Forest Launch Mental Health Network
During our annual Wellbeing Week, we were delighted to launch our inaugural meeting of the Forest Thrive Network, where 15 local schools came together to address the issues and trends of mental health and wellbeing that they were witnessing in their settings.
The Forest Thrive Network is the brainchild of Jeff Kayne, Deputy Head (Pastoral) and Designated Safeguarding Lead and Becky Kay, Head of Wellbeing Education.
Mr Kayne says; ‘We launched the Forest Thrive Network as we are absolutely committed to working with other schools in relation to mental health and wellbeing.
We want to be pioneers in the evolution of pastoral care.
Forest School is already trailblazing as all our teachers are trained in mental health first aid and we’re shortly rolling that training out to selected pupils in Year 12 and 13.
We know it’s essential that we involve our students in the Forest Thrive Network too and the visiting schools were impressed to hear from our Wellbeing Ambassadors who spoke about their views on wellbeing and their strategies for ensuring good mental health.’
The Forest Thrive Network will meet at Forest School half termly throughout the year.
The next meeting of the network is on 28th November when mental health expert Mike Armiger will speak to the network.
In January 2020 the Forest Thrive Network is delighted to welcome Pooky Knightsmith to Forest School. Dr Knightsmith is a leading figure on the topic of mental health in schools especially in relation to self-harm.
If you want to discuss any aspect of pastoral care or safeguarding at Forest School, please contact Jeff Kayne on JHK@forest.org.uk. Alternatively, if you currently work in the education sector and would like to get involved and join the Forest Thrive Network please contact Becky Kay on RHK@forest.org.uk