Once again, we have been blown away by the generosity of our local community at NCEA Warkworth Primary.

After announcing that we were to become a collection point for donations of essential materials to support the humanitarian effort in Ukraine, we were quickly inundated with bags of clothing, toiletries and medicines which filled the school hall!

We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who contributed and to those parents and friends who also helped to transport the goods to our drop-off point. A special thank you also goes out to our pupils across the whole school who made a beautiful prayer wall for staff and visitors to enjoy. # Strive Together as One

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Our pupils in Years 5 and 6 have also been raising awareness and support for Ukraine through art. Reflecting on the work of MyDogSighs and Charlie Mackesy, the children created their own artwork inspired by current events in Ukraine. MyDogSighs even commented on some of the artwork shared on our school Facebook page and retweeted the post from our school Twitter feed, which is very exciting!

Pupils at NCEA Warkworth Primary School have finally been let loose on their exciting new Forest School area!

During lockdown, the school’s original forest school site located away from the school premises was sadly destroyed by vandals. The community and innumerable local businesses stepped in to help crowd fund and donate supplies to rebuild the Forest School within the school grounds and we’re pleased to announce that it’s finally finished! From the looks of things, our Reception class had a fantastic time getting messy earlier this week! #Strivetogetherasone

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Pupils from NCEA Warkworth Primary School have enjoyed another week full of exciting STEM sessions held at the Trust’s Robert Stephenson Campus in Ashington.

The Year 3 and Year 4 pupils had a fantastic time designing and making a maze game in Design and Technology using saws and other tools to perfect their designs and then making their own burgers and flipping them too in Food Technology!

A huge thank you to all of the staff involved in making these sessions possible.

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In recent years, the subject of people’s mental health and wellbeing has become rather a hot topic.

Following in the footsteps of celebrities and even royalty, more and more people are becoming comfortable with sharing their thoughts and feelings around their mental health and using platforms like social media to raise awareness for conditions such as anxiety and depression, which affect far more people across the UK than you’d imagine, including a startling number of school-age children and young people.

This new cultural awakening has challenged employers to consider their own policies and provision around staff wellbeing and mental health, but what about schools?

Laura Ritson, Headteacher at NCEA Warkworth C of E Primary School shares her insight into the importance of mental health education and the provision of wellbeing support in schools.

Mental health in the curriculum

Mental health and wellbeing plays a central role in the curriculum at Warkworth Primary, so much so, that in March 2021, the school was awarded the School Mental Health Award by the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools – one of just five schools nationally to achieve the prestigious Gold standard.

The body of work to achieve the award was extensive and incorporated multiple strategies and approaches including mindfulness clubs, yoga, the construction of mental health and wellbeing areas in each classroom and the introduction of a school therapy dog, to name a few.

The logic behind all of this? With good mental health, pupils and staff are more likely to be motivated and engaged therefore more likely to reach their true potential.

“Our in-school wellbeing provision was informed by a lot of research from sources such as The Church of England Education Office and the Place2Be charity which all made links between good mental health and improved learning outcomes,” Laura said.

“By educating pupils at the earliest opportunity about the importance of looking after their mental health and encouraging others around them to do the same, we hope to create an environment where both our children and staff feel safe and supported. As well as making mental health and wellbeing awareness central to our PSHE and RSE curriculum, we try to create as many opportunities as possible throughout the school week for pupils to talk about their feelings – no topic is ever off limits as understanding is key.”

Mental health in the community

The Covid-19 pandemic saw the school’s wellbeing practices start to transcend the school itself and have an impact on the wider community around Warkworth.

“Lockdown was a difficult time for many people – stuck in isolation, kept apart from friends and loved ones, the entire nation’s mental health took a bit of a knock,” Laura continued.

“At Warkworth primary, our school vision is #Strive together as one, so we wanted to do something to help maintain a sense of ‘togetherness’ while we had to stay apart. We organised a community heart campaign where our children designed and delivered a series of paper hearts to residents for them to display in their windows. We also sent wellbeing bags containing activities and resources home with pupils to help support pupils and their families, and organised weekly live wellbeing sessions to provide a safe space for pupils and their parents to discuss their thoughts and feelings.

“The feedback we had from the campaign was absolutely incredible, it just goes to show what a little bit of time and communication can achieve.”

Raising the profile of mental health

Sunday (10th October) was World Mental Health Day and all across NCEA Trust, staff and pupils have been taking part in activities to raise awareness of the importance of mental health as well as vital funds for organisations such as Young Minds, who provide vital support to vulnerable children and young people.

“There has never been a more important time for us all to start looking after ourselves a bit better,” Laura concluded.

“By teaching the importance of self-care and helping children to understand their thoughts and feelings from an early age, hopefully we can help to curb the upward trend in mental health conditions affecting young people.”

You can find out more about the mental health and wellbeing programme at Warkworth Primary at: https://warkworth.ncea.org.uk/key-information/mental-health-and-wellbeing/

A local mental health charity has helped to make a group of schoolchildren’s dreams come true, bringing their vision for a brand new forest school area to life after vandals destroyed their original site during lockdown.

