There is a lot of information available to help parents/carers support their child as they grow up. Whether it's worries about sleep, anxiety, stress, self-harm, exam stress and self-regulation etc.

We have regular updates and information in our weekly newsletter.

WHAT WE DO

Visyon is a charity that supports the emotional health of children, young people and their families in Cheshire EAST.

If you are a child or young person, Visyon can help you improve your mental health so that you feel better about yourself and the things that happen in your day-to-day life. If you are a parent, grandparent or carer, you can come to us to gain the skills to give your child the support they need.

WE'RE HERE FOR YOU!...

The best way for you to get support is to call our friendly Initial Contact Team on 01260 290000 (Option 1).

They are available at the following times...

Monday to Thursday - 9am-5pm

Friday - 9am-1pm

You don't need a referral from a GP or your school, you or your parent can call us directly to discuss your concerns and the support we offer you is completely free of charge.

During the call we will ask a few questions and tell you about what Visyon has to offer. Whatever you share with us we will listen, you are not alone with how you are feeling. We'll help you to decide what happens next on your journey into feeling more in control of your mental health again. You have already made the brave step of seeking out support and we'll help you with the next step!

OUT OF HOURS SUPPORT

If you need immediate support and Visyon is closed please contact:

Cheshire Mental Health Crisis Line on 0800 145 6485

The Staffordshire Crisis Team on 0300 123 0907

Timid to Tiger Together is Back!

Timid to Tiger is an entirely parenting-based approach to managing anxiety in children (available to parents of children aged 8-11). It is based on evidence that anxious children benefit substantially from a clear, calm and consistent approach.

The group aims to explore the role of anxiety within a family and how it develops. It is run weekly over an 8 week period:

1. Introduction to the program

2. Securing the parent-child bond through non-directive play

3. Understanding your child’s anxiety

4. Using praise to build children’s confidence and using rewards to help your child’s motivation

5. Setting limits on anxious children’s behaviour and using withdrawal of attention to manage children’s behaviour

6. Managing worry

7. Managing really difficult behaviour

8. Review and celebration

Timid to Tiger Together is a family-based intervention for parents and carers of children aged 8-11 yrs suffering with anxiety to attend together.

Upcoming dates:

Please send all enquiries to parenting@justdropin.co.uk

Sleep Clinic - Together Trust

Autism sleep clinic

Many autistic children have poor sleep patterns. From complex bedtime routines to night waking and early morning waking, every child is different. But there is something you can do about it.

For fifteen years, the Together Trust has been running regular workshops and one-to-one appointments for parents and carers. Their experts offer practical advice and tailor-made sleep programmes to suit your child. Because poor sleep doesn’t have to be a lifelong pattern.

Is the autism sleep clinic right for you?

Their Children in Need funded sleep clinics are for parents and carers in Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire whose child has a diagnosis or is in the process of getting a diagnosis of autism. They accept referrals from 2-18 years old.

If you would like to read more about this, click on the link HERE to access further information or self refer.

Healthy Snacks

At St Alban's, we encourage children to bring in healthy snacks full of vitamins and minerals containing no added salt, fat or sugar. Many of these will help contribute to their 5 daily portions of fruit and vegetables, keep them alert and help them concentrate. There is a noticeable difference in levels of concentration for many children after break-time, which may be linked to what they have eaten.

Children learn about healthy eating as part of their curriculum and we will continue to support them in making healthy choices regarding snacks, but to also reduce food packaging and waste.

Children in Reception and KS1 have a daily snack of fruit or veg provided for free by the government as part of the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme, so parents/carers may decide that additional snacks for these ages may not be required.

If you are intending to send in healthy snacks with your child, the items listed below may help you:

• NO NUTS. This is to safeguard children who may have allergies.
• Vegetable sticks – such as celery, cucumber, peppers or carrot, a range of colour ensures different vitamins and minerals.
• A piece of cheddar cheese or babybel.
• A piece of fresh or dried fruit, high in soluble fibre and vitamins would also be a great snack– pineapple, mango, kiwi, plain raisins, apricots, blueberries, banana slices.
• Bread sticks, plain pretzels, banana bread, malt loaf, oat/rice cakes and small pitta breads are also
• good snacks, providing children with carbohydrate to sustain them in-between meals.
• Homemade snack - flapjacks or other oat/whole grain based snack. These must be nut free.
• Items brought into school should be carefully checked by parents/carers.

We are aiming for a common-sense approach, with the key being to keep it healthy.

We ask that parents/carers do not send snacks of chocolate, sweets or crisps.

It is important that children stay hydrated and so please ensure they bring a named water bottle, with a non-spill sports top, into school daily. Squash and fruit juice are not permitted in classrooms.

We hope that with your help, we can encourage the children to develop healthy eating habits that become a normal part of everyday life. By keeping high calorie snacks to a minimum and establishing healthy eating habits early on, improvements can be made for a child’s quality of life both in the short and long term.

SCHOOL HEALTH TEAM

To speak to our School Nurse please go to:

https://livewellservices.cheshireeast.gov.uk/Services/1173/School-Nursing-0-19

or telephone:  Broken Cross Children's Centre - Tel: 0300 123 4067

Good Hygiene Practice

Handwashing

Handwashing is one of the most important ways of controlling the spread of infections, especially those that cause diarrhoea and vomiting, and respiratory disease. The recommended method is the use of liquid soap, warm water and paper towels. Always wash hands after using the toilet, before eating or handling food, and after handling animals. Cover all cuts and abrasions with waterproof dressings.

Coughing and sneezing

Coughing and sneezing easily spread infections. Children and adults should be encouraged to cover their mouth and nose with a tissue. Wash hands after using or disposing of tissues.

Diarrhoea and/or vomiting

It is school policy that children should not return to school for 48 hours from their last episode of diarrhoea or vomiting.

High Temperature

It is recommended that children should not return to school for 24 hours after their temperature has returned to normal.