00:00A few quickfire questions. What is it that Place to Be has really supported you with?
00:05So Place to Be, we all recognise that, you know, before we even address the academic side of
00:10school life, our children need to be socially and emotionally secure. And because of the situation,
00:17you know, the increase of poor mental health, Place to Be is just fundamental to what we do.
00:23That Place to Be is there for the children, which is fantastic. And I've seen the work that they do
00:27is incredible. But to be there for staff as well, it's just, it's really nice. It is.
00:32You can't pour from an empty cup. So how can we fill the children's cups up, give them all
00:38of this love, give them this enthusiasm, if we're not doing it ourselves. So we need to
00:42just take care of ourselves.
00:44Just permeates absolutely everything at our school. So it's just lovely that even though
00:49it's a remote support, that Place to Be is still there supporting everybody at the moment.
00:53Place to Be has got a very special place in my heart. Because I actually attended this
00:58school that I now work at.
01:00No, no, no, no.
01:02And it was during that time I went through a bit of a traumatic event in my life. And I
01:08needed to rely a lot upon the support of Place to Be and our project manager here, just for
01:15my own mental health. So it's got a huge place in my heart.
01:18How are all the kids doing? How are they getting on with the remote learning?
01:22You know, it makes you laugh because every morning I'll join, I think it's quarter past
01:27nine, my first session, it's always maths. And for the first 10 minutes, all they'll want
01:32to do is tell me what they've been doing that morning. So, miss, guess what? I've had my
01:35vitamins. Miss, guess what? My dad's let me try a little bit of coffee. Guess what?
01:39I'm making chocolate brownies or whatever it may be.
01:44They're doing an absolutely first class job. I couldn't be prouder of them. They've all
01:48risen to the challenge so well, but it's always really difficult and it's hard to get a sense
01:53of how the children are in themselves remotely.
01:56What do you hope to be one of the positives that comes out of this?
02:01It sounds silly, but we've learnt how to take turns a little bit more because we can't all
02:06speak at the same time because then nobody can ever be heard. I think that's really going
02:11to help when we're back in the classroom that we've got that skill now.
02:14What things do you do to look after your own wellbeing?
02:17Getting outside every day is a huge, huge factor for me.
02:21Me keeping everybody else positive and having a laugh and having a joke around really helps
02:26me to be positive.
02:27Seeing the children succeed in such a devastating time, it makes you feel a bit emotional.
02:32I feel a little bit emotional thinking about it because they're like shining stars and I
02:36think I'm really lucky to have this job.
02:38So, I actually play in a brass band. I'm a musician. As well as that, I've really taken
02:44up just going for a walk. I was never really the walking type, but I've got my walking boots
02:49out and my waterproof trousers and I like speaking on you. Well done.
02:53Any weather now, I go out for my Sunday afternoon walk, which is really good.
02:57But do you think this period will hopefully allow schools to reprioritise the importance
03:02of wellbeing in general?
03:05Yes, I think so because, I mean, you know, I mean, Place to Be has been in our community
03:10now for nearly 20 years and it's absolutely imperative. It always has been.
03:14So, when this pandemic happened, we knew we had that kind of really amazing provision,
03:20that safety net. But I think the pandemic has exposed mental health issues everywhere.
03:27You know, it doesn't matter where you are, who you are, but hopefully, you know, that awareness,
03:32that need to have secure mental health will be recognised, you know, across the country.
03:38I would really hope so. I think it's safe to say that academic success will follow if you're
03:45in a good emotional place and trying to kind of force feed knowledge and information and
03:53skills on pupils who are perhaps just not in that emotionally fit state to accept it.
04:01Well, you play such a vital role in looking after our children and it's important that
04:05you're looked after too and have the appropriate networks and support systems to really make
04:10sure you can do the best job you possibly can.
04:13I feel really privileged to be a teacher and to be experiencing this with our little
04:17heroes every day. It's amazing.
04:19So, so passionate about all the work that teachers up and down the country are doing.
04:23You're doing the most amazing job. You're a lifeline to so many families out there.
04:27So well done. I know it takes an awful lot of effort, energy, patience, but a huge,
04:34a huge thank you not only for your time today, but also for the, for the hard work you do
04:38on
04:38a day-to-day basis for the children that you look after.
04:40I love the decorations in the background.
04:42I love the sky-to-day basis for their children.
04:42Yeah.
04:43You and David?
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