Mrs Rice is our Wellbeing Coordinator at Finchale Primary School and she carries out this role for the equivalent of 2.5 days a week.  She is also a classroom-based Learning Support Assistant for the equivalent of 2.5 days a week.   

Mrs Rice has completed the Senior Mental Health Lead and she works alongside Dr Whitton to build upon the whole school approach to supporting mental health and wellbeing at Finchale.  She is also a qualified Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA), this is a role which supports the emotional wellbeing of pupils. In addition Mrs Rice is a qualified Mental Health First Aider and Youth Mental Health First Aid Champion and has attended courses relating to wellbeing, mental health, loss and bereavement and emotionally based school avoidance.

Working with class teachers, Mrs Rice helps to identify children who require further support with their wellbeing.  Mrs Rice then delivers 1-1 sessions, or small group interventions over a period of time as agreed with teachers, parents and carers.  Drop-in sessions are also available with Mrs Rice if class teachers feel children are having a particularly difficult day and would benefit from some 1-1 time.

Mrs Rice can also signpost parents and carers to national and local wellbeing and mental health services.  If parents/carers feel their children are struggling with anxiety, Mrs Rice can facilitate a referral to outside agencies such as the Piece of Mind Team (Mental Health Support Team).  The team can provide a Parent Led Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) course to provide strategies to families that they can use at home to support their children overcome anxiety.  It aims to increase parents confidence by teaching them skills and techniques to help their children manage their anxiety through building up brave behaviour and supporting them to face their fears.  Parent-led CBT is a 10-week course ran as a group consisting of 6 face-to-face sessions and some working breaks to allow time to practise the learnt skills.

If you have any issues you would like to discuss with Mrs Rice she can be contacted by phoning the school office or via an email to wellbeing@finchale.durham.sch.uk