Categories
Schools

Introducing Mockingbird

Haringey’s Fostering team launched the innovative Mockingbird programme in February.

The Fostering Network’s Mockingbird programme is a new method of delivering foster care using an extended family model, which provides sleepovers and short breaks, peer support, regular joint planning and training and social activities.

The programme improves the stability of fostering placements and strengthens the relationships between carers, children and young people, fostering services and birth families.

Mockingbird delivers a family model that centres on a constellation where one foster home acts as a hub, offering planned and emergency sleepovers and short breaks, advice, training and support, to six to ten satellite households.

The Mockingbird model aims to:

  • Improve the stability of fostering placements and strengthen relationships between carers, children and young people, fostering services and birth families.
  • empower families to support each other and overcome problems before they escalate or lead to placement breakdown.
  • increase protective factors around children and young people.
  • build links with other families important to the care plans.

Outcomes from the programme that have been experienced so far include: placement stability, placements in residential care have been avoided, costs have been reduced and it has helped to stop carers resigning.

Read more here.

 

Categories
Schools

Update on Haringey’s Digital Divide Appeal

Thanks to the fantastic support of our amazing community here in Haringey, we’ve raised almost £40,000 and received more than 375 donations with our Haringey Digital Divide Appeal in partnership with Haringey Giving.

We’re nearly 80% of the way towards our re-revised target of £50,000 to help support children and young people here who don’t have regular access to laptops, WiFi and other technological support at home.

We don’t want our collective, concerted and community-focused fundraising efforts together to end there though. We want this great and important work to continue, so – if you would like to – please give whatever you can readily afford, no matter how small, to our appeal.

Each and every donation is gratefully received and could make a world of difference to the life of a child or young person here in our borough.

For further information, or to donate, please visit the Haringey Giving website (external link). If you can share our Haringey Digital Divide Appeal Facebook/Twitter content on your school’s  social media channels, that would be really helpful.

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/haringeycouncil/photos/a.571243579584517/5092599050782258

https://www.facebook.com/haringeycouncil/posts/5087727144602782

https://www.facebook.com/haringeycouncil/posts/5083456955029801

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/haringeycouncil/status/1362680915718254594

https://twitter.com/haringeycouncil/status/1362371648377266176

https://twitter.com/haringeycouncil/status/1362115055052083206

 

Categories
Healthy Schools

New crisis mental health helpline available 24/7

A new helpline has launched for people experiencing a mental health crisis:

0800 151 0023.

You can call this number to get support or advice 24/7.

All young people and their parents should be contacting Haringey CAMHS service from 9-5pm, Monday to Friday on  020 8702 3400/01 and use this new helpline outside of office hours.

Categories
Schools

Haringey students win award for radio Windrush project

Award for Tottenham radio show spotlighting the Windrush community

A Tottenham-based radio project focusing on the descendants of the Windrush generation living in Tottenham has won Best Arts Project in the 2021 Hearts for the Arts Awards.

N17 radio programme was created by Chloe and Kane, two sixth form students at Harris Academy Tottenham, in partnership with Haringey Council, Kick it Out, Threads Radio, RoughHouse Theatre and playwright, Dougie Blaxland.

With the support of the Windrush Day Grant – the partners worked collaboratively to produce and broadcast a radio programme – N17 – to coincide with Black History Month. N17 celebrates the extraordinary contribution made to British society by descendants of the Windrush generation who settled and brought up their families in Tottenham.

Chloe and Kane conducted online interviews with a wide range of members of the Windrush community who were raised in Tottenham. Their stories were then edited together and broadcast via Threads Radio Station and social media to coincide with Black History Month in October 2020. Some of those interviewed included David Lammy MP, BAFTA-winning actress Letitia Wright and former England cricketer Mark Alleyne MBE.

The Hearts for the Arts Awards are an annual initiative by the National Campaign for the Arts, celebrating local authority and cultural trust arts champions and creative community projects. The judging panel included broadcaster Mariella Frostrup, comedian Frances Martinez and Paul Hartnoll of dance music duo Orbital.

Categories
Events

Unlocking Resilience: free online event on Monday 1 March

Unlocking Resilience: free online event on Monday 1 March 2021 for parents/carers, school leaders with YP panel and keynote from Professor of Public Health (NHSE).

Read more here

Full event schedule

Categories
Schools

Women and Girls in Science – free resources

Following Women and Girls in Science Day 2021, here is a useful blog post which highlights stories of women in STEM and offers advice for young people who are looking at STEM careers.

There is a range of resources for students highlighting the important contributions women have made to the world of science including Ada Lovelace and Marie Curie.

