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Pupil Well-being
Northfield School and Sports College is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment in which all of our pupils feel confident that their concerns will be listened to and acted upon. Providing a first-class experience for all our pupils is our priority and staff are devoted to this goal in every corner of our school.
Promoting well-being
Our fantastic staff are dedicated to pupil well-being at Northfield School. We work with several outside agencies, including Alliance and ABC Counselling, to help support our pupils in any way we can.
We have several staff, identifiable by their blue lanyards, that have been trained by Alliance Counselling services to deliver a ‘6 weeks to well-being’ programme. They act as an extra layer of support for pupils to access, alongside our school's extensive guidance team. We also have a small and dedicated group of pupils who form our well-being supporters group in school. These pupils are accessible to others and can help with a variety of problems young people face including self-image and anxiety problems. Our Family Support Worker, Mrs Carrol, leads these pupils with the help of Mr Hetherington, Assistant Headteacher. Mr Hetherington leads the whole school approach to mental health and well-being.
Benefits of well-being
- Have good mental health
- Deal with stress easier
- Make positive choices
- Improve productivity and focus
- Have an overall healthier lifestyle
- Recognise when we have a more serious problem
Encouraging dialogue about mental health and well-being
We recognise that pupils and adults should feel able to speak up about any difficulties they are facing and we encourage everyone in our school to talk through ‘it's ok not to be ok’ within an open culture. We pride ourselves on our openness and approachability however, if pupils would prefer further discretion, we encourage the use of the online 'student concern' form (linked below). Pupils can also use the online form if they are not present in school.
Click here for the Student Concern form
In addition to the support offered in school, we do recognise that our young people may need external support. Therefore, listed below are some useful links for parents, carers and pupils should anyone need further support.
Useful websites
| ABC Counselling Service | www.abccounsellingservices.com |
| Experienced and highly qualified therapists who are passionate about making a positive difference for the children, young people and families that they work with. | |
| AFC Crisis Messenger Service | www.annafreud.org/on-my-mind/afc-crisis-messenger |
| A 24/7 text message support service for anyone who is feeling overwhelmed or struggling to cope. Text AFC to 85258. | |
| A Way Out | www.awayout.co.uk |
| A 24/7 text message support service for anyone who is feeling overwhelmed or struggling to cope. Text AFC to 85258. | |
| BEAT UK | www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk |
| Supporting anyone affected by eating disorders and difficulties with food, weight and shape. | |
| Bullying UK | www.familylives.org.uk |
| Family support services offered through their helpline, live chat and email support around issues such as bullying and special educational needs. | |
| CAHMS Crisis Line | 0800 0516 171 |
| For mental health emergencies in the Stockton-on-Tees area | |
| Calm Harm | www.calmharm.co.uk |
| An award-winning app developed for teenage mental health charity stem4 by Dr Nihara Krause. | |
| CEOP | www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre |
| Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre exists to keep children safe from sexual abuse and grooming online. | |
| Childline | www.childline.org.uk |
| A private and confidential listening and advice service for children and young people up to the age of 19. | |
| Cruse | www.cruse.org.uk |
| Offers advice, information and support to bereaved people of all ages, however or whenever the death occurred. Middlesbrough contact number: 01642 210284 | |
| Grief Encounter | www.griefencounter.org.uk |
| Leading child bereavement charity providing free and professional support services to children, young people and their families following the death of someone close. | |
| The HideOut | www.thehideout.org.uk |
| Women’s Aid website to raise awareness of domestic abuse for children and young people, and to support those affected by it. | |
| Kooth | www.kooth.com |
| Online chat and emotional well-being support for children and young people through moderated message forums, magazine, live forums, mini activities hub and youth support. | |
| Mermaids | www.mermaidsuk.org.uk |
| Supporting transgender, nonbinary and gender-diverse children and young people, as well as their families and professionals involved in their care. | |
| MIND | www.mind.org.uk |
| Provides information, advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. | |
| The Mix | www.themix.org.uk |
| Leading support service for young people dealing with problems such as mental health, money, homelessness, finding a job, break-ups or drugs. | |
| Play Therapy United Kingdom | www.playtherapy.org.uk |
| An organisation governing therapeutic play and play therapy and providing information to the public about working therapeutically with children. | |
| Samaritans | www.samaritans.org |
| Offers confidential support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Call free on 116 123 | |
| WeHeartCBT | www.weheartcbt.com |
| WeHeartCBT is a collection of resources aimed at supporting children and young people who are struggling with low mood and/or anxiety related mental health difficulties. | |
| Winston’s Wish UK | www.winstonswish.org |
| Childhood bereavement charity offering practical support and guidance to bereaved children, their families and professionals. | |
| Women’s Aid | www.womensaid.org.uk |
| National charity for women and children victims of domestic abuse. Free phone National Domestic Violence Helpline 0808 2000247 |
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| Young Minds | www.youngminds.org.uk |
| The UK’s leading charity fighting for children and young people's mental health. | |
Local organisations
| HSSCP | www.hsscp.co.uk |
| Hartlepool and Stockton Safeguarding Children’s Partnership If you’re worried about a child, call 01429 284284 or 01642 130080 For out-of-office hours call 01642 524552. |
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| Catalyst | www.catalyststockton.org |
| The voice, representation and support for Stockton-on-Tees voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE). | |
| Cruse | www.cruse.org.uk |
| Offers advice, information, and support to bereaved people of all ages, however, or whenever the death occurred. Middlesbrough contact number: 01642 210284 | |
| Daisy Chain | www.daisychainproject.co.uk |
| Provides support services to children and adults affected by autism, and their parents/carers and siblings. | |
| Eastern Ravens | www.easternravenstrust.org |
| Young carers support service providing tailored and flexible support to young carers and their families. | |
| The Halo Project | www.haloproject.org.uk |
| Supports victims of honour-based violence, forced marriages and FGM. Working with key partners to provide interventions and advice for the protection and safety of victims. | |
| Teesside SARC | www.sarcteesside.co.uk |
| Teesside Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) provides a sensitive and dedicated service that meets the needs of victims of rape and sexual assault. | |
| Victim Care and Advice Service | www.victimcareandadviceservice.uk |
| Provides free, independent care and confidential support for victims of crime and their families. | |
Free apps
| Move Mood | www.movemood.co.uk |
| Low mood and depression weigh you down. Instead, engage, initiate and activate. Build your power to lift this weight. | |
| MindShift CBT | App store |
| Manage your anxiety, relax and be mindful. | |
| Clear Fear | www.clearfear.co.uk |
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The fear of threat, or anxiety, is like a strong gust of wind. It drags you in and makes you want to fight it or run away. Instead, face your fear with the free Clear Fear app and learn to reduce the physical responses to threats as well as change thoughts and behaviours and release emotions. |
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| Worth Warrior | www.worthwarrior.co.uk |
| Want to manage low self-worth and body dissatisfaction leading to eating difficulties? | |
| Calm Harm | www.calmharm.co.uk |
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The urge to self-harm is like a wave. It feels the most powerful when you start wanting to do it. Learn to ride the wave with the free Calm Harm app by choosing activities from these categories: Comfort, Distract, Express Yourself, Release, and Random. |
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| Combined Minds | www.combinedminds.co.uk |
| Combined Minds is an app developed for teenage mental health charity stem4 by Dr. Nihara Krause, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, to help families and friends support young people with their mental health. | |
Well-being policy
Our well-being policy states that we consider all forms of bullying to be unacceptable. It also details the procedures which will be followed within school when an incident of bullying is reported. The policy is reviewed regularly by the well-being supporters group.