Wellbeing

Welcome to East Farleigh's positive mental health and wellbeing page

At East Farleigh, we are proud of our incredible school community. By working together, we can ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive.   The mental health and wellbeing of both our children and staff are a top priority. On this page, you’ll find an overview of the key staff, support, and resources available — both in school and at home.  As our provision continues to grow and develop, we encourage you to check back regularly for updates and new opportunities for support.

Our Mental Health & Wellbeing Teams

Staff Team

Our Wellbeing Champions

Our Wellbeing Champions are chosen each term and meet weekly to share ideas, wellbeing “top tips,” and practical ways to promote a positive, caring school environment.

They play an active role in our weekly wellbeing assemblies, where they share their advice, inspire others, and encourage the whole school community to look after themselves and each other.

At the end of their term of service, parents are warmly invited to join a celebration and attend the Champions’ final meeting to recognise their contributions.

These are our current Wellbeing Champions.

'Handle with Care'

If your family is experiencing difficulty at home, or you child is coming to school after a difficult night, morning or weekend, please message your child’s class teacher on Class Dojo or send an email to senco@east-farleigh.kent.sch.uk  with the words, “Handle with Care”.  Nothing else needs to be said or asked. This will just let us know that your child may need extra time, patience, help, and a lot more love during the day.

Play Therapy

We are very fortunate to have Sara Tozer, a qualified Play Therapist, working in school each week. Sara supports children with a range of emotional and developmental challenges, helping them to feel more confident, resilient, and ready to learn.   

She also works closely with families. Throughout the year, Sara offers one-to-one parent drop-in sessions and runs workshops on key emotional, behavioural, and developmental themes, giving practical strategies to support children both at school and at home.

Dandelion Time

Dandelion Time delivers farm-based therapeutic programmes for children and their families, offering nature-based activities, crafts, animal care, and supportive sessions to build emotional resilience and strengthen family relationships.  

We are delighted that East Farleigh is partnered with Dandelion Time. So far, many groups of our children have taken part in ‘nurture in nature’ workshops, which support wellbeing, self-esteem, resilience, and emotional regulation. The charity is also currently supporting individual families and their children, part-funded by the school.

In addition, our staff have benefited from professional training delivered by the Dandelion Time team, and will soon enjoy a dedicated developmental day at their beautiful site.

Dandelion Time

Drawing & Talking

Drawing & Talking is a therapeutic early intervention in primary schools, helping children express emotions through creativity. It supports mental health by building resilience, improving emotional regulation, reducing anxiety, and strengthening self-esteem in a safe, nurturing environment.   Two of our staff, Mrs Hodges and Mrs Long are trained Drawing & Talking practitioners.  

Worry Monsters

At East Farleigh Primary School, the Worry Monsters intervention helps children express and manage anxieties by “feeding” worries to a monster.  

Each class has its own Worry Monster, and staff respond promptly, reducing stress, improving coping skills, fostering emotional awareness, and supporting positive mental health and resilience in children.

Parent Space

We warmly welcome new faces, fresh ideas, and all parents interested in connecting with our school community. Parent Space is our rebranded parent coffee meet-up, where you can meet other parents, share the joys and challenges of family life, or simply listen and see what we’re all about.

We meet termly, and where possible, we invite special guests to join us and share their insights. It’s a relaxed, friendly space to connect, learn, and support one another—everyone is welcome!

Supporting the Wellbeing of Staff

At East Farleigh, the wellbeing of our staff is just as important as that of our children. We have a range of initiatives that are constantly evolving to support the mental health and wellbeing of all our teachers and support staff. Through regular staff meetings, supervision, and our SLT’s open-door policy, we proactively look for new ways to improve wellbeing.

Some of our initiatives include:

• Staff Care Service Support Line and Portal
• Supervision and Coaching for all staff
• Wellbeing Day
• Sessions with our Wellbeing Governor/professional to explore strategies and initiatives both inside and outside of school
• Free tea and coffee
• Flexible PPA school/home
• Regular social events and development days
• Measures to minimise teacher workload, helping staff focus on teaching and their own wellbeing

We are committed to creating a supportive, positive environment where every member of our school community can thrive.

Other Useful Links for Emotional Wellbeing Support

School public health service

Kent Youth Health

This site covers all aspects of health. This is where you can refer to the School Nurses.

Place2Be

KELSI - Health & Wellbeing & Children & Young People's Mental Health Service

Kent Pact

A forum for parents and carers of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) within Kent local authority. Our aim is to make sure that services provided by education, health and care meet the needs of children with SEND and their families.

Anna Freud.org 

Transforming mental health by working with infants, children, young people and their families, their communities and professionals to deliver timely evidence-based support for all.

 Mind

We provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. We campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.

Porchlight

Young people and family services who work with children, adolescents and their families with all kinds of needs.Moodspark  Young Minds

Every mind matters

Kooth 

Kooth is designed to support the wellbeing and resilience of young people and is available for 10-16 year olds in Kent.   Kooth provides a safe, secure means of accessing help via the internet.  By accessing Kooth, young people can benefit from:

• A free, confidential, anonymous and safeway to receive support online.
• Out of hours’ availability.Counsellors are available from 12noon to 10pm on weekdays and 6pm to 10 pm at weekends, every day of the year on a drop in basis.
• Online Counselling from a professional team of BACP qualified counsellors is available via 1-1 chat sessions or messaging on a drop in basis or via booked sessions.
• Discussion Boards which are all pre-moderated allow young people to access peer to peer support.
• Online Magazine full of moderated articles many of which are submitted by young people offering advice and guidance on a huge range of topics.
• No referral is required.  Young people can register for kooth independently at www.kooth.com

To find out more visit www.Kooth.com 

Kooth - Free, safe and anonymous online support for young people from Kooth on Vimeo.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss what Kooth.com can offer, please address them to the school/[professional.  If you would prefer to contact Kooth directly, simply email parents@kooth.com.