It has been so lovely to welcome the children back into school following the busy festive break. The children have settled really well into the new term and we have loved seeing them returning with such positive attitudes. January can be a challenging month for many families, so our focus continues to be on supporting pupils’ emotional wellbeing and helping them feel safe, calm and ready to learn.
I wanted to share an important update about how mental health referrals are changing across North Tyneside. Schools and GPs no longer refer directly into CAMHS alone. Instead, North Tyneside Council and Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust have come together to form the Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Collaborative for children and young people up to the age of 18.
Professionals, including schools and GPs, can now refer into this Collaborative. It meets daily (on weekdays) to consider each request carefully and decide, as a team of professionals, what the most appropriate support pathway is for the child or young person. This may include well-established services such as Specialist CAMHS or The HIVE Team, as well as newer services such as the Connect Mental Health Support Teams for Schools and the Early Help Emotional Wellbeing Team. The aim is to ensure children receive the right support at the right time, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Schools can still refer directly to the Connect Team but not directly to CAMHS. We will always keep families informed and involved if we feel a referral would be helpful.
If you have any concerns about your child’s emotional wellbeing or behaviour, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Working together is always the most effective way to support our children.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support.
Mrs Banks
