Vulnerable pupils

School staff have reported that self-harm amongst students is on the increase. It’s a safeguarding concern that can be particularly difficult to understand and deal with. Samantha Garner considers not only what schools can do but what the impact can be on parents too. Summary Students should be consulted before parents are contacted.Parents should be approached carefully and information shared with consideration of its impact.Planning support should be done as a group with the involvement of the student. When students self-harm, it can trigger a wide range of emotions for us as education staff. We will want to ensure that…

There has been a rise in mental health issues for staff and students in schools and, although there are many interventions available, it can be difficult to see the wood for the trees. Samantha Garner provides starting points for schools that are looking to expand their mental health interventions for students and staff, to help schools evaluate their effectiveness and fit. Summary Mental health promotion activities can be implemented effectively by teachers and can have a significant impact on psychosocial and academic performance.School-based interventions are most effective if they are completely and accurately implemented.As well as having interventions at individual/group…

Martin Hodgson summarise the Coronavirus guidance for schools. Summary People in the UK told to stay at home in an effort to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus.Schools and nurseries in the UK have been temporarily closed. Those who develop symptoms – a new continuous cough and/or high temperature – must self-isolate for seven days. Coronavirus COVID-19 Coronaviruses are micro-organisms that cause serious infectious diseases. Previous outbreaks have included Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). COVID-19 is a new strain of coronavirus which first appeared in the Wuhan region of China at the end…