Categories
Smarter Travel

The lastest updates from Smarter Travel

Dear School Travel Champions, Head Teachers and PSHE Leads,

Cycle Training Update – What cycle training can take place?

The Department for Education has confirmed that Bikeability cycle training can take place in schools for vulnerable children and children of critical workers subject to the measures described in their guidance, and at Headteacher discretion. It can also be provided as wraparound care and extracurricular activity outside of the school day. Read the government guidance for schools (updated 7 January 2021) here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak.

Pre book your school’s cycle training courses for the spring/summer terms by contacting Cycle Confident at www.cycleconfident.com or call 0203 031 6730

(Training is suitable for 9yrs to adult

Complete a Free Online Cycle Training Course and get 15% off in Halfords!

Even while in lockdown, with the absence of physical training sessions, you can brush up on your Cycle Skills via the TfL online course.

Whether you’re popping to the shops or going to work, there’s never been a better time to cycle.

TfL’s free online Cycle Skills course will help you to cycle safely and confidently. So, whether you’re new to cycling or just want to brush up on your skills, we can help you take to the road.

Schools, please send this link out along with the TfL Stars link to promote these activities that will benefit your school parents and staff

Sustrans Big Pedal is back 19 – 30 April 2021

This is the link to this year’s cycling/scootering/walking campaign https://bigpedal.org.uk/ For this campaign you need to register on their website.

So far they are boasting that 461 schools registered 157,000 pupils taking part in this year’s Big Pedal. (3 Haringey School. Let us know if you are registering, we may have resources to help you make this an amazing activity. (The Golden Lock prizes still available)

Living Streets’ Walk to School Week 17 – 21 May 2021 – Action needed now

PLEASE contact us by Thursday 25 February to receive classroom packs for your primary classes – we will only be ordering for schools that respond! They are worth £10 per class and we have to get the order placed a.s.a.p.

Email: wendy.thorogood@haringey.gov.uk with the number of ks1 and ks2 classes

What you need to do:

  • Register your interest with us stating how many packs you would use. No of KS1 and KS2 packs
  • Ask your head teacher to support active travel when schools re-open
  • Encourage all class teachers to be involved increasing active travel to school.
  • Celebrate successes.
  • Register your interest with travel@haringey.gov.uk

School Streets in Haringey

This new term will see an increase in our work to implement School Street closures around many schools in Haringey. Careful consideration is given to each School Street project. We are dedicated to making changes to improve the health and safety of our pupils. Where School Street Closures are not feasible at this stage, we will be constantly searching to improve your reported school travel issues.

We urge you to continue to add all of your issues to the TfL STARS site– we regularly check this to assist our Planning and Highways Teams and support any applications for improvements that are requested by our schools. So, if the road outside your school could be improved, please upload onto this site, and maybe send us an email too. School Streets will not be delivered where the school does not fully engage with TfL STARS.

School Travel Planning – more important than ever before

Thank you for your continued hard work and dedication throughout the last year. We really appreciate your work with STARS and active travel despite the unprecedented times that we are living in.  School Street Projects can only be delivered to schools with up to date STARS accreditation. When schools re-open fully, we would love the messages to be keep walking, scooting, cycling not driving.

The schools that have not carried out a hands up survey, this is really essential for your accreditation. So please prioritise this (link to Stars). The TfL Healthy Schools officers are planning some training sessions via TEAMS/Zoom to help with STAR; let us know if you are keen to join.

This period of lockdown is proving difficult and we want to remind everyone of the importance of getting outdoors for some daily exercise. Even a short walk or cycle to break up the day while teachers, parents and pupils are working and studying at home will benefit us all and support our physical and mental wellbeing.

Please share this with families TfL Stars useful home learning activities for all year groups. https://stars.tfl.gov.uk/HomeLearning

Think! Free Road Safety resources from Think Education site.

This site offers many useful lesson plans to include in your PSHE and other lessons.

Upload evidence of using these, as it contributes to your School Travel Plan on TfL STARS too. All Free ! Road Safety Education is a life skill.

STOP – LOOK – LISTEN – THINK

Best Wishes Smarter Travel

020 8489 5351

Categories
Schools

Welbourne Primary celebrates UNICEF UK Gold Award

Welbourne Primary School is the first school in Haringey to be awarded Gold by UNICEF UK’s Rights Respecting School programme.

