My name is Mrs Duerden, I am the schools Family Support Worker. 

My role in school is to provide support, advice and information to the families within our school community.  I can help you with any worries that you may have in relation to your child's education, behaviour and wellbeing.  I am also here as someone to talk to if you need to.

I can meet with you at school or we can talk over the telephone at a time to suit you.  Advice and support is confidential although concerns relating to the safeguarding of children will always be dealt with in accordance with the school's Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.  I may not have all the answers, but hopefully I can help you to work out how to find them.

Support for pupils includes:

• Promoting good attendance and punctuality
• Promoting self-esteem and confidence
• Promoting positive behaviour and positive attitudes to learning
• Providing one-to-one emotional support

​Support for families includes:

• Providing information and signposting to other services in the local area
• Liaising with a range of external services such as housing and Social Care
• Assistance in completing paperwork and forms, e.g. housing, special educational needs, school places and benefits
• Attendance and support at school and other agency meetings
• Advice and support in promoting positive behaviour at home
• Guidance with career and personal development and access to training and workshops in school

How to get in touch:

I am normally based in school every morning from 8.30am and can be available in the afternoons by arrangement.

Please call the school office on 01332 772452 to make an appointment and I will be happy to see you as soon as I can.

I can also be contacted via email:  dduerden@stensonfields.derbyshire.sch.uk

Childrens Mental Health 

At Stenson Fields Primary School, we know that a child’s mental health and wellbeing are just as important as their physical health. Good mental health helps children learn, build friendships, and feel confident about who they are.

Children can experience a wide range of emotions as they grow — from happiness and excitement to worry, anger, or sadness. It’s normal for children to have ups and downs, but sometimes they might need extra help to understand or manage their feelings.

As parents and carers, you play a key role in supporting your child’s emotional wellbeing. Small things like listening, encouraging open conversations, and keeping routines can make a big difference. If you ever have concerns about your child’s mental health, please speak to me or your child's class teacher. We are here to help.

• YoungMinds – Parents’ Helpline
  Practical advice and a free helpline for parents worried about their child’s emotional wellbeing.

        https://www.youngminds.org.uk/

• Place2be - Parenting Smart
  Short, expert-led articles and videos on topics like anxiety, friendships, and confidence.

          https://parentingsmart.place2be.org.uk/

• Anna Freud Centre – Advice for Parents and Carers
  Guidance on supporting children’s mental health, including dealing with change or big emotions.

          https://www.annafreud.org/resources/family-wellbeing/

• Childline - Feelings and Emotions 
  A safe website for children to explore their feelings and find support if they need it.

         Your feelings | Childline

• Compass Changing Lives

          Compass Changing Lives provides prevention and early intervention for emotional wellbeing and                    mental health support to children.

          https://compass-uk.org/services/compass-changing-lives/

Growing up and Puberty

As children move through the later years of primary school, they begin to experience many physical, emotional, and social changes. It’s completely normal for children (and parents!) to have questions during this time. Talking openly and reassuringly about what’s happening helps children feel confident and supported. Schools also play an important role in helping pupils understand these changes in a safe, age-appropriate way through Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) lessons.

If you would like to learn more about puberty and how to support your child, the following links provide reliable, parent-friendly guidance:

• Childline – Puberty Information for Young People
  A helpful site you can share with your child if they want to read about puberty themselves. 

         https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/you-your-body/puberty/

• Family Lives – Talking to our children about growing up
  Tips for starting conversations about puberty, relationships, and body changes.

          https://www.familylives.org.uk/

Online Safety 

E-safety is an integral part of children’s education in today’s digital world and is embedded in their learning at school. We also want to help our parents and children improve their own understanding of e-safety issues so they can learn to use the internet and all digital media in a safe and secure way

Online Parent Resources 

To try and help parents with the fast-moving and changing world of the internet and social media, we've suggested a few pages which are fantastic resources. They contain information on different types of social media and how to help keep children safe.