Growing Confidence is a suite of training materials and resources which are for all staff and parents. They are designed to raise awareness and confidence about the importance of promoting positive mental health and emotional well-being in themselves and their children and young people or the ones they work with.

Growing Confidence was introduced and implemented to all schools in the Scottish Borders over a 3 year rolling programme beginning in session 2016-17. This complements our Health and Wellbeing drive of Restorative Practice and Respectful Relationships.

All staff are expected to have undertaken training as detailed below. Any new staff joining learning establishments must undertake training opportunities provided throughout the session. All schools should have an identified member of Senior Management who has a responsibility for Health and Wellbeing, driving this agenda forward. All schools and learning establishments have access to Growing Confidence folders and resources. Please see below details around separate courses and resources.

COOL, CALM & CONNECTED – COURSE FOR S2 YOUNG PEOPLE IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

There is a course for young people in S2 which aims to bring young people together on a personal journey to explore what influences mental health and emotional wellbeing, and supports them in making relevant links with their own wellbeing.

RAISING TEENS WITH CONFIDENCE – A COURSE FOR PARENTS AND CARERS. ALL SCHOOLS SHOULD BE RUNNING THIS COURSE EACH YEAR FOR PARENTS/CARERS

Adolescence is the time when young people seek increasing independence and experience physical, social and emotional change which can be difficult to manage but also creates many exciting opportunities. Raising Teens with Confidence aims to give parents and carers increased understanding about how they can best support their teenage children to navigate this time of change and help promote resilience.

Drawing on the latest research in teenage brain development and mental and emotional wellbeing the course gives parents the opportunity to explore together how the teenage years can be a time for the whole family to ‘thrive rather than just survive!’ (Siegel 2014)
The course consists of 6 x 2 hour sessions.

MENTAL HEALTH, EMOTIONAL WELLBEING & RESILIENCE: SUPPORTING YOUNG PEOPLE – COURSE FOR STAFF IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Course aims

• To increase awareness of the factors that influence children and young people’s mental health and emotional wellbeing
• To consider how brain development and behaviour are shaped by interactions and experiences with others
• To reflect on the latest research in this field and consider its implication for our practice

Course summary and overview This 6 hour course aims to bring together the latest research from neuroscience, biology and psychology about what influences behaviour during adolescence and create improved understanding of how to support young people during this vulnerable period of development. Useful for all staff and key adults working with young people, this course complements the Supporting Young People Guide.

BUILDING RESILIENCE – A WHOLE SCHOOL PRIMARY COMMUNITY APPROACH

The primary Building Resilience resource has been designed to complement and support the development of a whole-school mental health and emotional programme from nursery to P7. This resource aims to support the development of children’s mental and emotional health and wellbeing through a mix of teaching, reflection and interactive activities.

The Building Resilience materials reflect current best practice in this area. Each section within the resource provides practical strategies for teachers and parents to support children and young people when they are faced with difficulties, frustrations and challenging times, thus helping children and young people to function well, both at school and in life. This is done by following a character called Skipper who is journeying down the river of Life on his boat who teaches the children tools to help better cope with the ups and downs of their everyday lives. It includes practical strategies that children can use when they experience difficulties, frustrations and challenging times.