Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Current Events in the Media - Advice and Support for Parents

  Fri 25 Feb 2022

  The current events unfolding in Ukraine and the amount of media attention could increase anxiety in children and young people as they try to make sense of such scary images. Some will be able to articulate their worries, whilst others may not. Instead, you might notice changes in behaviour or mood.

   

  Below are some useful links:

   

  https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/tips-look-after-your-mental-health-during-scary-world-events?utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin

   

  https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/13865002

• COVID Update for Parents and Carers

  Fri 25 Feb 2022

  Following the lifting of all COVID restrictions, we have been waiting for guidance from Public Health Bexley (PHB) to share with you.

   

  This guidance was expected yesterday (24/02/22), however we are yet to receive it.  In the absence of this guidance,  Dr Mike Robinson (Interim Director of Public Health at the London Borough of Bexley) has provided the following statement: 

   

  PHB is advising schools to continue the self-isolation practices in schools at this time. Anyone with symptoms or who tests positive must self-isolate for ten days (released with negative tests at day 5 and 6 etc).

   

  PHB also advises that children and staff who are sneezing and coughing should stay away from school; whether this is due to Covid or another virus as it will help reduce spread, and shows consideration for others.

   

  School leaders are reminded that they are allowed to send students home, after consideration of safeguarding, should this expectation not be being met.
   

• Community Cafe at Birchmere Hall - 14th February, 10am

  Fri 11 Feb 2022

  Peabody are hosting a Community Cafe at Birchmere Hall - please see the details of this event below:

   

  • Venue: Birchmere Community Hub, Owen Close, SE28 8AG
  • Date: 14^th February
  • Time: 10am – 1pm
  • Description: Come along and take part in arts and crafts and sports activities from 10am – 12pm and join us for free lunch together afterwards!
  • Free open event

• New online support community for parents and guardians

  Tue 08 Feb 2022

  Good afternoon,

  We would like to share some exciting news with you! 

  To mark the start of Children’s Mental Health Week, we have launched our new online community platform, the Parenting Hub. The pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on young people with studies pointing to increased levels of distress, worry and anxiety (Barnardo’s, Mental Health Foundation, Strathclyde University), so the launch of the Parenting Hub comes at a crucial time.

  The Parenting Hub is our new online community for parents and carers to get information and access to peer support. It will;

  • provide a safe environment for parents to share experiences, support each other and access expert advice,
  • provide resources for parents to learn about mental health and how to better support their children,
  • and build parents’ confidence to have supportive conversations and talk about mental health.

  The Parenting Hub will be moderated 24/7 by our trained experts so parents and carers feel safe and supported to talk about their children’s wellbeing through our Chat and Forum spaces. We will host bi-monthly Q&A sessions with expert panels on topics related to young people’s mental health including social media and managing exam stress. The site will also include resources with practical information and guidance for parents and carers on what to do if they are concerned about their young person’s mental health, created by the Young People’s Programmes team, who have been running Bloom in schools since 2019.

  You can sign up to the Parenting Hub today and become part of our community of parents and carers, to be there for the young people in your lives.

  Join our next webinar on 17 February where we’ll discuss How to support the young people in your life as a parent or carer and get support for yourself. This webinar will be a chance to learn more about the Parenting Hub and ask any questions to the panel.

   

  Best wishes,

   

  Mental Health UK Bloom Team