Well-being and Mental Health
Kindness, Trust, Friendship, Respect, Courage, Forgiveness
Hello.
I am Nikki Pettitt, Pastoral Support Officer. I have worked at the school since 2008, running the Breakfast Club and as class TA, mainly in Year 6, moving to this nurture role in 2022.
During this time, I have gained accredited qualifications including Autism, Mental Health First Aid, Counselling Skills, as well as, becoming a Rainbows Facilitator and Boxall Coordinator and a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Here at Deal Parochial we are passionate about the mental health and well-being of all our children, families and staff. We have a dedicated nurture room, where anyone is welcome to come and spend some quality time, feel safe and share any worries or concerns. I am also able to support families by sign-posting to relevant outside agencies, filling in forms and being a listening ear.
We are on our way to becoming a Nurture School and we are committed to ensuring the social, emotional and behavioural needs of all our children are met. Through a whole school approach, we are using the Boxall toolkit to profile pupil’s social and emotional development. This helps all staff in setting appropriate targets to address their individual needs. All staff are trained and know their role in safeguarding
There are also three trained Rainbows Facilitators, who are able to deliver a group programme to children who have experienced bereavement and loss, including through death, divorce or migration.
We have many additional activities and specialist support to improve inclusion, integration and involvement such as, horse riding at Cornilo, forest school, play therapy, counselling, NHS well-being team, Tranforming Lives for Good, drumming and tennis lessons.
You can usually find me at the KS1 gate each morning, but can also contact me at pettittn@deal-parochial.kent.sch.uk or via the school office.
Useful websites:
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/
https://kentresiliencehub.org.uk/
https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/