UNICEF is the world’s leading organisation working for children and their rights. The Rights Respecting Schools initiative is aimed at schools across the UK, including those in an early years setting and is granted to schools that show commitment to promoting and realising children’s rights and encouraging adults, children and young people to respect the rights of others in school. Gold is the highest accolade given by UNICEF UK and shows a deep and thorough commitment to children’s rights at all levels of school life. Parveen Duggal, Welbourne’s Headteacher comments:

“We are absolutely delighted to achieve this award in recognition of the important work we do for children’s rights. Knowing about rights gives our children a strong set of values backed up by law and a sense of empowerment to do something about things they see as wrong or unfair. The children’s rights are at the heart of the school and underpin all that we do here across our wider school community too.

This award is a credit to the strong commitment of staff and children to play a part in making the world a better place. It celebrates the inclusive, respecting and supporting rights-based work that is embedded into daily life at Welbourne.”

The Award recognises achievement in putting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child at the heart of a school’s planning, policies and practice.  A Rights Respecting School is a community where children’s rights are learned, taught, practised, respected, protected and promoted.

Schools have reported a positive impact on pupil behaviour, relationships and well-being by enhancing pupil’s self-esteem, leading to less bullying, better learning and improved academic standards.

 

Categories
Schools

School uniform grant – Year 7 parents must apply by 31 March

Please can you remind parents of children at your school who are eligible for free school meals and who transferred to secondary school in September 2020 that they can also apply for a one-off clothing grant of £60 to buy school uniform.

The grant must only be used to buy school clothes or shoes for the child (we may ask to see receipts as proof of purchase).

The closing date for applications for children who entered year 7 in September 2020 is Wednesday 31 March 2021.

To qualify for a grant, parents  must live in Haringey and the child’s date of birth must be between 1 September 2008 and 31 August 2009.

Parents will need to provide proof of your relationship to the child and the child’s date of birth. Please also read these important notes before applying.

Clothing grant forms should be returned to your nearest Customer Service Centre or posted to us.

Help from the fashion and textile children’s trust

Parents who are struggling to afford a school uniform for their child/children you may be eligible for a charitable grant if they or their partner work (or recently worked) for a UK fashion or textile company.

To find out if you are eligible and make an enquiry see the fashion and textile children’s trust website (external link).

 

Categories
Events Healthy Schools Schools

Do you work with families affected by alcohol? Free training courses

The Insightful Families Project offers a range of free training courses for Haringey practitioners working with families who may be affected by alcohol.  The sessions link together but can also be completed separately, depending on your own professional needs and practice level.  Sessions are free, but places are limited, and you must register to book a place.

MONTHLY ALCOHOL WEBINARS (One hour) – Suitable for all practitioners

Delivered by Insightful Families and HAGA

Alcohol and Relationships: Monday 22 February 4-5pm. For more info and to book

Alcohol and Lockdown: Wednesday 24 March 4-5pm. For more info and to book

 

ALCOHOL AWARENESS (2 hours) – Suitable for all practitioners

Delivered by Insightful Families

An Introduction to Alcohol Awareness; Audit C Alcohol Assessment and Treatment available in Haringey.

·         Tuesday 9 March 10-12 noon 
·         Tuesday 6 April 10-12 noon 

·         Tuesday 4 May 10-12 noon 

·         Tuesday 8 June 10-12 noon 

·         Tuesday 6 July 10-12 noon 

For more information and to book a place contact Eliese Gray: Eliese.Gray@haringey.gov.uk

SUPPORTING FAMILIES AFFECTED BY DRUGS/ALCOHOL (7 hours) – Suitable for Specialist Practitioners

Delivered by Adfam

The sessions link together but can also be completed separately, depending on your own professional needs. Choose a level suitable for your professional practice.

Level 1: Essential Skills: Families, Drugs and Alcohol: For those engaging with families who have known or unknown substance issues- e.g. Early Help, Social Care, Mental Health Teams especially new members of staff. Parenting organisations, Children’s Centre Staff, Volunteers, Social /Community Organisations, Schools staff.

Thursday 18 Feb: 9.30-4.30. For more info and to Book

Level 2: Blue Light Project : Building on Level 1, awareness, skills and resources for working with change resistant drinkers, encouraging more people to access support i.e. Senior Practitioners in Services where there is identified Alcohol Use who work with families i.e. Early Help, Social Care

Tuesday 2 March 9.30-12.30 and Wednesday 3 March 1.30-4.30. For more info and to book

Level 3: Dual Diagnosis course: For professionals working with adults who have mental health and substance concerns ie, Experienced Early Help, Mental Health and Substance Misuse Practitioners and who are in a position to support the wider family.

Tuesday 16 9.30-12.30 and Wednesday  17 March 9.30-12.30. For more info and to book

For more information please contact Anna Martinez, Public Health Officer – Youth Prevention & Early Intervention Call 020 8489 5549  email: Anna.Martinez@haringey.gov.uk