Staff and service users from Blyth Star Enterprises’ woodwork and horticultural departments have worked tirelessly through the summer holidays to transform part of the playing field at NCEA Warkworth Primary School into a woodland wonderland, ready for the start of the new academic year.

‘Forest school’ is the name given to the outdoor education delivery model used by primary schools across the UK which encourages pupils to engage with the natural world to help them learn personal, social and technical skills. The programme also helps to promote environmental awareness and positive mental health and wellbeing through time spent in the great outdoors.

Having previously used an external site located around one mile away from the school campus, forest school has been part of the curriculum at Warkworth Primary for a number of years. During the second coronavirus lockdown however, the site was targeted by vandals who used the area as a ‘drinking den’ before setting fire to it, leaving the site completely unusable.

The school posted a public appeal on social media about the incident, which is how the partnership with Blyth Star Enterprises was established.

Kevin Alexander, Supervisor at Blyth Star Enterprises’ woodwork department, explained:

“We were deeply saddened by what had occurred at Warkworth Primary’s forest school site. It was just mindless vandalism and we wanted to do something to help put things right for the children.

“This past 18 months has been really tough on our young people, going in and out of lockdown and being unable to see their friends and family and just be normal kids. Playing outside, building dens and things is all part of that, so we were delighted to be able to support with the construction of the new forest school area in the school grounds.”

Working from a hand-drawn plan which was developed in partnership with the pupils themselves, staff and service users from Blyth Star Enterprises visited the school to scope out the project, which would include the build and installation of a seating area around the fire pit, six new craft tables for outdoor woodwork classes, two mud kitchens, a woodland assault course and a number of full height ‘fairy doors’ to create secret entrances to a network of willow tunnels.

Horticultural staff from Blyth Star’s Stakeford Nurseries also agreed to supply and plant over 40 different trees and shrubs to help add to the site’s woodland feel.

Laura Ritson, Headteacher at NCEA Warkworth Primary School, commented:

“We have been absolutely blown away by the enthusiasm, creativity and determination shown by Blyth Star Enterprises toward our forest school project. Every time Kevin and the team came to site, they had a new idea about how we could make the forest school even more magical for the children.

“Promoting positive mental health and wellbeing is central to everything that we do at Warkworth Primary which made working with Blyth Star Enterprises all the more special, knowing that our forest school project was helping to provide real work experience for people living with lifelong mental health conditions and learning disabilities. We really can’t thank them enough for all of their hard work and it’s a perfect example of how our shared community vision ‘strive together as one’ leads everything we do at NCEA Warkworth Primary.”

“We’ve really enjoyed working on the project,” Kevin added.

“The volume of the work and the repetitive nature of some of the elements, such as making sure that all six of the woodwork benches were exactly the same, has challenged our service users and helped them to hone their skills as craftsmen. We really hope the children enjoy their new forest school – we can’t wait to see the finished result!”

Providing living support and meaningful day services which replicate real working environments, Blyth Star Enterprises supports more than 350 people across Northumberland living with severe and enduring mental health conditions and learning disabilities.

For more information about the charity, or to find out more about commissioning a woodwork or gardening project, visit www.blythstar.org.uk.

Shocked by the scenes on the news about the ongoing unrest in Afghanistan, pupils at a primary school in Northumberland have taken it upon themselves to lead social action and are looking to encourage others to do the same and carry out ‘acts of love and good works’, which is part of their school vision.

Pupils at NCEA Warkworth C of E Primary School have challenged themselves to fill their school hall with donations for the refugees who have fled Afghanistan and made it safely to the UK, many of whom are now trying to rebuild their lives in the North East of England.

The children came up with the idea after being inspired by the work of one of their teachers, Kimberley Sharp, who runs the popular ‘A Child’s Wish’ Facebook group, which provides clothes, toys and essential items to women and children who have fled from domestic violence.

Having seen photos of the work Kimberley has done in the past to fill her living room at home with gifts and resources for families, the pupils decided they wanted to replicate the effort, but on a bigger scale, to fill their school hall with items which could be donated to charities in Gateshead who are supporting those who have fled conflict in Afghanistan.

Laura Ritson, Headteacher at NCEA Warkworth C of E Primary School, commented:

“This week in collective worship we’ve been exploring our vision # strive together as one (Phillipians 1.27) and reflecting on all of the ‘acts of good works’ we’ve completed over the years.

“When we asked the children what they wanted to do next, they started talking about some of the images they’d seen on the news about Afghanistan over the summer. We discussed what’s been happening in more detail and the pupils unanimously voted that they wanted to help and wanted to inspire others to help too.

“Filling the school hall is no small feat, but our children are so determined, we have no doubt that they’ll do it! We have until 30 September to collect as many items as possible so any support we can get from the local community would be greatly appreciated.”

The charities supporting the refugees are particularly looking for general items such as food, second hand furniture, cleaning products, toiletries and clothes (including school uniform, pyjamas and underwear) suitable for men, women and children of all ages, shapes and sizes. Many small children and babies have also been affected by the crisis in Afghanistan, so items like pushchairs, books and toys are also welcomed.

