����ֱ��

The safety and wellbeing of our staff, students and their families remains our top priority. COVID-19 is currently a risk to the world as a whole and as a global schools group we are facing challenging times as we adjust to a different way of learning, working and living for the foreseeable future. We understand the stresses and strains this puts on our students, staff and their families both physically and mentally whilst we all have to stay at home.

We want to reassure the ����ֱ��community that we will be doing all we can to continue to support the wellbeing of our staff, children, and students. We have produced detailed guidance to support our communities, that provides practical and emotional support for our staff, students and their families during this unsettling time. This guidance focuses on:

• How schools and regions can continuously support students, staff and their families so that the risk to their health and wellbeing is reduced;
• How we can support each group during this time.

Our guidance has been led by the following ����ֱ��Principle:

• Treat everyone with care and respect;
  We look after one another, embrace similarities and differences and promote the wellbeing of each other.

����ֱ��professionals within our schools are there to support our community. Students, staff and families are encouraged to reach out to them as they may need. It is important that families know they are still able to contact their school’s pastoral/wellbeing support mechanisms just as they would if the school building was still open.

Within the ����ֱ��group there are many trained and qualified counsellors, psychologists and nurses who offer emotional support during this time. Regional Wellbeing Teams are available to call students, staff and families to talk through any emotional issues or concerns they may have.

We are committed to providing clear, consistent and accessible communication across different channels to help support our students, staff and families with their health and wellbeing. This will include raising awareness and providing guidance and support to our school and office communities.

Our primary objectives for our communications are:

• To continue to make health, safety and wellbeing of all our staff, students and families our top priority
• To reassure and provide comfort during these difficult times and for the future.
• To provide relevant, concise and helpful information and support.

All ����ֱ��colleagues have access to support guidance and video content through��The Learning Hub��our unique collaborative digital community. Staff receive Health and Wellbeing updates and communications that focus on the key topic of the week to help ensure key health and wellbeing messages are delivered to staff and therefore can be used to support students and families too. We also continually recommend using resources provided by experienced and specialist professional organisations including the following:

• World Health Organisation – The World Health Organisation has published some advice and mental health considerations developed by their Mental Health department as support for mental and psychological wellbeing during the COVID-19 outbreak.
• Mental Health Europe – Taking care of your mental health is as important as taking care of your physical health. Mental Health Europe suggest .
• Mind – Mind, a UK charity, have published information on support to help with wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes plans for staying at home / indoors and tips for taking care of mental health.
• Young Minds – Yound Minds is the UK’s leading charity, fighting for children and young people’s mental health. They have a variety of resources on Coronavirus advice and mental health support for children and young people.��

We have put together some advice and guidance tips to support our staff, students and families during this time as well as anyone outside of ����ֱ��who might be interested or find the resources useful. We continue to share video content on important health and wellbeing topics such as ‘Mindfulness’ and ‘Managing Stress’. These videos are also hosted on The Learning Hub and have been put together by our ����ֱ��colleague Saffron Miller. Saffron is a qualified and insured mindfulness teacher and therapist and has a Hypnotherapy Practitioner Diploma. She is a member of the National Hypnotherapy Council and accredited by the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council. Additional resources and links to topics can be found below:

• Tips for working at home during COVID-19
• Tips for working at home for Parents
• How to talk to children about COVID-19

At ISP, we know now, more than ever, together, we must stay connected with one another and keep vigilant for those of us who are most vulnerable. If you do need any support, please contact us at [email protected].