Pastoral Support

Our first recommendation is for students to speak to a teacher or staff member they trust. This may be their class tutor, Head of Year, or any member of our safeguarding team. Our safeguarding team — Ms Toni Reid-Nelson, Ms Katie Bryan and Ms Sophie Horne — are always available to discuss any concerns with students and can direct them to further support if needed.

School Nurse

Alternatively, students are welcome to visit our school nurse, Louise Higgs, who is trained to support students with mental health concerns. Ms Higgs is available every Monday at lunchtime and after school from 15:30–16:30 in the Wellbeing Hub on the Food Technology corridor. Whether it is about a medical condition, your mental health, or you simply need someone to talk to, the school nurse is here to listen and support you. No appointment is needed — just drop in.

Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSAs)

ELSAs are trained specialists who work with children at The Hurlingham Academy. Their role is to help young people reach their potential socially, emotionally and academically. They understand the possible barriers to student development and work to break these down in a supportive manner. ELSAs can also provide support during challenging life events and help guide students towards positive solutions. It is important to note that the responsibility of an ELSA is not to fix a student’s problems, but to help them develop strategies that enable them to find their own solutions.

West London Action for Children (WLAC)

WLAC offers individual counselling for young people in a calm, safe and confidential setting. Participating students are encouraged to express themselves in order to develop their resilience, relationships, self-esteem and self-confidence. To access this support, a referral from our safeguarding team is required, as the work is more specialised than our in-house provision. However, all sessions are delivered at The Hurlingham Academy to ensure minimal disruption to students’ daily lives.

Mind Mental Health Support Team (MHST)

The MHST delivers evidence-based, short-term interventions to children and young people with mild to moderate mental health difficulties. The aim of the programme is to help build mental resilience and improve students’ psychological wellbeing. At our school, this support involves outreach staff delivering sessions that teach positive mental health strategies, raise awareness of support options for different mental health challenges, and minimise the stigma surrounding mental health. Similar to WLAC, this support requires a referral from our safeguarding team. Sessions are delivered at The Hurlingham Academy to reduce disruption to students’ daily lives.

Place2Be

Place2Be offers two streams of support to students at The Hurlingham Academy. Firstly, students can book appointments with our Place2Be mental health practitioner, Liz Jones, on Tuesdays and Thursdays at lunchtime. Ms Jones can be found on the Food Technology corridor. If you wish to book a lunchtime session, please speak to your form tutor or a member of the safeguarding team (Ms Bryan or Ms Horne). Secondly, Place2Be offers art therapy for students experiencing ongoing mental health difficulties. Art therapy enables children to express themselves in a way that feels comfortable and helps to build trusted lines of communication. Art therapy sessions are typically delivered in blocks of six to eight sessions, with the aim of improving self-confidence and self-esteem. A referral from our safeguarding team is required to access this provision.

Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

CAMHS is an NHS-run service supporting students who are experiencing moderate to severe mental health difficulties. The support from CAMHS primarily focuses on depression and anxiety, but may also address underlying health issues such as eating disorders, self-harm, abuse and bipolar disorder. As this service is entirely external to The Hurlingham Academy, the safeguarding team’s responsibilities are limited to assisting with referrals. However, we believe it is important for students and parents to be aware of the full range of mental health support available in London.