Wellbeing

At RSG, we are proud to have a dedicated team of staff members who are committed to supporting our students' wellbeing. Meet some of the key members who are here to help and guide you:

The Hive is a welcoming space designed to support students' social, emotional, and mental well-being. Open to all students, this room offers a range of sessions and resources aimed at helping individuals manage emotions, build resilience, and enhance their overall mental health. Whether it's through group discussions, one-on-one support, or mindfulness activities, The Hive provides a safe and inclusive environment where students can feel heard, supported, and empowered. It's a place where they can take a step back, focus on self-care, and develop the skills needed to navigate the challenges of student life with confidence and balance.

Mental Health First Aid sessions are available to all students, helping them learn how to take care of their own mental health and handle difficult situations. These sessions teach students simple but important skills to manage stress, anxiety, and other mental health challenges, giving them the tools to feel more confident and supported. We also offer emergency Mental Health First Aid sessions if students are going through a tough time and needs immediate support. These sessions are all about making sure our students feel safe, understood, and know how to take care of themselves when things get hard.  

Counselling is a private and confidential setting for students to talk and explore their emotional feelings, regarding issues and problems they are experiencing. Providing tools and techniques to support the student develop self-understanding to gain clarity and direction through an emotional time.

We offer:  Weekly sessions over a set time frame.

                 Emergency appointments that can be accessed within the week.

                 Follow up sessions on a termly basis, when a little more support is needed.

The Dog Mentor Programme is a specialist school dog training programme. Since 2013, the Dog Mentor Programme has been implemented in over 500 schools across the UK, with more than 600 'Dog Mentor dogs' providing invaluable wellbeing, stress-reduction and social support to students and staff alike.

With the help of The Dog Mentor Programme, a school dog can nurture a comfortable and happy dynamic, enabling dogs to create a calming, positive influence on children. A specially-trained school dog can play a pivotal role as a therapeutic intervention within educational settings.

Meet our School Dog Mentors below.

As the Online Safety Lead for RSG, I consistently stay informed about the latest trends and challenges that children face in the digital world. I carefully consider how these developments might affect our students within the school environment. This valuable information is shared with students, parents, carers, and staff through our termly Online Safety newsletter.

When a one-on-one or group online safety session is requested, each session is thoughtfully tailored to address the specific concerns or issues relevant to the student(s). These sessions provide a safe and supportive space to discuss topics openly and ask questions. For example, if a student is involved in or affected by online bullying, the session will explore real-life scenarios and offer practical guidance, including highlighting trusted online resources such as the NSPCC. If concerns arise about interacting with harmful content, the session will cover the risks associated with such exposure, including the long-term impact on digital footprints and how this may affect future education or career opportunities.

If you believe your child would benefit from a session with Mr. Avery, please reach out to their Pastoral Support Officer.

We care about wellbeing – our goal is to show just how important looking after your mental health is, and to make sure no one feels they have to deal with things alone.

We’re here to listen – whether you just fancy a quick chat or you’ve got something bigger on your mind, we’ll always make time for you.

We work with your teachers and staff – so if you’ve got ideas on how school could be better or easier for students, let us know and we’ll pass it on. Your voice matters!

We use the CARE values – they’re at the heart of everything we do and help us support each other in the best way.

Kindness and respect are a big deal to us – we believe everyone deserves to feel valued, safe and supported.

We’re role models – we try our best to set a positive example by showing respect,kindness, and understanding every day.

We help create safe spaces – sometimes you just need a calm, supportive place, and we’re here to make that possible.

We share ideas and activities – from wellbeing tips to events, we help bring awareness to mental health in everyday school life.

We recognise the important role Young Carers play within their families and the extra responsibilities this brings. At Rainham School for Girls, we have implemented a comprehensive approach to identifying and supporting young carers.

A Young Carer is defined as a child under 18 who regularly provides care for a family member or friend who is ill, disabled, or struggling with mental health issues or addiction.

The nature and extent of the care provided by young carers can differ depending on the type of illness or disability, the frequency and level of care required, and the overall family dynamics.

Young carers often take on both practical and emotional duties that would typically be expected of an adult.

This may include some or all of the following:

• Shopping, cooking, cleaning.
• Managing medicines or money.
• Providing personal care.
• Helping get people out of the house.
• Keeping an eye on someone.
• Providing emotional support.

It is likely that every school has a number of young carers, although the exact number is unknown because many remain hidden and without support.

A Young Carer may become vulnerable if their caring responsibilities negatively affect their emotional and physical health, as well as their educational progress and future career opportunities.

For this reason, it is essential to identify young carers as early as possible to support their wellbeing and help them fully engage in their education.

We work with Carers First, a Medway based organisation, who specialise in supporting Young Carers both in school and in the community.

If you, or a family member, needs support please contact:

Mrs S Linbourne, Young Carers Coordinator - sarah.linbourne@rainhamgirls-tkat.org

Mentoring is to support pupils to manage their own learning in order that they maximise their potential, develop their skills, improve their performance and become the person they want to be. Mentoring links to our C.A.R.E values by encouraging Collaboration between mentor and mentee; Aspiration by a mentor supporting the mentee into making their dreams become a reality; Respect showing consideration to each other and Empowerment building a platform for mentees to flourish and build confidence.

Drawing and Talking is a therapeutic approach that enables individuals to explore and express their emotions through a non-directive technique. Unlike solution-focused or cognitive-based therapies, it provides a gentle and creative outlet for processing feelings without pressure or structured intervention. Our students say ‘I love drawing and talking. It helps a lot when I'm struggling. I can always ask for it and it will always make me happy. I don't communicate through talking very well so I am able to communicate through drawing.’