Emotional Wellbeing

At Eskdale, we value and champion excellent attendance as a vital part of your child's development and progress. However, their emotional wellbeing is of paramount importance to us. Detailed below are some of the many ways we support your child's emotional wellbeing in school:

Back to School Baskets

If your child is reluctant to come to school- or if they have been absent for a number of days and worried about returning- we offer them the chance to create a 'Back to School Basket'. This contains a range of items such as a teddy, a colouring book, colouring pens, a sensory toy and a drink. They can be accessed at the start of the school day or when they are feeling overwhelmed. This process supports them settling back into the expectations of school life.

Zones of Regulation

The Zones of Regulation is an internationally renowned intervention which helps children to manage difficult emotions, know as ‘self-regulation’.
Self-regulation is best described as the best state of alertness for a situation. Or the ability to maintain a well regulated emotional state to copy with everyday stress. This means we are most available for learning and interacting.

Everyone (including adults) will experience times when they find it hard to manage strong feelings such as worry, anger, restlessness, fear or tiredness. This can stop us getting on with our day effectively. Children will similarly find it hard to learn and concentrate at school.

The Zones of Regulation aims to teach children strategies to help them identify their emotions and copy with these feelings so they can get back to feeling calm and ready to learn. These coping strategies are called ‘self-regulation’.

Soft Starts

We recognise the demands of the school day and the value of determination and hard work. However, we support every child in school with a 'Soft Start' to the school day so they are ready to learn as soon as possible. We have:

Mindful Monday

Talk About It Tuesday

Wellbeing Wednesday

Thankful Thursday

Feel Good Friday

Worry Jars

Every class at Eskdale have their very own Worry Jar. These are for times when a child has a concern but do not want to verbalise it in front of other children. They simply write their name or their worry on a post-it note and place it in the jar. An adult will review these each day and provide an opportunity for the child to discuss what is troubling them in a caring, trusting environment. We also have a Virtual Worry Box available on this website.

Calm Boxes

All classes also have their own Calm Box filled with sensory toys and manipulatives to support with emotional regulation. Children can use these at the discretion of the class teacher when they are feeling worried, scared, angry or heightened.

Dedicated wellbeing zones

We have a Lego Area, a Mindful Zone, an Art Workshop and a Sensory Room along with our school library to support emotional wellbeing. These zones provide children with an outlet to self-regulate, reflect and interact with their peers in a calm, quiet environment.

Tailored support

All staff at Eskdale are trained to support emotional wellbeing. Mr Emms (Head of School), Mrs Allison (SENDCo) and Miss Musgrave (Attendance and Safeguarding Officer) communicate regularly with staff and children to tailor support to meet their emergent and individual needs.

An Open-Door Policy

We operate an 'Open-Door Policy'. Mr Emms is available every morning on the school gate and parents are welcome to contact school or meet with key staff at any time. We will listen, support and act on your feedback as we work together for your child.

Coffee Mornings

Every Thursday, we hold a Coffee Morning for parents in the school dining hall. This is an informal drop-in and a chance to talk to key staff in a non-threatening environment. These events include external agencies such as Alliance, Harbour, Teesside MIND and Play Out who will highlight the support available for children and their families inside and outside of school.

Regular Communication

All teachers can be contacted through Class Dojo. This is a fast and effective way of sharing your concerns and communicating your child's needs with a class teacher or a member of the school team. We produce a weekly newsletter and celebrate all of the great things happening in school via this platform.

Restorative Practice

The PACE approach

 At Eskdale, we use the PACE approach to behaviour: