Skip to content ↓

Anna Freud Schools Support Service

The Anna Freud Centre is delivering Schools Support Service, which offers a free, resilience support service at Keyham Lodge for pupils and teachers, as well as parents and carers.

Schools Support Service is part of the Anna Freud Centre’s response to the enormous pressures of the coronavirus pandemic with a significant gap in mental health support, particularly for children and young people experiencing low to moderate difficulties who could be helped earlier before their difficulties get worse. Schools Support Service will work alongside existing services, taking approaches to reach more young people and particularly those who may be viewed as hard to reach. 

Parent Testimony

"As a regular participant of The Anna Freud Sessions I have benefited hugely from the chance to share and reflect on the challenges' lockdown has posed for both my child and us as a family. The lack of routine and the need to balance home working with online classes has been trying for everyone.  Lesley the session host, is understanding, knowledgeable and reassuring. She has listened and understood the difficulties we are facing, beyond just the usual experiences of homeschooling family life. She has a deep understanding of the complexities of children with differing needs, and has been a useful guide through some of the most challenging times.

Meeting with other parents has opened up the shared experience of having a child at Keyham Lodge, the unspoken understanding that education settings may have been difficult places for us due to the often common issues our children have. We have spent the time learning from each other, sharing coping strategies and using the space to vent frustrations caused by extended lockdown.

I very much hope that the roll-out of the sessions can continue and that this invaluable asset reaches many more parents."

School Testimony

Rahi Popat, says: “We have seen our most hard to reach parents and carers access the support service available, and they have spoken very positively around the support they have received.

“Staff across the school have chosen to access the teacher wellbeing consultations to help them during these very challenging times for the education sector, noticing that trained support available is of great assistance to them right now.

“It has proved to be a safe space, open platform and a source for support for everyone connected to the school community.”