If you would like to support the appeal, there is a collection point for all items at Warkworth Primary School, 2 Guilden Road, Warkworth, NE65 0TJ. The deadline for donations is Thursday 30 September 2021.

A Northumberland primary school has achieved the School Mental Health Award which is delivered by the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools. NCEA Warkworth C of E Primary School has become one of just five schools across the UK to be awarded a Gold standard for its outstanding mental health and wellbeing provision.

Warkworth Primary School has embedded a wide range of strategies and approaches to support the mental health and wellbeing of pupils, staff and parents, including mindfulness clubs, yoga, a therapy dog, mental health and wellbeing areas in each classroom and daily opportunities to talk about how everyone is feeling. The school has also made mental health and wellbeing awareness central to its PSHE and RSE curriculum and all staff have mental health training as well as access to dedicated Mental Health First Aiders – an offer which extends to pupils and parents.

However, it was Warkworth Primary School’s work to not only support its staff and pupils, but the local community too during lockdown that commended the school to the independent assessor from the Carnegie Centre of Excellence to receive the Gold standard award.

“The implementation of the third national lockdown has affected everybody’s mental health and wellbeing in a big way,” said Laura Ritson, Head Teacher at NCEA Warkworth C of E Primary School.

“While our school remained open to vulnerable children and the children of key workers, the majority of our pupils have been taking part in live daily lessons from home. To help maintain a sense of ‘togetherness’ while we had to stay apart, we organised a community heart campaign where our children designed and delivered a series of paper hearts to residents for them to display in their windows. As part of Children’s Mental Health Week in February, we then completed a ‘walk to wellbeing’ around the village to see how many of our hearts we could find.

“We also sent wellbeing bags containing activities and resources home with pupils to help support pupils and their families, as well as organising weekly live wellbeing sessions to provide a safe space for pupils and their parents to discuss their thoughts and feelings during lockdown. We really do # strive together as one in all that we do at NCEA Warkworth Primary.”

“I am extremely proud of everything our staff, pupils and parents have achieved and to see their hard work rewarded through the School Mental Health Award scheme is absolutely fantastic. We’re now working with all schools within the Trust to really celebrate the great work that is happening across Northumberland Church of England Academy and develop an inclusive wellbeing strategy to support everyone.”

The School Mental Health Award was established in 2017 by the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools – part of Leeds Beckett University – and social enterprise Minds Ahead.

The Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools aims to strengthen pupils’ mental health by supporting schools to make a positive change at all levels of the UK’s education system, improving students’ outcomes and life chances.

Professor Damien Page, Dean of Leeds Beckett’s Carnegie School of Education, said: “Achieving this award is not just recognition of a whole-school approach to mental health, it’s a recognition of the school’s commitment to improving the life chances of children.

“We’re truly proud to have worked with Warkworth Primary School in this vital work and look forward to further collaboration.”

Nationally, more than 800 schools have signed up to take part in the mental health award.

Dean Johnstone, founder and CEO of Minds Ahead said: “This award shines a light on the excellent work schools are doing to promote mental health for their community of children and adults.

“It is thrilling and humbling to learn about Warkworth Primary School and the many other schools engaged in the quality award process. I’d like to offer my congratulations on this deserved recognition.”

Photo caption: Pupils from Warkworth Primary School with their wellbeing bags.

Following a growth in demand for early years education in rural South East Northumberland, construction on a new modular early years provision has begun at NCEA Warkworth Primary School.

Based in the picturesque village of Warkworth, the new building will house two large classrooms as well as toilet facilities and a dedicated entrance hall for use by the school’s nursery and reception classes.

Due for completion by Easter 2021, the opening of the expanded early years provision will create more spaces for nursery and two year olds, providing both 15 and 30-hour care packages.

Mrs Laura Ritson, Head Teacher at NCEA Warkworth Primary School, commented:

“As a village school, we have always prided ourselves on being actively involved in the local community and doing what we can to support the needs of parents and residents.

“For working parents in particular, finding suitable childcare which also supports their child’s educational needs can be challenging, which is why we’re delighted to be expanding our offer. We hope to offer lots of exciting new classes and experiences such as baby massage and sensory toddler sessions for the whole community to enjoy.”

While the increased restrictions introduced as part of the national coronavirus lockdown mean that the majority of pupils at NCEA Warkworth Primary School are currently learning remotely through live teaching, the children who have been in school (key worker and vulnerable children) have been enjoying having the construction team from Transform Building Solutions onsite.

After paying a visit to meet the builders, reception pupils, Flynn and Rudy, both aged 4, said:

“It’s going to be so cool! Look at him digging all that mud.”

“That’s going to be our new classroom!”

“Our pupils are very excited about the build!” Laura added.

“Our reception class in particular is very much looking forward to moving into their new purpose-built classroom.”

NCEA Warkworth Primary School operates as part of Northumberland Church of England Academy Trust (NCEAT), which also includes Bishop’s Primary School, Duke’s Secondary School and Castle School for children with severe and multiple learning disabilities.

For more information, including how to apply for the additional 15 and 30-hour childcare places, visit www.warkworth.ncea.org.uk. You can also find more information about NCEA Warkworth Primary School on Facebook at @warkworthprimary.