Wellbeing and Mental Health
TALA
TALA (Therapeutic Active Listening Assistant) therapy provides children with a safe, nurturing space to explore their feelings and experiences. Through active listening, our trained TALA practitioner, Mrs Watson, offers pupils the opportunity to express themselves without judgment, fostering respect and empathy within a secure and trusting relationship.
How TALA Works
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Session Structure: Children take part in regular one-to-one sessions, typically lasting 30 to 45 minutes each week. These sessions usually run for around six weeks but can be extended based on individual needs. Sessions are confidential, allowing children to talk freely about their concerns.
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Child-Led Approach: Sessions are guided by the child and often include play-based activities to encourage self-expression. This approach ensures that the support is tailored to each child's unique experiences and emotions.
Benefits of TALA
- Helps children manage emotions, worries, and challenges
- Supports understanding of thoughts, feelings, and behaviours
- Encourages self-acceptance and emotional resilience
- Provides a safe space to explore emotions and experiences
- Empowers children to find their own solutions and build confidence
Our TALA practitioner, Mrs Watson, has been trained by educational psychologists and is committed to supporting children’s emotional well-being through a compassionate and child-centred approach.
What to Do If You Think Your Child Would Benefit from TALA
If you feel that your child would benefit from TALA therapy, please speak to their class teacher. Staff may also identify children who would benefit from this support and will contact parents and carers to discuss the potential benefits. Please refer to our TALA Information Leaflet for parents and carers: TALA Parent and Carer Leaflet.
Before sessions can begin, parents and carers must provide written consent. Once consent is given, your child will receive one session per week for six weeks, delivered by Mrs Watson.
If you would like more information or to discuss whether TALA is right for your child, please contact the class teacher through the school office email address: adminoffice@northwaltham.hants.sch.uk.
Thrive
As a Thrive-informed school, we are committed to supporting children's emotional, social, and behavioural development through the Thrive approach. Thrive helps us understand and respond to children’s emotional needs, ensuring they feel secure, confident, and ready to learn. It draws on principles from neuroscience, attachment theory, and child development to support children in overcoming emotional barriers to learning.
How Thrive Works
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Individualised Support: Some children may benefit from one-to-one Thrive sessions with our qualified Thrive practitioner, Ms Hinton. These sessions are tailored to meet the child's specific emotional needs, helping them to develop key skills such as emotional regulation, communication, and confidence.
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Classroom Support: For other children, support is provided through the Thrive approach in the classroom. Class teachers and support staff integrate Thrive strategies into daily activities, helping children build emotional resilience and positive social skills in a familiar environment.
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Play-Based Approach: Whether in one-to-one sessions or classroom support, Thrive uses play-based activities to encourage self-expression and help children process their emotions. This approach provides a safe space for children to engage at their own pace and build a strong foundation for future emotional and social growth.
Benefits of Thrive
- Builds emotional resilience, self-regulation, and empathy
- Fosters positive relationships and improved communication skills
- Supports children in managing stress, anxiety, and social challenges
- Encourages a sense of security, confidence, and readiness to learn
- Enhances social, emotional, and academic development
Our Thrive practitioner, Ms Hinton, is a qualified Thrive Practitioner trained to assess children’s emotional needs and deliver targeted interventions. She works alongside class teachers and support staff to ensure that each child receives the right level of support.
What to Do If You Think Your Child Would Benefit from Thrive
If you think your child may benefit from Thrive support, please speak to their class teacher. Based on the child’s needs, the teacher may refer them for one-to-one Thrive sessions with Ms Hinton, or provide support using Thrive strategies in the classroom.
Once consent is obtained from parents and carers, children will receive individualised Thrive support, either through one-to-one sessions or classroom-based strategies. These sessions are usually run for a set period, with the option to extend depending on the child's progress and needs.
For more detailed information, parents and carers can refer to the Thrive Parent and Carer Guide. You can download the guide here: Download Thrive Parent and Carer Guide.
If you would like to discuss whether Thrive is the right support for your child, please contact the class teacher through the school office email address: adminoffice@northwaltham.hants.sch.uk.
Emotional Wellbeing Support at Home
Rockpool https://rockpool.life/ have produced five factsheets for parents and practitioners with the aim of providing information by using trauma awareness about children's and adult's emotional behaviour. Please find the links below if you would like to use either for yourself or child.
Responding to the Coronavirus: Resources for Mental Health and Wellbeing
Ten Top Tips for Good Mental Health
Well-Being:
Our own well-being during times of crisis, whether personal, local, national or global, is something to take care of. The links below provide some general activities to try.