Your Child's Wellbeing - Who To Contact For Support
As adults, we have a huge responsibility. Our support and guidance have an enormous impact on the development of young people, and the decisions they make.
Student welfare is at the heart of everything we do. School should be a positive experience for everyone, but there may be times when you need extra support.
This page explains how to find help if you need support with your child's wellbeing, as well as advice about how together we can further support the development of our young people.
Parents - your first points of contact
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the welfare your own child, please first contact your child's tutor.
If you have a safeguarding concern then please contact our designated safeguarding leaders. You can find their details on our Safeguarding page.
"Pupils speak glowingly about the support offered by teachers and leaders." Ofsted 2023
Online safety - advice for parents
Online safety is something many parents ask us about.
Help Your Child Stay Safe Online is a government website which has lots of practical information from trusted places to help you feel more confident on the steps you can take to protect your child online.
The Thinkuknow website is created by the police for parents of children at secondary school. It contains useful information about:
- what children are doing online
- how to talk to children about what they are doing online
- what risks your child might face
- what tools are there to help them stay safe.
They have also produced a Parent’s Guide to E-Safety to provide parents/carers with helpful information on how to explore and monitor their children’s apps.
There are multiple sources of help and advice available to parents and students, in addition to those offered by the academy. The NSPCC is a good source of information for parents and students alike.
The National College has a range of resources to support your child with their learning and wellbeing.
Radicalisation. If you are worried that someone is being radicalised into terrorism, call the national police Prevent line on 0800 011 3764 to get advice or share your concern. Alternatively, contact your local authority for help. This will ensure that the person gets necessary interventions and support available to them if they are assessed to be at risk of radicalisation.
Promote positive mental health
Young people thrive when they feel seen, heard, and understood. A sense of belonging and inclusion is pivotal in a young person’s perspective of life and behaviour.
- Normalise emotions – encourage teenagers to talk about feelings without fear of judgement.
- Teach coping skills – breathing exercises, grounding techniques, and journaling can help them regulate emotions.
- Spot early signs of distress – withdrawal, irritability, sudden academic changes, and sleep issues often signal that extra support is needed.
- Provide safe spaces – mentoring groups, wellbeing rooms, or drop-in sessions can reduce stigma and make support accessible.
Build strong, trusting relationships
A consistent adult relationship is one of the best predictors of positive adolescent outcomes.
- Show genuine interest in their lives.
- Use active listening – reflect back what they’ve said.
- Communicate clear boundaries while still showing warmth.
- Model healthy behaviours: conflict resolution, self-care, positive communication.
The partnership between families, student and the academy is integral to promoting success and achievement – it really can transform the lives of students when we all work together.
Encourage physical wellbeing
Healthy habits directly impact mood, energy, and resilience.
- Sleep: teens need 8–10 hours per night.
- Nutrition: encourage balanced meals and hydration.
- Movement: promote sports, walking clubs, dance groups, or other enjoyable activities.
- Digital balance: help them set realistic boundaries around screen time.
Support social wellbeing
Teenage friendships are crucial to identity and belonging. They can have a monumental impact on the well-being and direction of a young person.
- Facilitate group activities, clubs, and mixed-age mentoring.
- Teach social skills: communication, empathy, conflict resolution.
- Address bullying immediately with supportive, not punitive, approaches.
- Celebrate identity culture, interests, strengths, neurodiversity.
Strengthen academic wellbeing
Academic stress is one of the biggest wellbeing pressures for teens.
Support ideas:
- Help them develop realistic study routines and organisational skills.
- Break learning into manageable steps.
- Celebrate effort rather than perfection.
- Offer flexible support for those with additional needs.
Empower their voice
Teenagers flourish when they feel agency.
Encourage:
- Leadership roles (student council, ambassadors)
- Choice and autonomy in learning
- Opportunities to influence school or community decisions
- Personal goal setting and reflection
Teach life skills and resilience
Resilience is not innate and can be taught. Young people can experience some tricky situations which have the potential to de-rail their pathway; however, what defines them is how they manage and learn from the experience – not the primary situation.
Skills to build:
- Problem-solving
- Decision‑making
- Managing risk
- Emotional literacy
- Growth mindset
- Self‑advocacy
In a crisis...
- Call NHS 111 (press 2) – 24/7 Mental Health Crisis Service
- ChildLine – 0800 1111
- YoungMinds – www.youngminds.org.uk
If there is immediate danger, call 999.