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two people sitting facing each other and talking -they hold mugs and there is a coffee table in front of them with a spider plant on it, a box of tissues and a book titled 'Thrive Theory and Practice in Adolescence'
Meet Mel and Tara – your SEMH Coaches

As Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) Coaches, we support students who are facing challenges that make learning difficult – whether that’s stepping into the classroom, staying focused, or simply feeling safe and ready to learn.

What can we help with?

If something is getting in the way of your learning, we are here to listen and support you. You might be dealing with:

  • friendship or social worries
  • anxiety or exam stress
  • sensory issues (like lighting or noise) autism-related challenges
  • additional learning needs or medical concerns
  • feeling overwhelmed or needing a break

Whatever it is, you’re not alone.

The Academic Wellbeing Room – a safe space to pause

You can access a quiet, safe space to ground yourself, take a breather, or simply step away from the crowd. It’s not counselling, it’s a space to reset, reflect, and build strategies to support your wellbeing.

How can we support you?

We offer practical, personalised strategies to help you understand your emotions and take care of your mental health. These might include:

  • mindfulness and grounding techniques
  • organisational skills
  • quiet time
  • walking breaks
  • music or soundscapes
  • art
  • fidget toys
  • informal chats

We’re always adding new tools and ideas, for example, the Scribble Table.

This has been introduced to help ease start-of-term nerves – a creative outlet for mindfulness and self-expression. It’s already become a popular way for students to settle into the new academic year.

Thrive training – removing barriers to learning

We are currently training to become licensed Thrive practitioners, using a nationally recognised framework that “helps young people feel safe, supported, and ready to learn”.

This will shape and strengthen the support we offer moving forward.