Embedded Files
Parents Page
Parents Page
Durham Sixth Form Centre commits to placing wellbeing and mental health at the heart of our decision-making by creating an open and inclusive ethos in which we will support our students to make positive choices for their own wellbeing.
This site is designed to ensure students (and their parents/carers) understand and can access support at anytime during their time at Durham Sixth Form Centre. This page is intended to support parents/carers with useful reminders and wellbeing signposting.
If you need to contact a specific member of staff, click here to jump straight to 'Meet the Team'.
If you have any safeguarding concerns, please click the button to report to the DSL.
If you have any safeguarding concerns, please click the button to report to the DSL.
Universal Student Support
Universal Student Support
Useful contacts for DSFC staff:
Useful contacts for DSFC staff:
Financial Wellbeing
Please consult the Student Finance section on our website for more information on the eligibility criteria for bursaries, or contact Mrs Katherine Sanderson, Finance Assistant at: katherine.sanderson@durhamsixthformcentre.org.uk for guidance and advice on applications.
Safeguarding
Mr Robinson, Assistant Principal, is the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead. He is supported by a team of colleagues who are all trained to deal with safeguarding incidents. Any concerns should be reported to the appropriate Pastoral Support Manager or directly to Mr Robinson at: steven.robinson@durhamsixthformcentre.org.uk
Student Support Team
Our dedicated Support Team is here to help students overcome barriers to learning. Any information in relation to special educational needs must be shared with us at the point of enrolment or as soon as possible in the case of a new diagnosis.
Contact Amanda Eggett, SENCo, at: amanda.eggett@durhamsixthformcentre.org.uk
Careers, Progression & Aspirations Team
Our award-winning CPA team is here to support students identify plans for their future. We know goals help improve our health and wellbeing. Some of the benefits to completing goals are to provide a sense of direction, help keep you accountable, and focussed on the future.
Contact Matt Gattiss, CPA Team Leader, at: matthew.gattiss@durhamsixthformcentre.org.uk
Health & Wellbeing at Durham Sixth Form Centre
We pride ourselves on the support that we offer students and are equally as interested in personal welfare as we are in academic success.
Mrs Ruth Watson, Assistant Principal, is the school’s Senior Mental Health Lead and contactable at: ruth.watson@durhamsixthformcentre.org.uk
Health & Wellbeing Support
If students think they may be suffering from stress, anxiety and/or depression, or have any other worrying issues, they should contact their Progress Tutor or Pastoral Support Manager or our Health and Wellbeing Officer directly. To make a self-referral with your child, please follow this link.
Health and Wellbeing Officer
Health and Wellbeing Officer
Mrs Miller, our Health and Wellbeing Officer, is based in the Science Building. She works Mon-Thurs and offers support and advice on a range of wellbeing topics.
She is here to help identify the most timely and appropriate support for you. To watch our short introductory video, click here.
School Counsellor
School Counsellor
Our school counsellor, Ms Connor, is based full time in the Centre. Counselling can help you to explore thoughts and feelings which may be causing you distress. To watch our introductory video, click here.
Counselling provides a safe space to feel heard, without judgement, enabling an individual to talk and work through their difficulties.
As an integrative therapist, Ms Connor applies techniques and tools from different modalities to meet each individual student’s needs, with them at the centre of the therapeutic process. A student is provided with the space to explore thoughts, feelings and patterns of behaviours, in order to develop a better understanding of self and others. Through a therapeutic relationship of trust, their wellbeing is promoted to enable them to achieve their best possible outcomes for their future. Referrals for counselling are usually referred through our Pastoral and Health & Wellbeing Team. Equally, should you, your son/daughter wish to self-refer, please follow this link.
Resources
Resources
Piece of Mind
Piece of Mind
Piece of Mind (previously Mental Health Support) are based on site 2-3 times per week, including through school holidays. Referrals to Piece of Mind are managed by Mrs Miller. Piece of Mind offers early intervention and preventative support to young people who are experiencing mild- moderate mental health difficulties.
Emotional Resilience Nurse
Emotional Resilience Nurse
Our Emotional Resilience Nurse, Adam, is on-site weekly. Typically student's will be offered 4 half hour sessions, out of lesson time, that can help with mild difficulties, perhaps exam stress, or some general worries about starting at a new school.
Useful links for parents & carers
Useful links for parents & carers
CAMHS Crisis Advice
CAMHS Crisis Advice
In a mental health emergency, call us: 0800 0516 171
In a mental health emergency, call us: 0800 0516 171
We are here to talk. The line is open 24/7 for people living in County Durham, Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire and York.
Wellbeing Communications
Wellbeing Communications
The Student Briefing Notes are emailed to all students on a weekly basis. Students must ensure that they read the Student Briefing Notes carefully as they are the primary communication mechanism across the Centre and, as such, contain essential information. Wellbeing support and information is provided as part of the Wellbeing Matters section. This is also where information related to out small group health and wellbeing sessions will also be shared. These sessions run throughout the year covering pertinent topics such as exam stress, thoughts on self, anxiety etc.
The Student Briefing Notes are also emailed to all parents/carers and are also available on both the Parent and Student Dashboards. If you do not receive the Student Briefing Notes but wish to do so, please email dsfc@durhamsixthformcentre.org.uk.
Attendance and Wellbeing
Attendance and Wellbeing
Research informs us of the benefits that regular attendance at school has for young people – not just for their education but also for their mental and social health. We know that regular school attendance is one of the best ways of protecting a young person’s mental and physical health and laying down strong foundations for their long-term wellbeing.
Good attendance at Durham Sixth Form Centre is vitally important and we expect students to have an average lesson attendance of 95% or above. Our courses are demanding and absence, for whatever reason, will inevitably lead to students missing vital work and falling behind with their studies. Unfortunately, once a student begins to fall behind it is often difficult to catch up which can have consequences on health and wellbeing and academic success.
Students or their parents/carers must contact us on the morning of illness to report their absence either by:
telephone (0191 383 0708) or
Students must state their name, reason for absence and how long they are likely to be absent. It is the students’ responsibility to find out what work they have missed and to ensure that they catch up.
If students present as being ill on site and wish to go home, they must ‘sign out’ with their Progress Tutor.
Piece of Mind: Family Navigator Webinar Programme of Support for Parents
Piece of Mind: Family Navigator Webinar Programme of Support for Parents
FV EW FSN LEAFLET .docx.pdfToby henderson Webinars April to December 24.4.23 (003).pdf
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