutes.
Mental Health Awareness Week (10th to 16th May 2021)
This week is Mental Health Awareness Week (10th to 16th May 2021). This year, the focus is about immersing yourself in the '5 Ways to Wellbeing', while reconnecting with nature – something fitting, after a year where we have seen more of our four walls in our homes than the four seasons. You are invited to reconnect with nature and the environment and, as we are mindful that everyone will be in a different place of comfort, you need to do this in a way that works for you. We know that one week will not ‘fix’ mental health difficulties, but it is a starting point and a way of you being aware of what others may be experiencing and also what you, yourself, may be feeling but have not been able to share.
In order to access daily content around the Five Ways to Wellbeing (5W2W) across Mental Health Awareness Week (including specially sourced blogs, podcasts, tips and advice for the week, help to build in actions around the 5W2W into your daily life) you can sign up on:
At school, we will also be taking part in a range of activities to encourage wellbeing and to support children in understanding that it is ok not to be ok and to share how you are feeling inside is a normal and healthy action. We will, as usual, be having our daily ZenTen and regular ‘Be Active’ sessions and for this week, these will be outside in nature as much as possible.
Screen Savers: Looking after your eyes, body and mind when using screens
(Beacon House)
We are spending more time online than ever before, possibly sitting and working with poor posture as we use makeshift desks and chairs. There is a tendency to take fewer breaks and less exercise and this is affecting our physical well-being.
Beacon House the specialist, therapeutic service for young people, families and adults has produced a series of six posters outlining ways to keep safe and alert when working at home, whether children or adults.
Times are tough for many people right now. Parents find themselves pulled in many different direction and children may be struggling being in the house for so much longer than usual.
A mixture of concern about COVID, work from home and children at home, along with a possible financial impact make for a stressful household.
Young Minds have created a useful 'Supporting Parents Helpfinder'. By answering six questions, parents can find out how to support their child's mental health during the pandemic (and beyond).
Young Minds have also created a useful poster highlighting ways to give support to children when they have angry feelings or outbursts and may help families start a conversation and talk about each other’s feelings.
Daventry 0-19 Integrated Universal Children's Service
The 0-19 Team continue to provide support and advice for children/families.
Please send emails to this email address and a member of the team will be in contact: daventry.nhft@nhs.net
Sleep
See below for information from Sleep Right Northampton - support for families with sleep issues with their children.
Free School Meals
Home Educated children confirmed as previously being eligible for Free School Meals can get these by calling NCC's Customer Service Centre on 0300 126 1000.
The School Nursing text service Chathealth will remain open over Christmas You can send a text via ChatHealth for confidential and anonymous advice on all kinds of health issues, like emotional health, sexual health, healthy eating and any other general health concerns. This service is available for young people aged 11-19 and the parents or carers of primary age pupils.
There will be a school nurse on duty from 9am to 4pm each day, except weekends and bank holidays.
The IAPT team (Increasing Access to Psychological Therapies) for Northampton and South Northants provide support for adults struggling with low mood, anxiety etc within Northamptonshire.
They are currently promoting their service at these very challenging times to ensure everyone knows that this service is available.
Parents/adults within Northamptonshire can self-refer either through
ChatHealth, the school nurse messaging service, is confidential and available Monday to Friday from 08.00 to 16.30. We are expanding this service to provide a messaging service for parents and carers of school aged children and young people, as well as young people. You can message for advice on all kinds of health issues concerning your child or young person, such as emotional health and wellbeing, bullying, healthy eating, sexual health and any general health concerns. Look out for more information from your child or young person’s school.
The text number for ChatHealth Northamptonshire is;
07507 329600
There is no charge for this service.
Service Six - Wellbeing and Happiness for Families
There are many wellbeing activities, guides and resources for children and families at
offschool.org.uk
Mental Health and Young People - Relevant websites
Annie Everall OBE, of Authors Aloud UK, reviews young children’s books related to wellbeing and resilience.
We all know that books can inspire children and foster their love of reading, can help them learn new facts, explore or come to terms with situations they are dealing with in their lives and support their growth and development. On June 10th we celebrated Empathy Day https://www.empathylab.uk/empathy-day. Empathy Day aims to spark a national conversation about building a more empathetic society, and help young people learn more about empathy and put it into practice. This first Book Talking piece focuses on picture books that support empathy, are ideal for sharing with children and that aim to help the reader validate their own emotions, understand what is like to be a child in a war torn city, celebrate love, friendship and community and also just experience the joy of being a child.
