Gosforth Central Mental Health & Wellbeing Support
At Gosforth Central Middle School, we are deeply committed to the mental health and wellbeing of our students. We are proud to have Miss Wood as our dedicated Mental Health and Wellbeing Lead, offering a comprehensive range of support services tailored to the unique needs of our school community.
Our services include one-on-one counselling, where students can explore their worries through talking, creative activities, and play. For those who benefit from shared experiences, we also provide group work sessions designed to foster peer support and develop coping strategies. Additionally, our Place to Talk service is a drop-in support option available during break or lunchtime, where students can spend 15 minutes with Miss Wood to discuss friendships, concerns, or any worries they may have. This service is highly popular, and students are welcome to attend with friends.
For parents and carers, we offer direct advice and support to help navigate concerns about their child's wellbeing, ensuring that the entire family feels supported.
How to Refer
The referral process for counselling at our school is designed to support your child’s wellbeing in a thoughtful and collaborative manner.
Initially, we will work closely with your child’s teachers to implement in-class strategies to address any concerns we’ve identified. If these strategies do not yield the desired improvement within a couple of weeks, we will reach out to you to discuss how things are going at home and to explore whether counselling might be a beneficial next step for your child. With your consent and your child's agreement, we will then complete a referral for a counselling assessment.
Kate Wood, our designated counsellor, will conduct an assessment to determine if counselling is suitable, and she will also connect with you during this process. If counselling is recommended, your child will receive up to six sessions, after which we will review their progress together and decide on the best way forward. Throughout this process, we are committed to keeping you informed and ensuring your child receives the support they need. If you have concerns about your child, please speak to your child’s Head of Year.
Place to Talk
Our Place to Talk service is a break or lunchtime drop-in that is open to all students. Appointments can be made for a 15-minute session with Miss Wood, where students can discuss friendships, concerns, or any other issues they may be facing. This service is very popular, and students are welcome to bring friends along. Appointment slips can be accessed from their form teacher. Once the slip is submitted through the letterbox in the foyer, Miss Wood will schedule the appointment and notify the student’s form teacher, who will pass on the date and time.
School Therapy Dog
We are excited to introduce Toby, our school therapy dog, who has recently joined our community to support the wellbeing of our students and staff. Toby is still young and currently in training, working hard to become a fully certified therapy dog. His training is an ongoing process, with the aim to be fully qualified by summer 2025. In the meantime, Toby is gradually getting to know our school environment and familiarising himself with students in a supervised and controlled manner. We are thrilled to have Toby as part of our team, and we look forward to the positive impact he will have as he continues to develop his skills and complete his training.
Any Questions?
You are welcome to talk to Miss Wood; either face-to-face or via telephone or email:
Miss Kate Wood
Telephone: 0191 285 1793