Meet the team
Jenny May
Jenny is responsible for leading the Mental Health Team. Her roles within school are: ensuring that our curriculum teaches about mental health and well-being (through the PSHE curriculum and our Golden Threads); planning and monitoring interventions for Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs; organising training for staff; leading events to raise awareness around mental health and well-being; promoting staff well-being and sign-posting parents and carers to mental health and well-being support. If you have any comments, questions or suggestions about the Mental Health provision here at Redfield Edge, or have any concerns surrounding the well-being of your child or yourself, please get in touch via the school office.
Deb Williams
Deb is our Family Link Worker and a member of the Mental Health Team. She helped to launch the award for Wellbeing & Mental Health in schools, and as a school we went on to gain Bronze and Silver. One of Deb’s responsibilities is over-seeing the running of Mental Health Ambassadors within KS2. Pupils from Year 3 to Year 6 apply for the role and are then interviewed. Once selected, the children receive training, resources, mentors and regular check ins. The Ambassadors keep a look out at playtimes and other times of the day for children needing some emotional support by assisting, listening and giving! Deb is also a qualified Mental Health First Aider so along with supporting the children with emotional needs she has also given help to staff, parents/carers and many families.
Claire Foster
Claire is the school ELSA . An ELSA is a specialist teaching assistant who has been trained by educational psychologists to work with children who are showing a wide range of emotional or social difficulties for example; anxiety, low self esteem, problems with anger. An ELSA can also help support children’s wellbeing during family break-ups or a bereavement. An ELSA will be there to listen, provide additional TLC and support the child throughout their journey. To do this, they plan and deliver programmes of support which are delivered on an individual basis, but sometimes small group work is more appropriate, especially in the areas of social and friendship skills. I am very passionate about children’s mental health and well-being, the importance of their emotional literacy and helping them to be able to talk about their emotions. “ You can’t stop the waves but you can learn how to surf.”
Natalie Andrews
I am part of the school Mental Health team and I am proud to be part of a proactive and supportive team who have Mental Health at the forefront of our care. Within the team I help to organise our various Mental Health days and help to run a weekly Mindfulness Club. My main role within the team is staff wellbeing. I help to organise staff wellbeing opportunities and teambuilding events. Within school, as part of my interventions, I run Art Therapy sessions where I work independently with children to help support their Mental Health.
Sarah Parker
Sarah is responsible for planning and delivering interventions for social, emotional and mental health needs. These include self esteem workshops, Lego therapy, social skills and sand tray therapy to name but a few. Her role in the Mental Health Team is to create an environment that promotes an awareness of good mental health and well-being in a way that is accessible and engaging for children. Sarah feels proud to be part of such a dynamic and forward thinking team and is passionate about raising the profile of good mental health and well-being for children, parents and staff.
Ria Nelmes
Ria is a member of the Mental Health Team. Ria's specific responsibility in the team is attending network meetings and training, and feeding information back to the rest of the team to ensure professional development. As part of the team, Ria helps to plan and run our Mental Health Awareness days and events.
Michelle Leighton
Michelle is a member of the Mental Health Team. Michelle's specific responsibility in the team is attending network meetings and training, and feeding information back to the rest of the team to ensure professional development. As part of the team, Michelle helps to plan and run our Mental Health Awareness days and events.
