Family Minds Workshops
Please see the following workshops for parents to book online. Booking links are below
Understanding Low Mood and Self-Esteem Workshop (Two Part Event)
15th & 22nd April 2026 12.00 - 1.30pm
BICS are inviting you to join a free two-part series of virtual mental health workshops which aim to increase your knowledge on Low Mood and Self-Esteem and provide you with some skills and strategies to assist your young person in coping with their Low Mood and Self-Esteem.
This workshop is aimed towards the parents/carers of children and young people.
This is a two-part workshop that will develop your understanding of low mood and low self-esteem. It will teach you skills to help you to support and talk to your child or young person who may be experiencing low mood and/or low self-esteem. It will also introduce you to the CBT-approach to treating low mood, which includes behavioural activation, identifying values and building mastery and includes children and young people’s views on their experience with low mood and self-esteem. As some children and young people with low mood engage in unhelpful / risky coping behaviours such as self-harm, the workshop will address how to respond and encourage the use of safer coping methods.
Managing Exam Stress
22nd April 2026 12.00-1.30pm
Exam season can place a lot of pressure on young people, and many struggle with stress, avoidance, and low motivation in the lead‑up to their exams. BICS are inviting you to join a virtual workshop designed to deepen your understanding of stress, how it affects young people, and the challenges they often face during this period.
This session will explore how anxiety influences studying and exam preparation, and it will introduce practical strategies to help you support your child or young person to manage these feelings more effectively. You will also gain tools you can use to support your child in navigating exam‑related difficulties with greater confidence.
Understanding and Managing Friendships
10th June 2026 12.00-1.30pm
BICS invite you to join a virtual workshop designed to support parents and carers in understanding how friendships develop and the challenges that may affect your child or young person.
The workshop aims to build confidence in understanding your child or young person’s friendships and supporting them through any difficulties that may arise. We will explore how anxiety can impact socialising and friendships difficulties, how neurodivergence may shape these experiences, and ways to empower your child or young person to develop boundaries, navigate conflict, and manage bullying.
The workshop also focuses on how to communicate effectively with your child or young person about friendship issues and when it may be helpful to step in to problem‑solve together, with the aim of strengthening your relationship and supporting their overall wellbeing.
Introduction to Neurodiversity Workshop
24th June 2026 12.00-1.30pm
BICS invite you to join a virtual workshop designed to provide a general overview of neurodiversity. The session aims to support parents and carers in building awareness and understanding of what neurodiversity means and how it may relate to your child or young person’s experiences. We will explore key themes, discuss common challenges, and share practical ideas to help you navigate support.
The workshop will cover how to access support with or without a formal diagnosis, ways to advocate for your child in education settings, simple and effective strategies you can try at home, and the local services and resources available in Barnet.
PLEASE NOTE: This workshop provides general information and guidance only. BICS does not offer neurodiversity assessments, diagnosis, or specialist intervention. The focus of the session is to build awareness and confidence for families who are exploring these areas or awaiting further support.
Managing School Transitions
8th July 2026 12.00-1.30pm
BICS invite you to join a virtual mental health workshop which aims to support parents and carers in helping their child navigate the transition from primary to secondary school.
In this workshop, we will share strategies for coping with change and ways to help your child build confidence and develop a positive sense of self. Together, we will consider the range of feelings children often experience as they transition to secondary school – including their hopes, worries, and expectations. You will also learn helpful techniques to use at home, along with strategies to help your child or young person feel more comfortable saying goodbye to the people and schools they are leaving behind as they prepare for this next step.
Workshop | Date/Time | Sign-Up Link |
BICS Family Minds: Understanding Low Mood and Self-Esteem (Two Part Event) | Wed, 15 Apr 2026 12:00 – 13:30 GM Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:00 – 13:30 GMT | |
BICS Family Minds: Managing Exam Stress | Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:00 – 13:30 GMT | |
BICS Family Minds: Understanding and Managing Friendships | Wed, 10 Jun 2026 12:00 – 13:30 GMT | |
BICS Family Minds: Introduction to Neurodiversity | Wed, 24 Jun 2026 12:00 – 13:30 GMT | |
BICS Family Minds: Managing School Transitions | Wed, 8 July 2026 12:00 – 13:30 GMT | |
What is BACE Holidays?
BACE Holidays is organised and run by Barnet Council and Young Barnet Foundation and fully funded by the Department for Education.
BACE holidays supports children and young people in Reception - Year 11 who receive benefit-related Free School Meals* in the borough of Barnet.
School holidays can be pressure points for some families due to increased costs and reduced incomes. BACE Holidays provide engaging and healthy activities with an emphasis on physical, emotional, and nutritional wellbeing during the school holidays. Activities may include football, cricket, arts and crafts, performing arts and lots more.
If your child is eligible, or is in receipt of benefit-related Free School Meals* and would like to apply to attend BACE Holiday camps click below to register for BACE Holidays.
COST OF LIVING CRISIS
Parents if you need help or support or signposting over the next few difficult months with regards to prices prices in food, energy and everything else, please talk to the office or a senior leader at school. Some other ways to help yourself and your family are posted here.
SUMMER HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES & THINGS TO DO
There are summer holiday camps and activities available for children of families who receive free school meal entitlement. They are organised by the local authority - Barnet
If you would like any help in booking a place please speak to Mrs Shear - the link to register is below
HELPFUL ADVICE FOR PARENTS ABOUT SUPPORTING YOUR CHILDREN WITH ONLINE SCHOOLING DURING SCHOOL CLOSURES
What is Healthy Start?
Healthy Start is the UK’s food welfare scheme for pregnant women and young children in low-income families. The scheme is there to help families who are most in need of this support. Families can access FREE vouchers to spend on fresh, frozen and tinned fruit and vegetables, fresh, dried and tinned pulses and infant formula milk. Families will also be able to access vouchers for free vitamin drops.
Who qualifies for Healthy Start?
Women who are at least 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4 years old, and parents or their family get:
- Income Support, or
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, or
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, or
- Child Tax Credit (with a family income of £16,190 or less per year)
- Universal Credit (with a family take home pay of £408 or less per month).
All pregnant women under 18 years, even if they don’t get any of the above benefits.
What will families receive?
Healthy Start Food Vouchers
Families that qualify for healthy start will receive weekly foods vouchers. The values* work out as the following:
- Pregnant Women- 1 voucher per week worth £3.10
- Infants 0-12 months- 2 vouchers per child per week £6.20
- Child 1-4 years- 1 vouchers per child per week £3.10
*Based on 2019 values
The food vouchers can be exchanged or spent on:
- plain cow’s milk – whole, semi-skimmed or skimmed. It can be pasteurised, sterilised, long life or UHT
- fruit and vegetable– plain fresh, frozen or tinned (fruit and vegetables with no added ingredients), whole or chopped, packaged or loose
- pulses – fresh, dried, tinned pulses
- infant formula milk that is based on cow’s milk and can be used from birth
If you are eligible for Healthy Start Vouchers we can help you apply for them. Call the school office or speak to Heather at Sunbeam Nursery
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected our lives in many ways. It has caused disruption to family life, to work and school and the way in which we access support services. The London Borough of Barnet have produced a simple guide for families within the borough to find the range of advice, help and support that is available to them at this tough time. It includes financial support, children centres, local food banks and community groups, mental health and well-being information.
If you need any additional support in any way please speak to us at school. We will try to help or signpost you to the right service
If you are a parent or carer, we hope you will find the many web links below useful.