Support & Guidance
Support in School
Tutor Group
Each child will have a dedicated tutor group and tutor in Year 7 who will work closely with them to help them settle in. There is a daily registration in their form groups and during this time tutors will be following a tutor program designed to develop their tutor groups resilience, confidence and organisation. One day per week Year 7 will have a whole year group assembly and the following day in registration they will discuss this assembly as a group to see what they can learn from the topic. All tutor groups also deliver their own assembly to the year group and their tutor will support them with this. This helps them to develop oracy, planning and public speaking skills alongside confidence and team work. Once a week in tutor time Year 7 will also be finding out about `Amazing People’ which is a program that the school uses where students get to explore about key individuals from history and learn about character and how they can emulate these in their own lives. Our Year 7 tutors are excellent and work very hard to get to know each and every child in their tutor group. If you have any questions or concerns your child’s tutor is your first port of call. They will be able to liaise with teaching staff for you and will also discuss any issues with their Head if Year if needed.
Support and Guidance Team
We have a dedicated Support and Guidance Officer for each year group who work tirelessly to support our students on a daily basis. They are based in the Support and Guidance Office in H block and are usually the first port of call for many of our students who have a question, need help with a timetable or need some emotional support. Mrs Du Mont is the SGO for Year 7 and is superb! She is very friendly, approachable and supportive of all of our Year 7 students and works really closely with parents and guardians to ensure that each child is fully supported. The SGO team are a crucial part of the pastoral support that your child will receive at Ridgewood and it is one that we are especially proud of. We are very lucky to have such an excellent, professional and dedicated team at our school.
School Nurse
Our school nurse is Laura Deveraux and she comes into school one day per week to support those students who may need help with anxiety, stress or other personal issues. Heads of Year will refer students to Laura when they feel there is a need for her professional support. Laura is an excellent member of our team and our students find her approachable, friendly and essential for many of them to be able to function fully in school. We are very lucky to have her as part of our pastoral team. If you feel your child needs support from our school nurse please in the first instance discuss this with your child’s Head of Year who will be able to advise you on the next steps that may be required.
Peer Mentors: Student Helpers
As part of the support and guidance systems in school we offer a peer mentoring service to students. Peer support in schools has been proven to impact positively on things such as attendance, attainment, anti-bullying measures and the general well-being of students being mentored. At Ridgewood High School we have an active peer-mentoring system which takes the form of ‘buddying’ where (usually) a younger student is matched up with an older student who is a trained mentor to help and support them with any problems they may have. The pairs meet once a week, in the Library during morning registration and at other times if needed.
Who are the mentors?
Each year, a team of students from Year 10 are trained in listening and communication skills, problem solving, confidentiality and child protection issues. This team will become active mentors toward the end of Year 10 and throughout Year 11 where they will be matched with younger students and work with them for as long as is needed.
Who is the scheme aimed at?
The scheme aims to provide support for any student who is experiencing difficulties in or out of school and who it is felt would benefit from the support of an older student. Typically, these students would be those who are vulnerable, at risk of being bullied, anxious, may have difficulty settling in secondary school, who may have few or no friends and who lack support from a network of their own.
As part of the support and guidance systems in school we offer a peer mentoring service to students. Peer support in schools has been proven to impact positively on things such as attendance, attainment, anti-bullying measures and the general well-being of students being mentored.
Need some help when you’re not in school? …take a look at the following links
• Childline - free advice, anytime 0800 1111 https://www.childline.org.uk/
•Kooth - Online counselling for children www.kooth.com
•Young minds – mental health support for young people https://youngminds.org.uk/
•Winston’s Wish – bereavement supporthttps://www.winstonswish.org/
• Happier Minds – Mental Wellbeing website for young people, parents/carers and staff
•Shout – Free 24/7 support text service text the word ‘SHOUT’ to 85258
•The What?Centre - Young Person’s advice information and counselling service
https://www.thewhatcentre.co.uk/ or 01384 379992
If you are concerned about your own or another child's safety, email safeguarding@ridgewood.dudley.sch.uk
If you are worried that a young person is at immediate risk of harm, or is not safe, call 999 or go to A&E