Place 2 Be

Hello, my name is Sarah and I am a counsellor with Place2Be. I love being outdoors in nature and going for walks. Place2Be is now part of St Mary’s; I am here at school every Wednesday. Place2Be is a children’s mental health charity that helps children to explore their emotions and feel better about themselves.

At St Mary’s, I offer children one-to-one counselling and also offer group work to support children in exploring emotions and in developing their self-awareness.

Here is some information about the service Place2Be offers at St Mary’s:                                        

When is Place2Be useful?

Sometimes children can feel particularly sad, confused, scared or angry.

Maybe something difficult happened at home, like losing a family member or parents separating. Or perhaps they’re struggling with something at school, like bullying.

This can make them behave differently, lose confidence in themselves or find it difficult to concentrate in class.

Place2Be is there to help children find ways to cope, so their worries don’t get in the way of their friendships, their learning or how they feel about themselves.

What does Place2Be do?

Place2Be’s professionals work with children one-to-one or in small groups, giving regular support for pupils who need it.

Children can go to the rainbow room in school with Place2Be to express themselves by making art, playing or talking.

How does Place2Be work with adults?

Place2Be provides support and advice for parents and carers, as well as teachers and school staff. Place2Be’s Parenting Smart website has free practical advice on a range of topics (from bullying, to transition to high school, to sleep difficulties). If you’re looking for more support on your parenting journey, you could also sign up for their free 6-week Parenting Smart – Online Course. Learn more about both of these offers at place2be.org.uk/family or get in touch with Sarah to find out more.

Place2Be always gets agreement from parents or carers before they support a child through one-to-one counselling. They also meet with parents or carers to keep them updated and make sure they are involved from the start.

Pastoral Support at St Mary's

The needs of the whole child are central to our ethos and at St Mary's, we operate a whole school relational Behaviour Management Policy which supports all children in being able to talk about their feelings and make positive behaviour choices. We use Zones of Regulation to give children the vocabulary to talk about their emotions and enable them to build resilience. 

However, there are times in all children's lives when they may need a little additional support. For this reason, we have two members of staff who are trained ELSAs (Emotional Literacy Support Assistants). Our ELSAs work with individuals and groups of children who have been identified as requiring additional support. This could be support through a bereavement, help dealing with anxiety, support to build confidence and self esteem, or help with social and emotional needs. 

The sessions take place in our recently renovated pastoral room which the children named The Rainbow Room as a symbol of hope.