Mental Health in Schools

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08.45	Arrival, refreshments and exhibitor viewing
09.20	Welcome and introduction
09.30	POLICY KEYNOTE Update on progress and ambitions of the green paper Transforming Children and Young People’s Mental Health Provision, and its implications for practice in intervening early and promoting good mental health and wellbeing in and out of school SPEAKER Richard Vaughan, Deputy Director of Life Skills, Department for Education
10.10	Mental Health First Aid: a whole-school approach The risks to young people’s mental health, including how to recognise the early warning signs of mental health issues Protective factors for schools and youth workers to embody, and support systems available to staff The Mental Health First Aid approach and current progress of the Youth MHFA in Schools programme How schools can create a whole-school approach to supporting mental health for students and staff SPEAKER Caroline Hounsell, Director of Partnerships, MHFA England
10.50	Refreshments and exhibitor viewing
11.15	Seminar 1 (choose 1A, 1B or 1C) 1A PRIMARY - Do we all have the right to be happy? This session will draw upon the evidence base of positive psychology and resilience, emphasising the importance of building relationships and developing the attitudes, skills and experiences that promote mental health and improve wellbeing for all members of our school communities. SPEAKER Kirsten Brown, Headteacher, Gilbrook School in Liverpool - a school for children with social, emotional and mental health difficulties rated outstanding by Ofsted 1B ALL-THROUGH SCHOOL - ‘Time to Care’ How The King’s School provides pastoral care and support for children and young people, offering them time and space to talk and encouraging them to do so; the tools to develop resilience and the courage to be true to themselves; the challenges this brings and the steps required to develop further. SPEAKER Emma Tyer, Wellbeing mentor, and Mandy Phillips, Deputy Head (Pastoral), The King’s School, Gloucester 1C SECONDARY - Co-ordinating children’s mental health support from multiple disciplines and agencies A look at the assessment of needs and how schools can begin to do this using specific tools How multi-disciplinary teams can be created within schools using the school nurse, senco and pastoral workers Using agencies to put together a tiered approach which focuses on supporting the whole child How we can move toward becoming therapeutic schools to tackle mental health issues SPEAKER Shahana Knight, Director Of Services, TPC Therapy LTD
12.15	Seminar 2 (choose 2A, 2B or 2C) 2A PRIMARY - Meeting the needs of individual children Cost-effective therapy for children using a combination of trainee and qualified counsellors, psychotherapists and play therapists Strong holistic support focused on the wellbeing of all members of a family Building strong and caring professional networks around a child Supporting and educating staff about their own and the school community's mental and emotional health SPEAKERS Katy Whitney, Wellbeing Co-ordinator at Highgate Primary School, and founding member and Claire Bardner, founding member, The Holding Collective 2B SECONDARY - Age and stage appropriate wellbeing provision in education The wellbeing service at Wymondham College has been developed to meet the varied social, emotional, wellbeing and mental health needs of the students. The team offers a variety of therapeutic interventions on site and regularly consults with the College community. SPEAKERS Rachael Hill, Wellbeing Manager, Sue Kelly, registered mental health nurse, and Lucinda Labrum, Counsellor, at Wymondham College in Norfolk. 2C THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES - The importance of child development and neurodevelopmental difficulties when thinking about mental health How do we assess and understand the needs of the 'whole child' including their mental health, attachment behaviour, learning and development? Should we stick with diagnosis labels or is psychological formulation perhaps more useful when thinking about mental health in schools? SPEAKER Dr Bryn Williams, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Williams Independent Psychological Consultancy
13.15	Lunch and exhibitor viewing
14.15	PRACTICE KEYNOTE - Meeting the mental health needs of every learner: shaping your school’s provision and ethos Drawing on examples of existing good practice and the growing evidence base, Pooky will help you to pinpoint the strengths and weaknesses in your school’s approach to mental health. She will also provide a range of practical ideas and trusted resources for developing a provision and ethos that better promotes the mental health of every learner – and every teacher too. SPEAKER Dr Pooky Knightsmith, Mental Health Author and Educator; Vice Chair, Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition
15.15	Refreshments and exhibitor viewing
15.30	Seminar 3 (choose 3A, 3B or 3C) 3A PRIMARY - Improving learning outcomes through Achieving Wellbeing Exploring the explicit link between wellbeing, learning, and learner outcomes How the Achieving Wellbeing Programme aims to transform the climate and culture of the classroom, unlocking progress and academic achievement How the Achieving Wellbeing Programme has been adapted to meet the needs of looked after (and previously looked after) children, in partnership with Virtual Headteachers in five LAs SPEAKERS Marius Frank, National Achieving Wellbeing Programme Lead, Achievement for All; Anne Cameron, CLA and Virtual Headteacher Programme Development Manager, Achievement for All 3B SECONDARY - Empowering young people to take control of their emotional health and wellbeing Using wellbeing action plans to enable young people to understand and promote their wellbeing Practical insights for senior leadership teams on how to create and sustain culture change Practical tips for teachers to use in the classroom, and for their own emotional health and wellbeing SPEAKER Dr Pooky Knightsmith, Mental Health Author and Educator; Vice Chair, Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition 3C SPECIALIST PROVISION - Breaking the cycle: The holistic approach How to ensure parents have the skills to cope with nurturing a child Addressing issues from a younger age and instilling resilience in children to deal with their mental health when they leave school Discussion on the government’s funding strategy, sharing best practice and asking for advice SPEAKER Eileen Sheerin, Headteacher, Ashcroft School in Cheshire
16.30	Close of conference

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