Welcome to the Parents' section created for you and your children.

All staff at Golden Valley take the well-being of our children seriously. All staff have received levels of training to enable them to both nurture and keep your children safe.

Mr Riordan, as Headteacher, is the school's Designated Safeguarding Lead, while Mr Hamilton and Mrs Watkins are the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads.

Mrs Turner is the Safeguarding Link Governor.

Mrs Watkins-David is the school's Learning Mentor and she meets children and their parents to help advise on well-being matters.

Mr Riordan,  Miss Darvill (Y2 Classteacher) and Mrs Watkins-David (Learning Mentor) have trained as Youth Mental Health First Aiders. 

Mr Hamilton (SENDCo) is our Mental Health Champion and lead and will be overseeing the school's mental health support and education.

All PHSE lessons are taught by class teachers and these lessons can be used as a space for children to share their worries. 

North Somerset Council have produced a leaflet '5 Ways to Wellbeing' with small steps to look after your own and your child's emotional health.

5 Ways to Wellbeing - see link below. 

Childhood is not stress-free and the following document helps to provide parents/carers with 10 top tips:

Childhood Isn't Stress Free - see link below.

Strategies and Tips for Dealing With Anxiety

It is not uncommon for children to suffer with anxiety. There are some useful documents to read that we have uploaded for you below.

There is a lovely letter addressed 'Dear You...' signed from your brain. It is a great read for older children but can be explained in simpler terms by an adult to a younger child.

'The Gradual Exposure' document shows a ladder of how to chunk the fear of worry in a manageable way that an anxious child would normally seek to avoid.

Please see the links below for a range of resources to support children and families. 

Books To Help With Children's Anxieties

'What to do when you worry too much' by Dawn Huebner, PHD.

This book is suitable for both Key Stages 1 and 2 and is a kid's guide to overcoming anxiety.

'Starving the Anxiety Gremlin' by Kate Collins-Donnelly

This book is printed for children aged 5-9 and there is another book printed for older children and teenagers.

'The Unworry Book' from Usborne

This is an activity book that has many fun and helpful things for children to complete without needing supervision. It has doodling pages, joke pages, rip it and breathing exercises. It is most suitable for children for children aged 7 or over as they can enjoy completing it alone as a way of self-soothing.

'The Invisible String' by Patrice Karst

This is a therapeutic story that can be used for separation anxiety, It is a lovely story that can be comforting in many ways.

Below is a link to a video of Mrs Morrison reading 'The Invisible String'.

• The Invisible String

Bereavement

Sadly some of our children and the families suffer the death of a loved one. School staff will always ensure that the bereaved child is treated with sensitivity and extra care during this traumatic time in their lives. There are some lovely children's books that may comfort your child at this time. Mrs Morrison is available to support any child who has suffered a bereavement.

'Badger's Parting Gift' by Susan Varley

'The Day the Sea Went Out and Never Came Back' by Margot Sunderland.

Separation and Divorce

It is not uncommon for families in our school community to suffer the emotional turmoil of separation and divorce. It is always useful to share this with an adult in school as it helps us to be more aware of the child's emotional needs and behaviour at this time.

The following book will help children understand separation and divorce:

'My Family's Changing' by Pat Thomas

General Information