Student Support Services and Internet Safety

Below you will find a range of useful links and helpful sources of advice and information for students and their parents. These cover wellbeing, mental health, relationships and internet safety. You can use these quick links to jump straight to the section you need:

CAMHS

CHUMS

External Agencies which work with Vandyke

Support Services in Leighton Buzzard

Online Support Services

Internet Safety Information

If you have any safeguarding concerns about a young person at Vandyke, please contact Mrs H Sides, Designated Safeguarding Lead, on the main school telephone number (01525 636700) or via email: sidesh@vandyke.cbeds.co.uk

You can also contact Central Bedfordshire’s Children’s Services on 0300 300 8585 or via the Central Bedfordshire website.

CAMHS

CAMHS (South Bedfordshire & Luton)

CAMHS: Parent guide to low mood

CHUMS

https://chums.uk.com/bedfordshire-services/ 01525 863924

CHUMS: When You Are Grieving

External Agencies

Vandyke has links with a number of external agencies which come into school to provide support for our students.

These services are confidential between the counsellor or health professional and the individual young person. No information is shared with school staff, except as defined in the school’s child protection policy and guidance from child protection law. This is essential to maintain the trust needed for these services to meet the needs of our students.

Appointments can be arranged to see Brook Clinic through the year offices or by seeing Mrs Verrier in the Medical Room.

Brook will talk through options and help guide choices. They offer advice about healthy relationships, contraceptives, pregnancy and STIs and can provide contraception, STI testing and pregnancy tests.

Other local Brook Clinics are available at the TACTIC Centre, 17 Hockliffe Street, Leighton Buzzard. Phone: 01525 373838.

Click here to visit Brook’s website.

4YP offers independent advice and guidance to students about careers and future plans and also helps support young people with applications and career planning. Appointments can be made through Mrs Webb, the school co-ordinator.

4YP DROP-INS: Tuesday and Wednesdays, 3-6pm at TACTIC Leighton Buzzard.

Other appointments available: Wendy Millgate on 07780 448599

Phone: 01582 742285 Email: info@4ypuk Facebook: 4YPUK

Click here to visit 4YP’S website.

The school has counsellors who work with any students who are in need of support or counselling. Students can self-refer through their head of year or may have counselling suggested by a member of staff. Counselling sessions take place in school time and may last for a few weeks or longer depending on circumstances.

All counselling is entirely confidential, within normal safeguarding rules.

Aquarius offers a range of support, information and advice to young people aged between 5 and 18 who use drugs and/or alcohol and also supports young people affected by someone else’s use. Aquarius will come into school to work with individuals or groups, if needed. They are not in school on a regular basis, but we can refer students to them. If you would like more information on this, click here for a link to their website.

Health drop-in sessions

The School Nursing Service offers a drop in session once a week on a Thursday lunchtime. The school nurse can give advice, support and help on a range of medical issues, including nutrition, weight loss/gain, sexual health, injuries or information on any health related matters or concerns.

Appointments can be made via the Medical Room.