25 October 2024
Dear parents and families,
As we reach the end of a long and extremely busy term, I would like to
In this letter:
· World Mental Health Day
· Attendance update
· First aid
· The term ahead
World Mental Health Day
On 10 October, our school marked World Mental Health Day with a number of events. Mrs Patmore, our senior mental health leader, held a pop-up stall in our small hall at lunch time, where students and staff could find more information about keeping mentally healthy, and where to get support in school if you are experiencing a period of poorer mental health. Staff and students were encouraged to wear something yellow, in recognition and solidarity with the members of our community that are experiencing difficulties with their mental health, post-pandemic.
At Monkton Wood, we have a number of staff that are trained in youth mental health first aid. We also have available healthy minds mentoring with Mrs Kelly and counselling with Mrs Eaton. We also work with the Mental Health Support Team, who are a partnership between Young Somerset and the Somerset Child and Adolescent Mental Health Support (CAMHS) teams that provide low-intensity cognitive behaviour therapy for children experiencing recent changes to their mental health. If you would like to discuss any of these types of support, our pastoral year leaders can make a referral.
Outside of school, mental health support is available for both children and adults from a number of national and local agencies. Some useful links are below:
Mental health services – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Mental health helplines – Mind
Attendance Update
As you know, we have been working hard to improve our students’ overall attendance and are pleased that we have seen a significant increase since the same time last year. Thank you for your support in encouraging your child to attend school well and to prioritise their education.
First Aid
Towards the end of this term, we saw a noticeable rise in the number of children attending our first aid room with minor ailments such as headaches. I would like to remind families about the medical support available in school and our usual systems and processes for children feeling under the weather.
Mrs Hembrow is our lead first aider. She also manages the individual health care plans for children with medical conditions, such as Type 1 diabetes. Our medical room offers first aid, for example for children that have fallen and grazed their knee, and planned support for children whose health care plan includes receiving regular medication or wound dressings. In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer pain relief for a child with head or stomach pains. However, our first resort for a child feeling a little unwell will be to encourage them to eat healthily and drink plenty of water, before going straight home at 3.30pm and getting back into bed. If a child feels so unwell that they wish to be sent home during the school day, they need to collect a note from their teacher before going to the medical room. We will then telephone you to make arrangements for them to be collected from school.
The Term Ahead
You will have noticed that we are not closing early on any days this year for our Federation Network Night (FNN) staff training events. These events are still taking place, however there is no need for Monkton Wood staff to travel to them, as they are either being held in-person on staff training days, or online.
Our Year 11 students have completed most of their first series of pre-public examinations over the past two weeks. Our teachers are currently marking and moderating the papers. Reports to parents will be released when this process has been completed. Mrs Draper, our Year 11 raising standards leader, will be in touch with parents of Year 11 students with details of an online information event to support parents to understand the contents of their child’s report and predicted grades.
The first assessment point for our key stage 3 children (Y7-Y9) is coming up at the end of the term ahead. Most subjects will begin setting assessment tasks in the last two weeks of term. The raising standards leaders will be in touch with their families with details of the format of the assessments and arrangements for reporting the results.
Our next parent forum is scheduled for Thursday 05 December and we will be in touch to confirm the topic for discussion at the start of next term.
Our Christmas Concert is taking place on the evening of Thursday 19 December.
The last day of term is Friday 20 December. School will be closing to students at 1.30pm on that day, with reception closing at 3.30pm. Our school site will be closed throughout the Christmas and New Year period.
With thanks for your continuing support, as always.
Yours faithfully,
Mrs H Jones
Principal