Hello, my name is Polly Long and I am the Wellbeing Leader for the school and nursery.

I help children, families and the whole school community with their emotional well-being and mental health.

My role is to provide support to our children around their well-being and mental health to ensure that we break down any barriers to learning and work in partnership with families, carers and children in a school context.

We recognise that children learn better and are happier in school if their emotional needs are also addressed.

I am able to offer a range of evidence based interventions such as:

ELSA

ELSAs are Emotional Literacy Support Assistants. They are teaching assistants who have received specific additional training from educational psychologists from whom they receive on going supervision following training. Their role is to support children and young people in school to understand and regulate their own emotions whilst also respecting the feelings of those around them.

Drawing and Talking

Drawing and Talking Therapy is the number one alternative to CBT and direct talking therapies, that can often be confronting or limiting in the processing of pain or trauma. As an attachment-based therapeutic intervention, Drawing and Talking Therapy is designed to complement CAMHS and other specialist therapies. The sessions are weekly and follow a 12 week framework.

Therapeutic Interventions

Once an understanding of a child’s needs is made, I may offer a particular intervention such as Sandplay which makes use of a sandbox, toy figures, and sometimes water, to create scenes of miniature worlds that reflect a child’s inner thoughts, struggles and concerns.

I also use puppets which help with teaching children about their emotions. Children can interact with the puppets as they share their ability to be happy, sad, angry, funny or jealous. Children can express these emotions too without upsetting anyone. Their puppet character is the one to feel these emotions.

Therapeutic active listening conversations

Sometimes a child might just need a chat, an outlet or ask for some advice. We will offer a safe and secure place for them to feel heard and acknowledged.

If you would like more information on the provision we offer, please email polly.long@bapchild.kent.sch.uk or call the school office on 01795 424143

We have two beautiful guinea pigs, Hazel and Willow, for the children to receive comfort with their cuddles. The children can in return help nurture and look after them.