Education Wellbeing Service
Article 12: Every child has the right to express their views, feelings and wishes in all matters affecting them, and to have their views considered and taken seriously.
What is the Education Wellbeing Service?
Wandsworth Education Wellbeing Service (EWS) works with our school offering early and preventative evidence-based mental health advice and support. They are an NHS team that includes qualified Wellbeing Practitioners.
Why contact the EWS?
We know from research that positive wellbeing and mental health is linked to quality of life, relationships and capacity to learn.
At different times, lots of children can struggle with their mental health which can be for lots of different reasons (and not just because of technology or social media). We believe that early access to advice and support is key to promoting wellbeing at an early stage.
Wellbeing is not only important to children but to all of us. This is why we are part of a community of schools in Wandsworth dedicated to a Whole School Approach to mental health and wellbeing. We aim to work together to promote children’s’, parent’s, carers and staff wellbeing.
We recommend speaking to a member school staff should you have any questions or concerns about your child’s wellbeing or mental health.
What do the EWS offer?
-1:1 Guided Self-Help with Parents to Help their Child’s Common Fears or Worries (best for parents of children aged 5-11) – this usually involves 6-8 weekly sessions with parents to provide and think together about tools to help with children’s anxieties or worries. This can include things like phobias, building confidence, anxiety and difficulties around bedtimes or going to school, health worries and other fears. The sessions use ideas and tools including from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
-1:1 Guided Self-Help with Parents to Help their Child’s Common Tricky or Challenging Behaviours (best for parents of children aged 2-8) - this usually involves 6-8 weekly sessions with parents to provide and think together about different tools to support emotional dysregulation, tricky or challenging behavior. The team talks through a few ideas per week to try out and make sure it is specific to your child and your situation.
-Wandsworth Education Wellbeing Service runs live webinars for parents on a range of different mental health and wellbeing related topics, find out more and sign up here: Primary Parents - NHS Wellbeing Workshops | Eventbrite - they also have a range of recorded videos here - Education Wellbeing Service - SWLSTG - YouTube
-Wandsworth Education Wellbeing Service also run in person parent coffee mornings on a variety of topics so look out for these being advertised in your school.
-Young Minds is a great source of advice and support for parents on a range of mental health related topics and they have a parent hotline:- www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/
-Autism, ADHD and SEN – Parent Advice and Support:
1) National Autistic Society – Expert advice, helpline and local support for supporting children with autism - National Autistic Society (autism.org.uk)
2) Wandsworth Autism Advisory Service (WAAS) provide bespoke local advice and support - Family Information Service | Wandsworth Autism Advisory Service (WAAS)
3) The ADHD foundation advice and support for families: Services for Families - ADHD Foundation: ADHD Foundation
4) ADDISS – The National Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service – a charity with friendly information and resources: ADDISS
National Sleep Helpline – advice and support for sleep difficulties: National Sleep Helpline - The Sleep Charity or call 0330 530 541
Toileting difficulties and anxiety – www.eric.org.uk or free helpline on 0808 801 0343
How to get in touch?
You can self-apply for the service using their digital one page application form here: CWPs Primary -Parent Form for the Education Wellbeing Service Guided-Self Help Programme
You can also pick up a paper form from reception or email the team at: WandsworthWP@swlstg.nhs.uk
The team will then aim to contact you within a few weeks to arrange an initial call – usually over video call but this can also be face-to-face if you prefer. This will be to tell you more about the service, hear about your child – their strengths/interests and current challenges and make sure the service might be right for you (if not they will give ideas on other support available).