Never Grow Up
Inspired by Roald Dahl
Illustrated by Quentin Blake
Puffin £12.99 2021
ISBN: 978-0241423103
This full-colour picture book is Inspired by the magic and mischief of Roald Dahl stories and features wonderful new illustrations by Quentin Blake, whose pictures have always captured the humorous essence of Roald Dahl’s stories. Written in rhyme ’This book is for the kind of child – Who’s SILLY, mischievous and WILD – Who wants to grow to TEN FEET TALL – Without GROWING UP at all’ It celebrates mischief – makers and rule – breakers and tells children right from the front cover ’Are you a child who’s good as gold? – Do you do everything you’re told? Then this is not the book for you…’ What it is really doing is encouraging children to think outside the box and to grow up to be curious, inventive, daring, creative and to never lose that sense of wonder, playfulness and fun that we experience as children. Quentin Blake says in his introduction to the book, that Roald Dahl always said ‘never grow up, always down’ which in essence means that as we grow into adults, we should always remember what it is like to be a child. There is much enjoyment to be had in the story and through the pictures, but the book offers lots to talk about with children and can also lead them into exploring Roald Dahl’s books if they haven’t already done so. It is a book to remind every grown up to throw off their sensible shawl and re-discover their inner child and to let children know – not to lose theirs as they grow up!
For ages 6+
A Shelter for Sadness
Written by Anne Booth
Illustrated by David Litchfield
Templar £12.99 2021
ISBN: 978-1787417212
Sadness comes to live with a small boy and he creates a safe space for his sadness. He builds a shelter for it and sometimes it is big, sometimes small, sometimes quiet and still and sometimes very loud and noisy. There are times when the boy will visit the shelter when he needs to and can talk to it or cry or say nothing at all. The boy knows that one day Sadness may come out of the shelter, and together they will look out at the world, and see how beautiful it is. Anne Booth was inspired to write the book by the words of Esther ‘Etty’ Hillesum, a Holocaust victim, who wrote: ‘Give your sorrow all the space and shelter in yourself that is its due, for if everyone bears grief honestly and courageously, the sorrow that now fills the world will abate. But if you do instead reserve most of the space inside you for hatred and thoughts of revenge – from which new sorrows will be born for others – then sorrow will never cease in this world. And if you have given sorrow the space it demands, then you may truly say: life is beautiful and so rich.’ This is an extraordinary picture book. David Litchfield’s illustrations are stunning and work in perfect harmony with Anne Booth’s text, creating an outstanding book, exploring both the nature of sadness and helping children understand the importance of making time and space for their own sadness. This is particularly important in our current times when many children may have experienced sadness and loss. The underpinning message of the book is that sadness is part of being human and can exist alongside happiness. It is a book that can open up difficult conversations with young and older children and a useful tool to support empathy, emotional literacy and mental health.
For ages 5+
How Do You Make A Rainbow
Written by Caroline Crowe
Illustrated by Cally Johnson – Isaacs
Macmillan Children’s Books £6.99 2021
ISBN: 978-1529059526
A small child asks her Grandfather on a grey gloomy day how you make a rainbow and whether you paint them on the sky. He tells her that you make them grow out of kindness and hope – it’s your friends, jam on toast, the glow you feel inside when you make someone proud and a hundred and one other small things. The last message of the book is ‘Find the sunshine that’s inside you and a rainbow starts to grow’ and then you’ll see your rainbow. A delightful rhyming picture book that reads aloud well and offers a warm re-assuring message for young children at a time when it is most needed. The warmth of the relationship between child and grandparent shines through the story, highlighting its own rainbow. Bright colourful illustrations work well with the text as does the colour palette chosen for each double page spread. The last few pages encourage children to make their own rainbows of the things they love.
For ages 3+
The Last Garden
Written by Rachel Ip
Illustrated by Anneli Bray
Hodder £12.99 2020
ISBN: 978-1444946345
In a war-torn country, Zara tends her garden – the last one that hasn’t been destroyed by bombs. All the local children play in it and help tend it, until the day comes when the violence of war has escalated, it isn’t safe in the city anymore and the community has to leave. Eventually the war ends, and the community can return to their homes. Although fearful of what they might find, to their joy they discover that through all the time they were gone, Zara’s garden continued to grow. With their love and care they are able to bring the garden and their city back to life. The message of the book is really powerful and will give children hope that even in the darkest of times, things can get better – a message that is very appropriate today. It is also perfect to help children develop empathy and understanding for those children experiencing living in a war or having to leave their homes. The illustrations work in great harmony with the text and their visual depiction of children and a community experiencing war is very moving. Design, layout, text and illustrations combine to provide an outstanding book, one that opens up many opportunities for conversations with children and one that deserves a wide audience.
