Local services for children & young people

The School

Please talk to us about your concerns, so that we can work together to help your child feel better.  You can speak to Headteacher Mr Gardner, your child’s teacher or teaching assistant or our pastoral practitioner Mrs Gardner.

Your GP

A GP can check any physical symptoms linked to your child’s health and talk with you about their emotional well-being making a referral to a specialist service if necessary.

• The School Nurse

Parents/carers can contact the North Somerset School Nurse Service for advice and support on a range of health issues. 

• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service  (CAMHS) (BANES local authority) A free NHS service that assesses and treats 0-18-year olds with emotional, behavioural or mental health difficulties. 
• Kooth  Children and young people aged 11 and over are also able to access support themselves from B&NES Kooth.  This provides links to advice as well as online counselling.
• Off the Record Counselling service for young people. (BANES local authority)
• OTR North Somerset OTR is a mental health social movement by and for young people aged 11-18 in North Somerset. Getting free wellbeing info support couldn’t be easier – explore this website and sign-up directly to the project or service you want to try. We’ll also be saying hi in your schools!

• CAMHS :: Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust We provide community child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

If pupils live in B&NES or their GP is in the B&NES local authority then parents need to contact B&NES CAHMs even though Winford Primary school is in North Somerset. 

Websites that offer information and advice

The following organisations provide reliable information and advice to help parent/carers to support their child when experiencing emotional difficulties:-

Young Minds: - Help for Parents Information about all aspects of child mental health, including a Parent Helpline 0800 802 5544.

You’re Never too Young to Talk Mental Health – leaflet for parent/carers of primary aged children.

Childline Lots of information and tips for children of all ages about feelings and difficult situations.

Minded for Families  Free learning resource about mental health for parents and carers.

Happy Maps  Lots of information about health topics including mental health, organised under different age groups i.e under 5’s primary age, secondary age, young adults.

Looking after your own mental health

In order to support your child, you need to stay strong and well yourself. It isn’t easy being a parent or carer especially when you are experiencing problems of your own such as relationship difficulties, money worries, problems with work.  Often it helps to talk to someone, so don’t be scared about doing this, with friends, family, your GP or a support service.  The following organisations can also offer information and advice to help you.

The Wellbeing College
Directory and database of groups, activities and courses in the community that can support. adult wellbeing.

Talking Therapies
Accessed through G.P or self-referral.

MyScript- Social prescribing service
Available to anyone registered with a GP in B&NES.  This service provides support in finding specialist services and community groups to help individuals experiencing mental health and wellbeing issues to take control of their situation.

Samaritans. Tel:  free 116 123

NHS Choices: moodzone.  Helps manage stress, anxiety, depression. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/improve-mental-wellbeing  

CALM Campaign against living miserably

Agencies and services to support parents and carers in vulnerable situations

1 Big Database   (BANES) links to a wide range of useful information for families including Ofsted registered childcare, parenting support, groups, clubs and events.

Rainbow Resource (BANES)
Signposts to organisations, services, support, activities and groups for children and young people aged 0-25 with additional needs.

North Somerset Local offer

Parenting Smart is an organisation that offers parenting advice and practical tips from child mental health experts.

Citizens advice North Somerset
https://www.nscab.org.uk/
Independent charity that provides free, impartial advice and information on a range of issues including housing, employment and debt