Social Learning Mentor 

Mrs Atkinson Jones

Mrs Atkinson Jones is our full time Social Learning Mentor who works alongside staff to further support both children and families from Nursery to Year 6. 

Mrs Atkinson Jones supports school staff to meet children's needs. Mental Health and Social Emotional wellbeing are essential basic needs for children and their families to thrive. Often it can be difficult to know what supporting services are available in Newton Aycliffe and the wider community. 

Mrs Atkinson Jones has a wealth of experience in signposting families to other services including voluntary services that can help support families. 

We encourage all families to trust that information you share with us is confidential and that we will do all we can to access support that will make a difference. 

Mrs Atkinson Jones has a personal message to all families- 

IngredIents for Making a Difference

0- ZERO PRESSURE - it's not necessarily about fixing everything- it's about having a chat  and sharing worries and concerns.

1-FRIENDLY EAR (or two). We understand that listening is as important as talking. 

2. CUPS- natter over a brew or a biscuit or drop a text. Recognise that small actions make a big difference. 

3. LITTLE WORDS- 'How are you?' Showing we care- just being there. Mixed together with one large spoon of understanding. We understand that with mental health not all days are good. We are here to support you.

METHOD- start today, stir it up and contact Mrs Atkinson Jones. 

If you would like support/advice from Mrs Atkinson Jones please contact school on 01325 300334 on a Monday or Tuesday. 

News

   Wellbeing Award for Schools

On March 30th 2022 we earned the Wellbeing Award for Schools. As part of this award we have completed a Case Study of the work we have completed. We are proud of our Verification Report and are delighted to share this with you via our website.

We are currently working with a mental health practitioner, who comes into school once a week to work with staff and children supporting emotional literacy and helping children to understand their thoughts, feelings and behaviours. 

Piece of Mind colleagues deliver many different interventions and over the course of time we will be developing a programme of support across the whole school. 

As part of this work we hope this booklet we have produced helps parents and carers know more about local services and services in the wider community. 

Wellbeing Award for Schools Verification Report March 30th 2022

Information Booklet

for

Additional Support 

Mental Health and Emotional Support in County Durham

Useful Links

Mental Health Charity for Children and young people committed to improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people. Lots of useful information as well as a Parent Helpline: 0808 802 5544. 

find support that's right for you in our area. 

Durham local offer is designed to help you find the very best support for your child from birth to 25 years if the have special educational needs and disabilities. You will find information, advice and guidance about the types of services and support available to you. 

This is a really useful website with lots of emotional and mental  health advice and information. 

Deputy Head Teacher, Special Educational Needs and Disability Co-ordinator and Wellbeing Lead.       

Mrs K Legge

Mrs Legge is our Deputy Headteacher, Special Educational Needs and Disability Co-ordinator, Designator Teacher for Children Looked After, Safeguarding Lead and Wellbeing Lead. 

Mrs Legge works closely with Mrs Atkinson Jones co-ordinating support for children and families. Our plan for this academic year, following the lifting of Covid19 restrictions will be to plan parent/carer events to support families. More information will be sent in school newsletters. 

We do have a school instagram account 'Sugar Hill Primary' linked purely and simply to share emotional wellbeing posts. We warmly invite you to become one of our followers. 

Mrs Legge has a personal message to all families- 

I have worked at Sugar Hill Primary for ten years now. Throughout this time I have worked alongside Mrs Atkinson Jones supporting families. We are committed to helping families find solutions to any concerns and worries. Reaching out for support when it is needed is the first step to making a difference. Life can be a real challenge for us all and there is no shame in asking for help when it is needed. We have links with other professionals and voluntary services that we can signpost families to. We often can't control what happens in our lives but we can control what we do about it. 

ALWAYS REMEMBER- 

'People who need help sometimes look a lot like people who don't need help' 

                                              Glennon Doyle